German · Beginner (A1) · Chapter 12 of 12
Your first conversation
Dein erstes Gespräch
Put all of A1 German together in a real conversation: introduce yourself, talk about work and free time, and make a plan.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Hold a short conversation with someone new
- Ask and answer questions with question words
- Keep a conversation going and ask for help when you don't understand
Listen
At a friend's birthday party in Berlin, Emma starts talking to Karim, who plays in a band. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Karim
Hallo, ich bin Karim. Und du?
Hi, I'm Karim. And you?
Emma
Ich heiße Emma. Freut mich. Woher kommst du?
My name is Emma. Nice to meet you. Where are you from?
Karim
Aus Hamburg, aber ich wohne jetzt in Berlin. Und du?
From Hamburg, but I live in Berlin now. And you?
Emma
Ich komme aus Köln und arbeite hier im Museum.
I'm from Cologne and I work at the museum here.
Karim
Im Museum? Wirklich? Und was machst du gern am Wochenende?
At the museum? Really? And what do you like doing at the weekend?
Emma
Ich lese viel und gehe gern wandern. Und du?
I read a lot and I like going hiking. And you?
Karim
Ich spiele Gitarre. Am Freitag spielen wir im Café Luna. Hast du Lust?
I play the guitar. On Friday we're playing at Café Luna. Do you fancy it?
Emma
Ja, gern! Um wie viel Uhr?
Yes, I'd love to. What time?
Karim
Um halb neun. Das Café ist neben dem Bahnhof.
At half past eight. The café is next to the station.
Emma
Ach so, neben dem Bahnhof. Toll, dann bis Freitag!
Oh, I see, next to the station. Great, see you on Friday then.
Understand
Question words: a review
As you saw in chapter 4, questions with a question word start with that word, and the verb comes second: Questions without a question word start with the verb: Here are all the question words from this level.
| German | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| who | ||
| what | ||
| where | ||
| where from | ||
| when | ||
| how | ||
| how old | ||
| at what time |
Keeping the conversation going
Short reactions show that you're listening: (Really?), (Oh, I see.), (Great!). Send the question back with , or with someone you call .
If you don't understand, say so. Most people are happy to help a learner, and asking is part of the conversation.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Sorry? / Pardon? | |
| I don't understand. | |
| Slowly, please. | |
| … | What's … in English? |
| Exactly. |
More in the grammar: Asking questions
New words
- jetztnow
- Wirklich?Really?
- viela lot, much
- wandernto hike, to go hiking · = to go hiking
- Um wie viel Uhr?What time? / At what time?
- Ach so.Oh, I see.
- tollgreat
- Wie bitte?Sorry? / Pardon?
- Ich verstehe das nicht.I don't understand (that).
- langsamslow, slowly
- die Freizeitfree time · feminine, no plural
- die Musikmusic · feminine, no plural
Practise
1.You didn't understand what someone said. What do you say?
2.Complete with a question word.
Where are you from? – From Cologne.
3.Complete with a question word.
What do you like doing at the weekend?
4.Put the words in order to make a question.
Tap the words below in the right order.What time are you playing?
5.Match the German with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.At a party, a woman your age says “” How do you ask where she's from?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Ich komme aus London und wohne jetzt in Berlin.
I'm from London and I live in Berlin now.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.