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German / Unit 1: Hallo / lesson 5

Conversation: at the language school

Emma, an American student from Boston, arrives at the language school in Chicago where Vicki teaches German. She meets her teacher politely, with Sie, until Vicki offers du. Listen, read, and then take Emma's part.

Before you listen

At the language school

Emma meets her teacher, Vicki. Daniel plays Emma.

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The conversation, line by line

Emma meets Vicki

Vicki

Guten Tag! Willkommen im Kurs.

Hello! Welcome to the course.

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Read it

GermanEnglish
VickiGuten Tag! Willkommen im Kurs.Hello! Welcome to the course.
EmmaGuten Tag. Wie heißen Sie?Hello. What is your name?
VickiIch heiße Vicki Schmidt. Ich bin die Lehrerin. Und Sie?My name is Vicki Schmidt. I am the teacher. And you?
EmmaIch heiße Emma. Freut mich.My name is Emma. Nice to meet you.
VickiFreut mich auch. Woher kommen Sie, Emma?Nice to meet you too. Where are you from, Emma?
EmmaIch komme aus Boston. Und Sie?I am from Boston. And you?
VickiIch komme aus Hamburg. Emma, wir können uns duzen. Wie geht es dir?I am from Hamburg. Emma, we can say du to each other. How are you?
EmmaSehr gut, danke. Und dir?Very well, thanks. And you?
VickiAuch gut, danke.Fine too, thanks.
after the class
EmmaTschüss, Vicki! Bis morgen!Bye, Vicki! See you tomorrow!
VickiTschüss, Emma! Bis morgen!Bye, Emma! See you tomorrow!
Note.

Wir können uns duzen: wir is we, können is can, and duzen means to say du. Vicki, the teacher, offers du; Emma waits for that. From then on Emma says du and dir, not Sie and Ihnen.

New wordEnglish
willkommenwelcome
der Kurs · im Kursthe course · in (or to) the course
die Lehrerin · der Lehrerthe teacher (a woman · a man)
Wir können uns duzen.We can say du to each other.

Your turn: you are Emma

Now Vicki speaks to you. After each of her lines, press pause and say Emma's answer out loud. Then listen to Daniel say it, and compare.

Role-play: you are Emma

You are Emma

Answer Vicki out loud. Daniel says Emma's lines after you.

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Practice

Listen: question 1

Press Play and listen.

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Question

What did Vicki say?

Hint
die Lehrerin: a woman who teaches.
Solution

Vicki said Ich bin die Lehrerin: I am the teacher.

Question

At first, Emma asks Vicki Wie heißen Sie? Why Sie?

Hint
Sie is the polite one.
Solution

Vicki is her teacher and they have just met, so Emma is polite: Sie.

Listen: question 3

Press Play and listen.

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Question

What does Vicki mean?

Hint
wir is we; sagen is to say.
Solution

She offers the friendly du: we can say du to each other.

Question

After that, Vicki asks Wie geht es dir? How does Emma send the question back?

Hint
Now they use the friendly you.
Solution

Sehr gut, danke. Und dir?

Question

In the conversation, who offers du?

Hint
The one in charge offers it.
Solution

Vicki, the teacher: Wir können uns duzen.

Listen: question 6

Press Play and listen.

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Question

Daniel is playing Emma. Where is Emma from?

Hint
Ich komme aus: I am from.
Solution

Emma said Ich komme aus Boston: I am from Boston.

Question

A man who teaches is der Lehrer. What is a woman who teaches?

Hint
A woman's word ends in -in.
Solution

die Lehrerin.

Put the conversation in order

Click the items in the correct order. Click an item in your answer to move it back.

Available items
Your order

Note.

Next: a story. Daniel, new in Chicago, comes to Vicki's German-English evening for the first time.