You have been given a new territory. It might be Germany, Austria and Switzerland, or France, or Poland and the neighbouring markets. Your product is the same, your CRM is the same, and the first call is in a language you studied at school or learned for work.
Reading a prospect's website in another language is one thing. Opening a cold call, hearing "nein, danke" or "ça ne m'intéresse pas" and answering in real time is another. This page covers what to rehearse, in what order, and how to do it when you are not fluent.
What changes on the call, and what does not
Be careful with generalisations. Every country has direct and indirect buyers, and every industry has its own habits. A few points are still worth planning for.
- Form of address. German has "Sie" and "du", French has "vous" and "tu", Polish has "Pan" and "Pani". On a first business call, use the formal form unless the other person clearly invites you to drop it. Teams that sell into these markets often make the formal form the default in their scripts.
- Names and titles. Check whether your contact expects a title with the surname. If you are unsure, ask a colleague who sells in that market.
- Numbers and dates. Decimal commas, 24-hour clocks and day-month order are normal in these markets. Say numbers slowly and confirm them.
- The structure of the call does not change. Opening, a reason to continue, a question, an objection, a next step. The language changes the words, not the job each part does.
Beyond those, avoid assuming how a "no" will sound or how price is discussed. Listen, and ask your local colleagues or customers what they hear most often.
Three scenarios to rehearse first
Start narrow. Three scenarios cover most of the first month.
1. The opener
Ten to twenty seconds. Who you are, why you are calling, a question that is easy to answer. If you only rehearse one thing, rehearse this. See the English version of the structure in B2B cold call opening lines and the guide on the first 30 seconds.
2. The price question
At some point a buyer will ask what it costs, or say it is too expensive. You need a calm, short reply and a question back. The structure is covered in the "too expensive" objection. Rehearse the vocabulary for price, discount, contract length and billing in the target language.
3. Booking the next step
The call is only useful if it ends with something specific. Practise offering two time slots, saying them clearly and repeating them back. The English approach is in how to ask for the next step.
How to practise when you are not fluent
Fluency is not required for rehearsal. Structure is.
- Write the first 30 seconds. A greeting, your name and company, one sentence on why you are calling, one question. Have a native speaker check it for natural phrasing and formality before you put it in a team script.
- Say it aloud ten times. Read from the page at first, then from memory. Record yourself once and listen for the places where you hesitate.
- Add the three likeliest replies. Write a short answer to "not interested", "send me something by email" and "who are you?". Rehearse each one.
- Then let the other side push. Scripts do not survive contact with a customer who interrupts. You need a partner who answers unpredictably.
- Review one moment at a time. Pick the moment you stumbled, fix the phrase and run the call again.
A colleague who speaks the language is the best partner, but not always available at 8 am on a Tuesday. A practice call with an AI customer is available whenever you are.
Practising with DIRI AI
DIRI AI is voice practice for phone calls. You speak to an AI customer, which is labelled as AI and is fictional, and then read a report on what to say better. It works in 11 languages: Czech, English, Slovak, Polish, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Romanian and Hungarian.
For a rep taking over a German, French or Polish territory, a good first week looks like this:
- Day 1. The opener only, three attempts, in the target language.
- Day 2. The opener plus one objection.
- Day 3. The price question.
- Day 4. Booking the next step.
- Day 5. A full call, start to finish, then read the report and choose one phrase to fix.
Short sessions work better than a long one. See the 10-minute practice routine for a format.
There is a Free plan, and paid plans start from €19.90 a month; see pricing for the current limits. You can start free and run your first opener today.
Common mistakes
- Translating your English opener word for word. Some phrasings sound odd or too casual when translated. Have a native speaker adjust the register.
- Reading a script. If it sounds read, it is read. Learn the structure and a few anchor phrases instead.
- Skipping the reply to "no". The first thirty seconds go well, then you freeze at the first objection. Rehearse the reply in advance.
- Practising only alone. You need to hear unpredictable answers.
- Hiding that you are not a native speaker. A short, polite "my German is still developing, please stop me if I am unclear" can reduce pressure on both sides. Use it if it feels natural to you.
FAQ
Can I practise a sales call in a language I am not fluent in?
Yes. Practise the opener, the price question and the next step first, and have a native speaker check your wording.
How long does it take to prepare for a first call in a new language?
It depends on your starting level and your product. A few short sessions on the opener and top objections is a realistic start. Keep practising as you take real calls.
Do I use the formal form of address?
On a first business call, usually yes. Follow your company's convention and the customer's lead.
Which languages can I practise in DIRI AI?
Eleven: Czech, English, Slovak, Polish, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, Romanian and Hungarian.