A networking evening, an interesting chat — but you want to move on. How to end a conversation politely in English.
B1 · Dialogue · 3 Min. · free
AI notice: narrator voice AI-generated
Tip: listen to the episode twice before you start the test. · Worksheet (PDF)
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Transcript
Key phrases
Language notes
In this episode a sales manager ends a good conversation at a networking evening without seeming rude: give a reason, secure the contact, say goodbye warmly. You learn the key exit lines — and why "Wir sehen uns" is not "we see us" (level B1).
Mark follows a fixed pattern: first signal ("I don't want to keep you" / "I'll let you go"), then secure the contact ("shall we swap business cards?", "I'll email you that report"), then close warmly ("It was great talking to you", "Enjoy the rest of the event"). This order works at trade fairs, conferences and company parties alike — the reason always comes before the goodbye.
At German events people often stay in the same group all evening — moving on can seem rude. At British and American networking events, moving on is the point of the evening: "That's why we come to these events." Nobody takes it personally ("It's nothing personal"). What matters is packaging the exit kindly — with a compliment ("I could talk to you all evening") and a concrete next step.
Sophie's "We see us!" is the word-for-word translation of "Wir sehen uns" — and probably the most common goodbye mistake German speakers make. Correct is simply "See you", "See you soon" or "Take care". Also useful: "Have a safe journey home" when the other person is travelling. Mark's correction is exemplary: smile, state the rule ("we just say …"), save face ("I understood you perfectly").
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Frequently asked questions
Level B1 (CEFR). The dialogue shows everyday networking language with clear phrases; the vocabulary list explains all eight key phrases bilingually.
In three steps: signal the exit ("I don't want to keep you"), secure the contact ("Let's swap business cards"), close warmly ("It was great talking to you"). An honest reason ("I promised myself to meet five new people") makes it even easier.
Yes, the full transcript with German support notes is on this page — listen first, then take the test, then read along.
In the online business English courses from Simmonds Language Services: live lessons with real teachers on Zoom, for companies and individuals across Germany — since 2004. Book a free consultation at englisch-lehrer.com/online.
It is the word-for-word translation of "Wir sehen uns" — but English does not have this construction. The goodbye is simply "See you" or "See you soon". Reflexive pronouns like "us" never appear here.
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