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Course booklet · German · A1 · Beginner

A1.1 German course - Total beginners

Federica Zeppieri · 12 classes · starts 23 Dec

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. 1

    Sounds and first greetings

    Wed 23 Dec · 17:30

    Your 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 heißt
    Vocabulary
    hallo, guten Morgen, guten Abend, tschüss, auf Wiedersehen, danke, bitte, ich heiße, freut mich
    Before the class
    Before class, listen to how people say hello in German and say your name out loud: «Ich heiße…»
  2. 2

    Who you are and where you're from

    Wed 6 Jan · 17:30

    Say 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 in
    Vocabulary
    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. 3

    At the café

    Wed 13 Jan · 17:30

    Order 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 / einen
    Vocabulary
    der Kaffee, der Tee, das Croissant, das Wasser, die Rechnung, ich möchte, bitte, danke
    Before the class
    Before class, choose what you'd order and practise: «Ich möchte…»
  4. 4

    Numbers, prices and shopping

    Wed 20 Jan · 17:30

    Count, 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 macht
    Before the class
    Before class, count from 1 to 20 out loud and write the price of three things you bought this week.
  5. 5

    Time and your day

    Wed 27 Jan · 17:30

    Tell 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, essen
    Vocabulary
    die Uhr, der Morgen, der Nachmittag, der Abend, aufstehen, arbeiten, essen, schlafen
    Before the class
    Before class, write three things you do every day and at what time.
  6. 6

    At the market

    Wed 3 Feb · 17:30

    Buy 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 Flasche
    Before the class
    Before class, write a shopping list of five things you'd buy at a market.
  7. 7

    Around town

    Wed 10 Feb · 17:30

    Ask 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, geradeaus
    Before the class
    Before class, think of three places in your town and how you'd ask for them: «Wo ist…?»
  8. 8

    Your family

    Wed 17 Feb · 17:30

    Talk 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, meine
    Vocabulary
    die Familie, der Vater, die Mutter, der Bruder, die Schwester, der Sohn, die Tochter, die Kinder
    Before the class
    Before class, think of a family photo and name the people in it.
  9. 9

    What you love

    Wed 24 Feb · 17:30

    Share 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 · nicht
    Vocabulary
    ich mag, gern, nicht, das Kino, die Musik, das Kochen, das Reisen, der Sport
    Before the class
    Before class, write two things you love and one thing you don't: «Ich mag… … mag ich nicht.»
  10. 10

    Free time and the weekend

    Wed 3 Mar · 17:30

    Talk about your hobbies and what you do at the weekend, and ask your classmates the same. You'll say: Am Wochenende spiele ich Tennis.

    Grammar focus
    Days of the week · am Wochenende · the verb in second place
    Vocabulary
    der Montag … der Sonntag, das Wochenende, spielen, lesen, kochen, schwimmen, ins Kino gehen
    Before the class
    Before class, write down two hobbies you have and on which day you do them.
  11. 11

    Making plans together

    Wed 10 Mar · 17:30

    Invite a classmate, agree on a day and a time, or say no politely. You'll say: Hast du am Samstag Zeit?

    Grammar focus
    können (ich kann, du kannst) · Hast du Zeit? · Ja, gern / Leider nicht
    Vocabulary
    Zeit haben, sich treffen, heute Abend, morgen, um … Uhr, vielleicht, leider, gern
    Before the class
    Before class, think of one thing you would like to do with a classmate, and when.
  12. 12

    Final mission: your first conversation

    Wed 17 Mar · 17:30

    Put 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, likes
    Vocabulary
    Review of the vocabulary from the eleven classes
    Before the class
    Before class, prepare three questions to ask a classmate about their life.