Speak German from day one · Morning
How to use this booklet
Before each class, read what we will talk about and do the short preparation. It takes 10 to 15 minutes and helps you speak more and better in class.
1
Sounds and first greetings
Tue 1 Dec · 09:00Your first words in German: the sounds of the language, saying hello and goodbye, and introducing yourself. You'll say: Hallo! Ich heiße… Freut mich.
Grammar focus
The alphabet and German sounds · ich heiße, du heißtVocabulary
hallo, guten Morgen, guten Abend, tschüss, auf Wiedersehen, danke, bitte, ich heiße, freut michBefore the class
Before class, listen to how people say hello in German and say your name out loud: «Ich heiße…»2
Who you are and where you're from
Tue 8 Dec · 09:00Say where you're from and where you live, and ask your classmates the same. You'll say: Ich bin Engländerin, ich wohne in London.
Grammar focus
sein (ich bin, du bist) · nationalities · wohnen inVocabulary
ich bin, ich wohne, Engländer/in, Amerikaner/in, Ire/Irin, das Land, die Stadt, woher kommst du?Before the class
Before class, write your nationality and your city: «Ich bin… Ich wohne in…»3
At the café
Tue 15 Dec · 09:00Order a drink and something to eat, politely, the way people do in a café. You'll say: Einen Kaffee und ein Croissant, bitte.
Grammar focus
ich möchte · ein / eine / einenVocabulary
der Kaffee, der Tee, das Croissant, das Wasser, die Rechnung, ich möchte, bitte, dankeBefore the class
Before class, choose what you'd order and practise: «Ich möchte…»4
Numbers, prices and shopping
Tue 5 Jan · 09:00Count, ask how much something costs and understand the answer. You'll say: Was kostet das? Das macht zwölf Euro.
Grammar focus
Numbers from 0 to 100 · was kostet…?Vocabulary
eins, zwei, drei, zehn, zwanzig, fünfzig, hundert, der Euro, was kostet das?, das machtBefore the class
Before class, count from 1 to 20 out loud and write the price of three things you bought this week.5
Time and your day
Tue 12 Jan · 09:00Tell the time and talk about your daily routine, from breakfast to bedtime. You'll say: Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf.
Grammar focus
Telling the time (es ist… Uhr) · everyday verbs: aufstehen, arbeiten, essenVocabulary
die Uhr, der Morgen, der Nachmittag, der Abend, aufstehen, arbeiten, essen, schlafenBefore the class
Before class, write three things you do every day and at what time.6
At the market
Tue 19 Jan · 09:00Buy food at the market: quantities, fruit and vegetables, and a friendly chat with the stallholder. You'll say: Ein Kilo Tomaten, bitte.
Grammar focus
Quantities: ein Kilo, eine Flasche · noch etwas?Vocabulary
der Markt, das Obst, das Gemüse, die Tomaten, der Käse, das Brot, ein Kilo, eine FlascheBefore the class
Before class, write a shopping list of five things you'd buy at a market.7
Around town
Tue 26 Jan · 09:00Ask for directions, understand the answer and find your way around town. You'll say: Entschuldigung, wo ist der Bahnhof?
Grammar focus
gehen (ich gehe) · links, rechts, geradeaus · wo ist…?Vocabulary
der Bahnhof, die Straße, der Platz, das Museum, die Apotheke, links, rechts, geradeausBefore the class
Before class, think of three places in your town and how you'd ask for them: «Wo ist…?»8
Your family
Tue 2 Feb · 09:00Talk about the people in your family and ask about your classmates' families. You'll say: Ich habe zwei Brüder und eine Schwester.
Grammar focus
haben (ich habe, du hast) · mein, meineVocabulary
die Familie, der Vater, die Mutter, der Bruder, die Schwester, der Sohn, die Tochter, die KinderBefore the class
Before class, think of a family photo and name the people in it.9
What you love
Tue 9 Feb · 09:00Share your tastes and hobbies and find out what your classmates enjoy. You'll say: Ich mag Musik, Sport mag ich nicht.
Grammar focus
mögen, gern · nichtVocabulary
ich mag, gern, nicht, das Kino, die Musik, das Kochen, das Reisen, der SportBefore the class
Before class, write two things you love and one thing you don't: «Ich mag… … mag ich nicht.»10
Final mission: your first conversation
Tue 16 Feb · 09:00Put it all together: a 5-minute conversation, all in German, with your classmates and your teacher.
Grammar focus
Review of everything: greetings, sein, haben, numbers, likesVocabulary
Review of the vocabulary from the nine classesBefore the class
Before class, prepare three questions to ask a classmate about their life.
