Hallo und Herzliche Wilkommen - Hello and welcome!

I am currently studying intermediate level German in Munich. I completed my B2.2 German at Volkshochschule München, B2.1 from LMU and B1 from Goethe Institute. I started writing this blog (since level A2.1) in order to share what I learn during the lectures. I envisaged it to be a personal note to myself more than anything else. Nevertheless, if anything written here proves to be useful to you, please do leave a comment. I will continue to upload content as I learn new things, hence it is better to read older posts before reading new ones.
Let's start learning!

Thursday 28 January 2010

'Haben' oder 'Sein', which to use?

Grammar

English has transitive and intransitive verbs. Depending on which category a verb falls into, it either has 'has' or 'was' in perfect tense such as "I was gone" or "I have eaten". Similarly, in German a verb can have 'haben' or 'sein' associated with each verb in past tense. Since "verb in second position" rule overrides all rules, the 'haben' or 'sein' part lands in the second position. The main verb changes form and goes to the end of the sentence like so: Ich bin zurück gekommen. Note that 'trennbar' verbs such as anrufen become angeruft.

Sein Haben
Pertaining to bewegung (movement), eg. kommen, wandern, reisen, schwimmen, fliegen, gehen, segeln, fahren Verbs that usually have an object
Änderung (to change state), eg. aufwachen, wachsen, werden ...and all other verbs.
Bleiben, passieren

Vocabulary

  • anrufen: to call
  • kommen: to come
  • wandern: to go hiking
  • reisen/fahren: to travel
  • schwimmen: to swim
  • fliegen: to fly
  • gehen: to go
  • segeln: to sail
  • aufwachen: to wake up
  • wachsen: to grow
  • werden: to become
  • bleiben: to stay
  • passieren: to happen
  • sich verabschieden: to say good bye
  • plötzlich: suddenly
  • Thursday 21 January 2010

    Wie war Leztes Wochenende - How was the last weekend?

    Today, we discussed what everyone did last weekend. We revised the rule with 'because' (weil).

    Grammar

    Verb is always the second word in every sentence in German. It is somewhat like English. However, unlike English, it does not matter in Deutsch if the subject comes first or the object, we just have to make sure that the verb stays in the second position - unsere Deutsche Lehrerin sagt, "Verb steht immer im zweite Position!". We can either say Ich weiß das or Das weiß ich.

    Phrases

    • Es friert. It is freezing.
    • Schnie auf dem Dach kann auch gefährlich sein. Snow on the roof can also be dangerous.
    • Ich habe einen Film gesehen. I watched a movie.
    • Meine Freunden fahren zurück nach Spanien. My friends returned to Spain.
    • Ich war bei meinem Freund zu Hause. I was with my friend at home.
    • Wir haben viel getrunken und gegessen. We drank and ate a lot.
    • I gehe ins Kino. I went to cinema.
    • Der film hat mir gefallen. I liked the movie.

    Vocabulary

    • das Wochenende: weekend
    • der Freund/en: friend
    • der Dolmetscher: audio translator (profession)
    • gezapft: from the tap, eg gezapftes Bier
    • der Übersetzer: book or text translator (profession)
    • die Oper: opera
    • die Schnie: snow
    • gefährlich: dangerous
    • ski laufen: to go skiing
    • vermissen: to miss
    • getigert: striped

    Meine Sprachlernbiographie - My Language Biography

    The homework (die Hausaufgabe) was to write about meine Sprachlernbiographie. I have handed in the text to the teacher. As soon as she corrects it and sends it back to me, I will update this post.

    Meine Sprachlernbiographie

    Mein Name ist Saksham. Ich komme aus Nepal. Meine müttersprache ist Nepalisch. Ich kann Hindi sprechen und verstehen, weil es gleich als Nepali ist. Als kind (Als ich ein Kind war,) habe ich Englisch gelernt. In die Schule (waren) alle kurse waren in Englisch. In Bremen hatte ich mein bachelors abgeschlossen. Dort habe ich einbischen Deutsch gelernt. Wann (Falls) man in Deutschland ist, natürlich braucht er Deutsch. Ich müsste mit mein Vermieter in Deutsch sprechen, weil er English nicht versteht. Man braucht Deutsch auch bei dem Einkauf und in die Restaurant. Jetzt mache ich wieder ein Deutsch kurs bei Goethe Institut, weil ich es für meine Firma brauche.

    Ich finde Deutsch nicht so schwer. In meine Meinung, es gibt nicht so viele Ausnahmen in (auf) Deutsch. Die Regel finde ich nicht sehr komplieziert. Die wörter sind ein bisschen lang, aber habe ich kein Problem mit die.

    Oft fahre ich nach München. Dort habe ich viele Freunden. Nachstes mal wann ich in München bin, möchte ich nur in Deutsch sprechen.

    Tuesday 19 January 2010

    Ist Deutsch schwerig - Is German difficult?

    Today we discussed why people learn Deutsch. Is German really difficult? We learnt some new and useful words. Nothing new in Grammar.

    Phrases

    • Alles ist neu und anders in Europa (everything is new and different in Europe).
    • Sie haben andere Mentalität von uns (they have a different mentality than us).
    • Mein gefühl (gut feeling) sagt dass,...
    • Deutsch had viele Regeln, aber wenige Ausnahmen.

    Revision

    Just to repeat... whenever one uses 'because' (weil) in a sentence in German, the verb in the supporting sentence always goes to the end. Eg.

    • Ich gehe zu Goethe Institut, weil ich Deutsh lernen möchte.

    Vocabulary

    • der Pösie: poem, poetry
    • die Belastung: load, strain
    • die Doppelbelastung: double load
    • die Ausstellung: exhibition
    • die Herausforderung: challenge
    • die Regel/Regeln: rule
    • die Ausnahme/n: exception
    • umziehen: to move, eg. to a different house. Past: umzogen
    • erfolgreich: successful
    • höflich: hopefully
    • begeistert: motivated
    • ändern: to change

    Thursday 14 January 2010

    Warum lernt man Deutsch - Why does one learn German?

    Grammar

    An important rule in German is that when you have a sentence with 'weil' (because), then the verb in the supporting sentence ALWAYS goes to the end.

    Now, let's answer why do people really learn German? Man lernt Deutsch,...

    • ... weil man in Ausland studieren kann (because one can study abroad).
    • ... weil man in Ausland arbeiten kann (because one can work abroad).
    • ... weil man bei einer deutschen Firma eine Stelle finden kann (because one can find a job).
    • ... weil man ohne Sprachprobleme ins Ausland reisen kann (because one can travel abroad without any language problems).
    • ... weil man in Deutschland Konzerte besuchen kann (because one can go to concerts in Germany, Ramstein??? ).
    • ... weil man Goethe in original lesen will (because one wants to read Goethe in original).
    • ... weil man Lieder verstehen kann (becuase one wants to understand songs).
    • ... weil man in den Alpen leben möchte (because one wants to live in the Alps).
    • ... weil man Deutsche kennen lernen will (becuase one wants to get to know Germans).

    Vocabulary

    • der Schweiz: Switzerland
    • der Österreich: Austria
    • die Niederland: The Netherlands
    • das Lied(pl. Lieder): song
    • das Ausland: abroad as in we're going abroad
    • die Firma: company/office
    • die Stelle: position/place
    • die Wirtschaft: the economy
    • der Grund: the reason
    • will: want

    Digressions

    In addition to Germany, German is spoken in Austria and Switzerland. There are German speaking communities in Czech Republic, Belgium, Luxembourg and Holland.

    Tuesday 12 January 2010

    Stellen Sie sich vor — Introduce yourself

    Whenever someone asks you how are you "Wie geht's Ihnen?" or "Wie geht's dir?" be ready with one of the following answers:

    • Es geht mir gut. (I'm fine)
    • Es geht. (I'm OK)
    • Ganz gut/Prima. (Very well)

    Phrases

    • nicht jetzt, sondern später
    • Welche Sportarten treiben Sie?
    • Sie hat sich etwas interessiert
    • Sie erinnert sich

    Aussprache - Pronunciation

    Notice the difference between:

    • isst(eat) and ist(is)
    • kochen(to cook) and kuchen(cake)

    Vocabulary

    The following words might help you introduce yourself...

    • die Ausbildung: Training/education
    • die Tanzerin: Dancer
    • der Reiseleiter/in: the travel agent
    • der Großhandler: wholeseller
    • der Kleinhandler: retailer
    • das Hauptschulabschluß: SLC (school leaving certificate)
    • die Dienstreise: buisness trip
    • das Hobby: hobby
    • die Erfahrung: Experience (such as work experience). Phrase: die Erfahrung sammeln
    • das Erlebnis: The (adventurous) experience
    • die Kleidung: The dress. Phrase: eine farbige Kleidung
    • weil: because
    • wichtig: important
    • erwartet: expected
    • verliebt: enamored/in love

    Wednesday 6 January 2010

    Goethe Institute

    While rummaging through the web for institutes that offer German courses, I came across Goethe Institute in Prague. I had to sit for a placement test. It was quite daunting experience to see an 'exam-hall' after so long time. There were a lot of people who enthusiastically wanted to learn German, all scratching their head and looking at their question papers. I mustered courage and started filling dots into the multiple-choice-questions' answer sheet. As I did not revise anything before the test, I just picked whichever answer sounded right.

    After the test, my name was called. A lady kind of interviewed me in German. They wanted to be sure which level (stufe) would suit me. She decided A2.1. Since all classes were getting filled pretty quickly, I had to decide then and there if I wanted to start learning at Goethe Institute. There was only one group free. The classes would start at 07:30AM. Oh well, I will have to stop being so nocturnal and stay motivated. I am finally going to learn some serious German!

    I remember lots of my friends in Germany telling me that enrolling at Goethe Institute costs a lot of money compared to other language schools. Hence, it was a surprise when they asked me for around 3000CZK (around 120 Euros).

    The course book we are using is "Studio d. A2" (ISBN-10: 3464207129). If you want to buy the book, make sure that you check the language(sic). Some book stores in Prague had the book, but some bits and pieces were in Czech. As I don't know Czech at all (apart from ordering at the restaurants), I had to order it from amazon.co.uk. You could also order one from amazon.de. The lady at the institute told us that we should not be needing the workbook (Arbeitsbuch), so I now have all my Deutsch gears ready!

    If you are in Prague and want to learn German, I recommend that you at least try out Goethe Institute. It is not thaaaat expensive and the instructors are highly qualified and friendly. The address is:

    Masarykovo nábřeží 32
    110 00 Praha
    Tel: + 420 221962-111
    Fax: + 420 221962-250
    info@prag.goethe.org
    http://www.goethe.de/ins/cz/pra/deindex.htm