German Vocabulary Course (Learn German with the Michel Thomas Method)
Published on 24. January 2019
Audio
CD-Audio
978-1-4736-9290-9 (ISBN)
Description
'I will build the foundation of the house, but it's up to you to decorate it.' Michel Thomas
Experience significant results in a remarkably short period of time thanks to the unique Michel Thomas Method, perfected over 50 years by celebrated psycholinguist Michel Thomas. The method works in tune with how the brain prefers to receive, store and then retrieve information. You'll stick with it, because you'll love it.
* Improve your German naturally and unforgettably, without strain
* Learn from listening and speaking, without the pressure of writing or memorizing
* Build up your German in manageable steps by thinking out answers for yourself
How does it work?
Learning vocabulary is notoriously difficult if attempted in the traditional way - with long lists and hours of memorization. With the Michel Thomas Method, new words and phrases are presented in such a way that they cannot be forgotten. In this five-hour phase-two course, Michel Thomas Method teacher Marion O'Dowd introduces over 1,000 carefully chosen 'power words,' including verbs and everyday phrases. Learning alongside two genuine students, you will exponentially build up your vocabulary by unlocking what you already know.
What's new?
This new edition includes remastered audio and comes in new, eco-friendly recyclable packaging.
Why is it so successful?
'What you understand, you know; and what you know, you don't forget.' - Michel Thomas
Michel Thomas believed that the greatest barrier to any form of learning was stress: stress from worrying about remembering what you are being taught, stress from being afraid to make a mistake, stress from failing.
With the Michel Thomas Method, all the attention is focused on removing stress and tension from the learning environment. The teacher takes on full responsibility for your understanding, and therefore your remembering, of what is being taught. In fact, the Michel Thomas Method forbids you from trying to memorize. There's no writing, no books, no homework.
The Michel Thomas Method works by stripping away all inessential language and breaking down the most important language into its component parts. Crystal-clear building blocks are then presented, and only when they are absorbed and understood is the next piece of the puzzle introduced, enabling you to reconstruct the language for yourself - to form your own sentences, to say what you want, when you want.
What's in the Course?*
German Vocabulary Course comprises 5 course CDs. The booklet is available to download from www.michelthomas.com.
*Note that the course content is the same as the previously entitled German Vocabulary Builder+ course, but does not include a CD-ROM.
Learn anywhere
Michel Thomas Method audio courses let you learn whenever you want: at home, in your car, or on the move. The audio CDs are MP3-compatible.
What learners are saying
I experienced the same sort of pleasure that you got from suddenly getting a crossword clue right or cracking a code...the finger-snapping moment of, Oh My God! I've just understood what you've said to me in Spanish or you've just understood me! -Peter LOVSTROM , Actor, 2017
I've used Michel Thomas to get off the starting block for French, Italian and Spanish and I'm always surprised by how much I can say after only a few hours of listening. The Michel Thomas Italian course organises verbs into logical groups which helps you pick them up fast. And perhaps more importantly, it shows you how to use this grammar to build useful sentences. -Katie from Joyoflanguages.com
Experience significant results in a remarkably short period of time thanks to the unique Michel Thomas Method, perfected over 50 years by celebrated psycholinguist Michel Thomas. The method works in tune with how the brain prefers to receive, store and then retrieve information. You'll stick with it, because you'll love it.
* Improve your German naturally and unforgettably, without strain
* Learn from listening and speaking, without the pressure of writing or memorizing
* Build up your German in manageable steps by thinking out answers for yourself
How does it work?
Learning vocabulary is notoriously difficult if attempted in the traditional way - with long lists and hours of memorization. With the Michel Thomas Method, new words and phrases are presented in such a way that they cannot be forgotten. In this five-hour phase-two course, Michel Thomas Method teacher Marion O'Dowd introduces over 1,000 carefully chosen 'power words,' including verbs and everyday phrases. Learning alongside two genuine students, you will exponentially build up your vocabulary by unlocking what you already know.
What's new?
This new edition includes remastered audio and comes in new, eco-friendly recyclable packaging.
Why is it so successful?
'What you understand, you know; and what you know, you don't forget.' - Michel Thomas
Michel Thomas believed that the greatest barrier to any form of learning was stress: stress from worrying about remembering what you are being taught, stress from being afraid to make a mistake, stress from failing.
With the Michel Thomas Method, all the attention is focused on removing stress and tension from the learning environment. The teacher takes on full responsibility for your understanding, and therefore your remembering, of what is being taught. In fact, the Michel Thomas Method forbids you from trying to memorize. There's no writing, no books, no homework.
The Michel Thomas Method works by stripping away all inessential language and breaking down the most important language into its component parts. Crystal-clear building blocks are then presented, and only when they are absorbed and understood is the next piece of the puzzle introduced, enabling you to reconstruct the language for yourself - to form your own sentences, to say what you want, when you want.
What's in the Course?*
German Vocabulary Course comprises 5 course CDs. The booklet is available to download from www.michelthomas.com.
*Note that the course content is the same as the previously entitled German Vocabulary Builder+ course, but does not include a CD-ROM.
Learn anywhere
Michel Thomas Method audio courses let you learn whenever you want: at home, in your car, or on the move. The audio CDs are MP3-compatible.
What learners are saying
I experienced the same sort of pleasure that you got from suddenly getting a crossword clue right or cracking a code...the finger-snapping moment of, Oh My God! I've just understood what you've said to me in Spanish or you've just understood me! -Peter LOVSTROM , Actor, 2017
I've used Michel Thomas to get off the starting block for French, Italian and Spanish and I'm always surprised by how much I can say after only a few hours of listening. The Michel Thomas Italian course organises verbs into logical groups which helps you pick them up fast. And perhaps more importantly, it shows you how to use this grammar to build useful sentences. -Katie from Joyoflanguages.com
Reviews / Votes
The nearest thing to painless learning - The TimesA unique and perfectly brilliant way of learning languages
The most extraordinary learning experience of my life
Thomas makes it simple - Daily Telegraph
Michel Thomas is a precious find indeed - The Guardian
Five minutes in and you already feel like you're winning - Time Out
More details
Edition
Unabridged edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Murray Press
Edition type
Unabridged edition
Product notice
Audio CD
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Duration
Dauer: 7200 sec
Weight
136 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4736-9290-9 (9781473692909)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Marion O'Dowd grew up in a bilingual home, the daughter of a Viennese lawyer and a Polish-born mother. She studied German at Bristol University and then went on to do an MA in German and Theatre. She taught German and Drama for many years, and was an enthusiastic and active advocate for Michel Thomas techniques.
Content
: Introduction: How this course came about, what it does and does not include, how it works, and how it is both faithful to and expands upon the Michel Thomas Language Courses
: Course segment 1: Cognates
1.: (CD 1, track 1)
*: Introduction
: (CD 1, track 2)
*: Anglo-Saxon influence t > d, t > th
*: Cognate examples: Bett-Brot-Butter-tanzen-Durst-danken; animals; hundred thousand; parts of the body
2.: (CD 1, track 3)
*: -ieren verbs: reservieren; servieren etc.
*: Anglo-Saxon influence p > b
*: das the - ein a
*: Word order: moechte sends the full verb to the end of the sentence
*: Hotel vocabulary: drinnen inside; draussen outside; Fruehstueck breakfast; Mittagessen lunch; Abendessen dinner
3.: (CD 1, track 4)
*: Kaffee und Kuchen tea-time
*: vorbei^kommen to come by
4.: (CD 1, track 4)
*: More -ieren verbs: transportieren; reduzieren etc.
*: Adjectives - standing alone: ausgezeichnet excellent; dunkel dark; hell light
*: Agreement of adjectives: es for neuter singular: ausgezeichnetes Bier; e for plural: gute Autos
*: Vocabulary: Produkte, Waren
5.: (CD1, track 5)
*: Winter/summer sports vocabulary: trainieren
*: Word order: promoting an item to the head of the sentence for emphasis
*: Es macht Spass! It's fun!
6.: (CD 1, track 5)
*: Kinds of sport: Sportarten
*: Masculine and feminine endings for professions: Sportler, Sportlerin
7.: (CD 1, track 6)
*: More -ieren verbs: respektieren respect; sich konzentrieren concentrate
*: Word-joining: Sprachregeln language rules
*: Polite Sie command form: Respektieren Sie!
*: um ... zu (+ infinitive) in order to ...
*: Possessive adjectival agreement: meine (fem.) - meine Reise
*: Past Tense of -ieren verbs: -iert ending: organisiert
*: Contractions: daran-damit-darauf: reagieren darauf react to it
*: dass that triggers a 'weil situation'
8.: (CD 1, track 7)
*: Nouns made from verbs: das Leben life; das Essen eating/food
*: Whilst ... -ing: Beim Studieren whilst studying
*: Zum Geburtstag gratulieren wishing someone happy birthday
*: Ihnen (polite to you) and dir (informal to you)
9.: (CD 1, track 8)
*: Irregular non-cognate -ieren verbs: verlieren lose; spazieren gehen go for a walk; passieren happen
*: Wie schrecklich! How terrible! Wie aergerlich! How annoying! Wie dumm! How stupid!
10.: (CD 1, track 9)
*: Nouns with -taet endings (pl. -taeten) correspond to -ity: Elektrizitaet electricity
*: im in the = masculine/neuter for 'static situation': im Zimmer
*: General house vocabulary
*: unter^nehmen to undertake
*: Was fuer? What sort of?
11.: (CD 1, track 10)
*: Time-Manner-Place rule (TEMP) Wann? When; Wie? How?; Wo?; Where?; Wohin? Where to?
*: Was gibt's zu tun hier? What is there to do here?
12.: (CD 1, track 11)
*: Ich schlage vor, dass ... I suggest that ...
*: lieber rather, preferably
*: ins into the - movement into a place: ins Theater
13.: (CD 1, track 12)
*: More -taet words: Universitaet; Spezialitaet; etc.
*: Pronouncing z and st sounds
*: es gibt + zu + verb there is/there are ... to do
*: Word order: Inversion after dort: Dort gibt es ...
*: einmalig unique; ein Mal once
*: Mensch/Menschen man/humanity; Leute people
*: besitzen to own/possess
14.: (CD 1, track 13)
*: 'Belonging situation': die (singular and plural) changes to der of the
*: The common -artig ending meaning like: grossartig superb
15.: (CD 1, track 13)
*: More -taet words and adjectives within those words: kreativ; aktiv; etc.
: (CD 2, track 1)
*: Erfolgreich successful; heutzutage nowadays
*: Word order: denn for/because does not affect word order
16.: (CD 2, track 2)
*: -keit/heit words correspond to ity/ness/hood: Moeglichkeit possibility; Gelegenheit opportunity
*: Sehenswuerdigkeiten sights (sights worth seeing): Brandenburger Tor/Berliner Mauer
: (CD 2, track 3)
*: -keit words based on adjectives: heiter > Heiterkeit etc.
*: -faehig = -able. -bar ending = -ful: dankbar > grateful
*: Words based on druecken: (sich) aus^druecken express (oneself); der Ausdruck expression; der Eindruck impression; beeindrucken impress
*: More -keit words formed from adjectives: Kleinigkeit a little something etc.
17.: (CD 2, track 4)
*: More -heit nouns: Gesundheit health; Krankheit illness
*: gegen against
*: an^ziehen to put on and an^schnallen to strap in
*: Forming opposites: gluecklich/ungluecklich happy/unhappy
*: Wie die Zeit vergeht How time flies; die Vergangenheit the past
18.: (CD 2, track 5)
*: Feminine die words: -ung; -taet; -heit; -keit
*: Forming nouns from verbs: melden announce > Meldung announcement etc.
*: um around; ueber over; wegen due to
*: dieses this: dieses Museum
*: nach according to; Meiner Meinung nach in my opinion
*: Selbst words: Selbstbedienung self-service etc.
19.: (CD 2, track 6)
*: Word-building using teil part
*: Lebensmittel (the) means to live
*: reinigen to clean; verschmutzen pollute; Umweltverschmutzung environmental pollution
20.: (CD 2, track 7)
*: Affinity between die words ending in -schaft and ship: Freundschaft > friendship etc.
*: Ihre (feminine ending) = (polite) your
21.: (CD 2, track 8)
*: Endings: -voll -full; -los -less: liebevoll loving; humorlos without humour
*: wenn triggers a 'weil situation'
22.: (CD 2, track 9)
*: Ending -ell sometimes corresponds to -al: formell formal
*: False friends: eventuell possibly; aktuell current
*: Ending isch > ish, ic, ical: kindisch childish; praktisch practical; dynamisch dynamic
: Course segment 2: Verbs
1.: (CD 2, track 10)
*: Review of en and n verbs: schicken send; brauchen need; tun do; sein be
*: Handles: wollen, sollen, koennen, muessen
*: einkaufen gehen to go shopping
*: Link-word: da as/because
2.: (CD 2, track 11)
*: Regular 'good guys': Present Tense with schreiben an to write to
*: Feminine e ending - plural en (e.g. die Rose) Exceptions: der Junge, der Kaese, der Name, das Ende
*: schenken - stecken - brauchen - erscheinen
*: Polite command form Sie: Stecken Sie ... Put ... !
*: Ihre your
*: naechstes next; letztes last; jedes every; dieses this; Wochenende weekend
*: Present Tense can indicate action in near future
3.: (CD 3, track 1)
*: gerade in the process of ...
*: mein(e), sein(e), ihr(e), Ihr(e) with examples using auf^schreiben, beschreiben, lieben, tanzen, ... hat...gebrochen ... has broken ...
*: Difference between kennen and wissen
4.: (CD 3, track 2)
*: du form in the Present Tense: Wann kommst du an?; Wie lange bleibst du?; Bringst du mir etwas mit?
5.: (CD 3, track 3)
*: Irregular 'bad guys': three groups (only irregular in du, er, sie, es form)
*: Group 1: Adding an i before the e: lesen, empfehlen, sehen, aus^sehen, sich an^sehen
*: huebscher als (prettier than)
6.: (CD 3, track 4)
*: Group 2: Adding an Umlaut a > ae: fahren
*: mit dem Auto, Zug, Schiff, Bus, Flugzeug, Rad
*: Zeug, Flugzeug, Fahrzeug, Spielzeug, Werkzeug, Waschzeug
*: wie like
*: zur + feminine words, zum + masculine/neuter words
*: Separable verbs: ab^fahren, weg^fahren, los^fahren to drive off
*: fangen to catch; anfangen to start and wenn if and wann? When?
*: ein^schlafen fall asleep: Word order: Wenn das Theaterstueck zu lang ist, schlaefst du ein
: (CD 3, track 5)
*: fallen fall; laufen run: Wenn du ... laeufst, faellst du hin
*: eine Rede halten give a speech; einladen invite: Wenn du ... haeltst, laedt er dich ein.
*: tragen wear and clothes
7.: (CD 3, track 6)
*: Group 3: e changes to i: helfen to help
*: Schmerzen pains: Kopf, Ruecken, Magen, Hals, Zahnschmerzen and gegen against
*: Es tut mir weh! It hurts!
*: Informal command: Hilf mir!
*: los^werden to get rid of
*: zum Arzt, zum Zahnarzt, zur Apotheke
: (CD 3, track 7)
*: werden to become and professions
*: Let's ... command form: Hoffen wir ...
*: Wo? Where?; Dort! There!; Wohin? Where to?; Dorthin! To there!
: (CD 3, track 8)
*: essen eat; fressen eat (for animals); vergessen forget: Vergiss nicht! Don't forget!
*: sprechen ueber to talk about
*: auf^ziehen to tease; treffen to meet; geben give: Gib mir! Give me!
*: Wanting someone to do something: Ich will, dass du ... + verb; Moechtest du, dass ich ... + verb
*: aus + countries but: aus der Schweiz; aus der Tuerkei
*: nehmen to take: unter-, ueber-, heraus-, herein-, herauf-, herunter^nehmen, ab^nehmen, zu^nehmen
8.: (CD 3, track 9)
*: Introduction to the Past Tense: Verbs diving with haben: gelebt, gearbeitet, gegeben, gewusst, gedacht, gebracht
9.: (CD 4, track 1)
*: Verbs starting with be- in the Past (bezahlen, bestellen) have no ge-
*: duerfen to be allowed to
*: bezahlt, bestellt, beschlossen, besucht, besichtigt, begonnen, besorgt, benutzt
*: Wer? Who?
*: Speisekarte menu card; Vor- und Nachspeisen starters and desserts; Hauptgerichte main courses
*: Verkehrsmittel: S-Bahn commuter-line; U-Bahn Underground; Strassenbahn tram
*: Comparatives: guenstiger, billiger, noch billiger
10.: (CD 4, track 2)
*: ein^packen pack; aus^packen unpack; das Gepaeck luggage
*: Accusative case: 'victim of the verb': der > den: Der Gepaecktraeger traegt den Koffer
11.: (CD 4, track 3)
*: Examples: 'victim of the verb' situation
*: zuerst firstly; danach afterwards
12.: (CD 4, track 4)
*: eingepackt; ausgepackt: practice with the Accusative Case
*: Link-word: falls in case
*: Verb - comma - verb situation: Falls es regnet, habe ich einen Regenschirm mitgebracht
*: Clothes vocabulary: Regenmantel, Regenhut, Schal, Regenschirm, Pulli, Hosenanzug, Handschuhe, Hose, Bluse, Bikini, Badeanzug
13.: (CD 4, track 5)
*: Verbs diving with sein: Mostly -en for diving form
*: ein, aus, um^steigen (gestiegen) to climb into, out of, change( means of transport)
*: Koennten Sie mir bitte sagen ... ? Could you please tell me ... ?
14.: (CD 4, track 6)
*: More verbs using sein in the Past: fliegen fly; laufen run
*: zu + die words: zur Bushaltestelle
*: verpasst missed + Accusative case
*: nach + towns/countries. Exceptions: in die Schweiz; in die Tuerkei
15.: (CD 4, track 7)
*: sich duzen and sich siezen (being informal and formal)
*: per du sein be on informal terms
: Course segment 3: Everyday Expressions
1.: (CD 4, track 8)
*: Happy situation: sich freuen to be pleased; sich freuen ueber to be pleased about; sich freuen auf to look forward to
*: hin und zurueck there and back
*: Sommer-, Oster-, Weihnachtsferien Summer, Easter, Christmas holidays
*: Months of the year (complete listing in the Glossary)
2.: (CD 4, track 9)
*: Spass haben to have fun and Spass machen to be fun
*: Viel a lot of and wenig little: no agreement in the Singular. Viele Leute many people. Exception: vielen Dank many thanks
*: verbringen spend time and ausgeben spend money
3.: (CD 4, track 10)
*: Liking things: gern, gerne gladly: Ich diskutiere gern I like to discuss
*: Preferring: lieber rather: Ich trinke lieber Tee I prefer drinking tea
*: meinen to mean: meiner Meinung nach ... in my opinion ...
*: fern^sehen to watch TV; Sport treiben/machen to do sport; uebernachten to stay overnight; buchen to book; vorziehen to prefer
4.: (CD 4, track 11)
*: Enjoyment: geniessen to enjoy
*: Geschmack taste; backen to bake; Kuchen cake; frischgebacken freshly baked
*: Gestern habe ich den Geschmack vom frischgebackenen Brot in der Baeckerei genossen Yesterday I enjoyed the taste of freshly baked bread in the bakery
*: Aroma aroma; frischgemahlenen freshly ground
*: Hast du das Aroma vom frischgemahlenen Kaffee im Cafe genossen? Did you enjoy the aroma of freshly ground coffee in the cafe?
*: 'mit, von, zu situation': von of/from triggers change in der/das words to dem:
: von + dem = vom
*: mit with and zu to trigger the same change in der/das words: zu + dem = zum
*: echt truly; spannend exciting; lustig funny; dumm/doof stupid; schlecht bad
5.: (CD 4, track 12)
*: Lust haben to fancy doing something: Ich haette Lust zur Kunstausstellung zu gehen I would fancy going to the art exhibition
*: hassen to hate: Moderne Kunst hasse ich! I hate modern art!
*: provozieren to provoke
*: um ... zu + whole verb in order to ... : um eine Reaktion/einen Schock zu provozieren
6.: (CD 4, track 13)
*: Annoyance and weather: sich aergern ueber to be annoyed about
*: damit, davon, darin, darueber with it, of it, in it, about it
*: Es geht mir auf die Nerven! It gets on my nerves!
*: irritieren to irritate; Papierkrieg battle with paperwork
7.: (CD 5, track 1)
*: Shock, disappointment, discouragement
*: schockieren to shock; schockierend shocking
*: enttaeuschen to disappoint; enttaeuschend disappointing
*: Link word: dass that triggers the 'weil situation'
*: ent- corresponds to dis: entdecken discover
*: Mut courage; mutig courageous; ermutigen encourage; entmutigen discourage
8.: (CD 5, track 2)
*: Surprise: ueberraschen to surprise; ueberraschend surprising
*: sich beklagen to complain
9.: (CD 5, track 2)
*: Anger: boese sein to be angry/cross; wuetend furious
*: mit mir, dir, ihm, ihr, uns, ihnen, Ihnen with me, you (informal), him, her, us, them, you (formal)
10.: (CD 5, track 3)
*: Embarrassment: peinlich embarrassing: Es war mir so peinlich ... It was so embarrassing ...
*: Trinkgeld hinterlassen to leave a tip
*: 'UEbung macht den Meister' 'Practice makes perfect'
*: fuer triggers a change in der words only: der > den
*: fuer + das = fuers
11.: (CD 5, track 4)
*: Expressions based on haben
*: keine Zeit haben to have no time
*: Ich habe keine Ahnung I haven't a clue
12.: (CD 5, track 4)
*: Ich habe Hunger/Durst; Ich bin hungrig/durstig I'm hungry/thirsty
*: Ich habe einen Baerenhunger; Ich habe einen riesigen Durst I'm famished; I'm enormously thirsty
13.: (CD 5, track 4)
*: ver- intensifies meaning: verhungern/verdursten to die of hunger/thirst
14.: (CD 5, track 5)
*: Glueck haben to be lucky; Pech haben to be unlucky
*: Ausweispapiere ID papers; Studentenausweis student card; Pass passport
*: loesen to solve
15.: (CD 5, track 6)
*: sich Sorgen machen to worry; Sorgen haben to have worries
*: entweder ... oder either ... or
*: gute/schlechte Laune haben to be in a good/bad mood
16.: (CD 5, track 6)
*: Angst haben vor to be frightened of
*: Spinnen spiders; Schlangen snakes; Schlange stehen to queue
17.: (CD 5, track 7)
*: Recht haben to be right; Schuld haben an ... to be to blame; die Gewohnheit haben to be accustomed to
18.: (CD 5, track 7)
*: die Absicht haben to intend to
*: morgen/abends in the mornings/evenings; spaet dran sein to be late
19.: (CD 5, track 8)
*: Telling the time (numbers listed in the Glossary)
*: Wieviel Uhr ist es?; Wie spaet ist es? What's the time?
*: Es ist drei Uhr It's 3 o'clock; Viertel nach/vor quarter past/to
*: halb elf 10:30
*: um at(+ time)
20.: (CD 5, track 8)
*: Meeting up: einen Termin ausmachen to fix a date
*: sich treffen to meet up: Um wieviel Uhr treffen wir uns? When do we meet?/When are we meeting?
21.: (CD 5, track 9)
*: Es hat keinen Sinn ... There's no point ...
*: 'Victim of the verb' personal pronouns: mich me; dich (informal) you; ihn him; sie her/them; Sie (formal) you
*: Stoer mich nicht! Ich habe zu tun Don't disturb me! I'm busy
*: 'Puenktlichkeit ist Hoeflichkeit' 'Punctuality is politeness'
22.: (CD 5, track 10)
*: Expressions based on sein: weather
*: Wind/windig wind/windy; Sonne/sonnig sun/sunny; Sturm/stuermisch storm/stormy
*: Es regnet it's raining; es schneit it's snowing; stark/leicht bewoelkt very/slightly cloudy
*: die Wettervorhersage weather forecast
23.: (CD 5, track 11)
*: More expressions using sein
*: Mir ist kalt, warm, heiss, kuehl, schlecht, uebel I feel cold, warm, hot, cool, unwell, sick
24.: (CD 5, track 11)
*: Es ist mir klar It's clear to me
25.: (CD 5, track 12)
*: Es ist/es sind there is/there are stating a general situation
*: Es gibt there is/there are more specific + 'victim of the verb' situation
*: Es war/es waren there was/there were; es gab there was/there were
*: niemand nobody
26.: (CD 5, track 13)
*: Was gibt's? What's new?
*: Gibt's etwas Neues bei dir? Is there anything new with you?
*: Using etwas + adjective transformed into a noun: etwas Kleines something small
*: nichts and wenig: nichts Interessantes nothing interesting
*: dasselbe the same; etwas Anderes something different
27.: (CD 5, track 14)
*: Attitude words used to give emphasis: denn then: Was ist denn los? What's the matter then?
*: Wieso denn? How so? Wieso denn nicht? Why not?
*: halt simply/just: Er ist halt immer gestresst He's just always stressed out
28.: (CD 5, track 15)
*: das erste Mal the first time; einmal once
*: Attitude word: mal just adds a touch of informality: Moment mal! Just a moment!; Ich muss mal ueberlegen! Just let me have a think!; Guck mal! Just look!; Schauen Sie mal! Now look!; Hoer mal! Now listen!; Na, raten Sie mal! Well, just guess!
29.: (CD 5, track 16)
*: Attitude word: doch! yes! after a negative statement: Du bist nicht muede, oder? You're not tired, are you? - Doch! Yes, I am!
*: oder? Isn't that so?; nicht wahr? Isn't that true?
*: Kommen Sie doch! Do come!
*: Sei! Be! (informal command); Seien Sie! Be!(formal command): Sei doch nicht so dumm! Don't be so stupid!; Seien Sie so nett und sagen Sie mir ... Be so kind and tell me ...
*: ja really adds emphasis: Das war ja toll! That really was great!
*: Es ist doch nun mal so! That's just how it is!
30.: (CD 5, track 17)
*: Concluding remarks and suggestions for further practice
*: 'Ich bin ein Berliner' - JFK
*: 'Ronnie, you can now say you to me!' - Kohl
*: bekommen to get; werden to become
*: eventuell possibly; endlich eventually/in the end
: Course segment 1: Cognates
1.: (CD 1, track 1)
*: Introduction
: (CD 1, track 2)
*: Anglo-Saxon influence t > d, t > th
*: Cognate examples: Bett-Brot-Butter-tanzen-Durst-danken; animals; hundred thousand; parts of the body
2.: (CD 1, track 3)
*: -ieren verbs: reservieren; servieren etc.
*: Anglo-Saxon influence p > b
*: das the - ein a
*: Word order: moechte sends the full verb to the end of the sentence
*: Hotel vocabulary: drinnen inside; draussen outside; Fruehstueck breakfast; Mittagessen lunch; Abendessen dinner
3.: (CD 1, track 4)
*: Kaffee und Kuchen tea-time
*: vorbei^kommen to come by
4.: (CD 1, track 4)
*: More -ieren verbs: transportieren; reduzieren etc.
*: Adjectives - standing alone: ausgezeichnet excellent; dunkel dark; hell light
*: Agreement of adjectives: es for neuter singular: ausgezeichnetes Bier; e for plural: gute Autos
*: Vocabulary: Produkte, Waren
5.: (CD1, track 5)
*: Winter/summer sports vocabulary: trainieren
*: Word order: promoting an item to the head of the sentence for emphasis
*: Es macht Spass! It's fun!
6.: (CD 1, track 5)
*: Kinds of sport: Sportarten
*: Masculine and feminine endings for professions: Sportler, Sportlerin
7.: (CD 1, track 6)
*: More -ieren verbs: respektieren respect; sich konzentrieren concentrate
*: Word-joining: Sprachregeln language rules
*: Polite Sie command form: Respektieren Sie!
*: um ... zu (+ infinitive) in order to ...
*: Possessive adjectival agreement: meine (fem.) - meine Reise
*: Past Tense of -ieren verbs: -iert ending: organisiert
*: Contractions: daran-damit-darauf: reagieren darauf react to it
*: dass that triggers a 'weil situation'
8.: (CD 1, track 7)
*: Nouns made from verbs: das Leben life; das Essen eating/food
*: Whilst ... -ing: Beim Studieren whilst studying
*: Zum Geburtstag gratulieren wishing someone happy birthday
*: Ihnen (polite to you) and dir (informal to you)
9.: (CD 1, track 8)
*: Irregular non-cognate -ieren verbs: verlieren lose; spazieren gehen go for a walk; passieren happen
*: Wie schrecklich! How terrible! Wie aergerlich! How annoying! Wie dumm! How stupid!
10.: (CD 1, track 9)
*: Nouns with -taet endings (pl. -taeten) correspond to -ity: Elektrizitaet electricity
*: im in the = masculine/neuter for 'static situation': im Zimmer
*: General house vocabulary
*: unter^nehmen to undertake
*: Was fuer? What sort of?
11.: (CD 1, track 10)
*: Time-Manner-Place rule (TEMP) Wann? When; Wie? How?; Wo?; Where?; Wohin? Where to?
*: Was gibt's zu tun hier? What is there to do here?
12.: (CD 1, track 11)
*: Ich schlage vor, dass ... I suggest that ...
*: lieber rather, preferably
*: ins into the - movement into a place: ins Theater
13.: (CD 1, track 12)
*: More -taet words: Universitaet; Spezialitaet; etc.
*: Pronouncing z and st sounds
*: es gibt + zu + verb there is/there are ... to do
*: Word order: Inversion after dort: Dort gibt es ...
*: einmalig unique; ein Mal once
*: Mensch/Menschen man/humanity; Leute people
*: besitzen to own/possess
14.: (CD 1, track 13)
*: 'Belonging situation': die (singular and plural) changes to der of the
*: The common -artig ending meaning like: grossartig superb
15.: (CD 1, track 13)
*: More -taet words and adjectives within those words: kreativ; aktiv; etc.
: (CD 2, track 1)
*: Erfolgreich successful; heutzutage nowadays
*: Word order: denn for/because does not affect word order
16.: (CD 2, track 2)
*: -keit/heit words correspond to ity/ness/hood: Moeglichkeit possibility; Gelegenheit opportunity
*: Sehenswuerdigkeiten sights (sights worth seeing): Brandenburger Tor/Berliner Mauer
: (CD 2, track 3)
*: -keit words based on adjectives: heiter > Heiterkeit etc.
*: -faehig = -able. -bar ending = -ful: dankbar > grateful
*: Words based on druecken: (sich) aus^druecken express (oneself); der Ausdruck expression; der Eindruck impression; beeindrucken impress
*: More -keit words formed from adjectives: Kleinigkeit a little something etc.
17.: (CD 2, track 4)
*: More -heit nouns: Gesundheit health; Krankheit illness
*: gegen against
*: an^ziehen to put on and an^schnallen to strap in
*: Forming opposites: gluecklich/ungluecklich happy/unhappy
*: Wie die Zeit vergeht How time flies; die Vergangenheit the past
18.: (CD 2, track 5)
*: Feminine die words: -ung; -taet; -heit; -keit
*: Forming nouns from verbs: melden announce > Meldung announcement etc.
*: um around; ueber over; wegen due to
*: dieses this: dieses Museum
*: nach according to; Meiner Meinung nach in my opinion
*: Selbst words: Selbstbedienung self-service etc.
19.: (CD 2, track 6)
*: Word-building using teil part
*: Lebensmittel (the) means to live
*: reinigen to clean; verschmutzen pollute; Umweltverschmutzung environmental pollution
20.: (CD 2, track 7)
*: Affinity between die words ending in -schaft and ship: Freundschaft > friendship etc.
*: Ihre (feminine ending) = (polite) your
21.: (CD 2, track 8)
*: Endings: -voll -full; -los -less: liebevoll loving; humorlos without humour
*: wenn triggers a 'weil situation'
22.: (CD 2, track 9)
*: Ending -ell sometimes corresponds to -al: formell formal
*: False friends: eventuell possibly; aktuell current
*: Ending isch > ish, ic, ical: kindisch childish; praktisch practical; dynamisch dynamic
: Course segment 2: Verbs
1.: (CD 2, track 10)
*: Review of en and n verbs: schicken send; brauchen need; tun do; sein be
*: Handles: wollen, sollen, koennen, muessen
*: einkaufen gehen to go shopping
*: Link-word: da as/because
2.: (CD 2, track 11)
*: Regular 'good guys': Present Tense with schreiben an to write to
*: Feminine e ending - plural en (e.g. die Rose) Exceptions: der Junge, der Kaese, der Name, das Ende
*: schenken - stecken - brauchen - erscheinen
*: Polite command form Sie: Stecken Sie ... Put ... !
*: Ihre your
*: naechstes next; letztes last; jedes every; dieses this; Wochenende weekend
*: Present Tense can indicate action in near future
3.: (CD 3, track 1)
*: gerade in the process of ...
*: mein(e), sein(e), ihr(e), Ihr(e) with examples using auf^schreiben, beschreiben, lieben, tanzen, ... hat...gebrochen ... has broken ...
*: Difference between kennen and wissen
4.: (CD 3, track 2)
*: du form in the Present Tense: Wann kommst du an?; Wie lange bleibst du?; Bringst du mir etwas mit?
5.: (CD 3, track 3)
*: Irregular 'bad guys': three groups (only irregular in du, er, sie, es form)
*: Group 1: Adding an i before the e: lesen, empfehlen, sehen, aus^sehen, sich an^sehen
*: huebscher als (prettier than)
6.: (CD 3, track 4)
*: Group 2: Adding an Umlaut a > ae: fahren
*: mit dem Auto, Zug, Schiff, Bus, Flugzeug, Rad
*: Zeug, Flugzeug, Fahrzeug, Spielzeug, Werkzeug, Waschzeug
*: wie like
*: zur + feminine words, zum + masculine/neuter words
*: Separable verbs: ab^fahren, weg^fahren, los^fahren to drive off
*: fangen to catch; anfangen to start and wenn if and wann? When?
*: ein^schlafen fall asleep: Word order: Wenn das Theaterstueck zu lang ist, schlaefst du ein
: (CD 3, track 5)
*: fallen fall; laufen run: Wenn du ... laeufst, faellst du hin
*: eine Rede halten give a speech; einladen invite: Wenn du ... haeltst, laedt er dich ein.
*: tragen wear and clothes
7.: (CD 3, track 6)
*: Group 3: e changes to i: helfen to help
*: Schmerzen pains: Kopf, Ruecken, Magen, Hals, Zahnschmerzen and gegen against
*: Es tut mir weh! It hurts!
*: Informal command: Hilf mir!
*: los^werden to get rid of
*: zum Arzt, zum Zahnarzt, zur Apotheke
: (CD 3, track 7)
*: werden to become and professions
*: Let's ... command form: Hoffen wir ...
*: Wo? Where?; Dort! There!; Wohin? Where to?; Dorthin! To there!
: (CD 3, track 8)
*: essen eat; fressen eat (for animals); vergessen forget: Vergiss nicht! Don't forget!
*: sprechen ueber to talk about
*: auf^ziehen to tease; treffen to meet; geben give: Gib mir! Give me!
*: Wanting someone to do something: Ich will, dass du ... + verb; Moechtest du, dass ich ... + verb
*: aus + countries but: aus der Schweiz; aus der Tuerkei
*: nehmen to take: unter-, ueber-, heraus-, herein-, herauf-, herunter^nehmen, ab^nehmen, zu^nehmen
8.: (CD 3, track 9)
*: Introduction to the Past Tense: Verbs diving with haben: gelebt, gearbeitet, gegeben, gewusst, gedacht, gebracht
9.: (CD 4, track 1)
*: Verbs starting with be- in the Past (bezahlen, bestellen) have no ge-
*: duerfen to be allowed to
*: bezahlt, bestellt, beschlossen, besucht, besichtigt, begonnen, besorgt, benutzt
*: Wer? Who?
*: Speisekarte menu card; Vor- und Nachspeisen starters and desserts; Hauptgerichte main courses
*: Verkehrsmittel: S-Bahn commuter-line; U-Bahn Underground; Strassenbahn tram
*: Comparatives: guenstiger, billiger, noch billiger
10.: (CD 4, track 2)
*: ein^packen pack; aus^packen unpack; das Gepaeck luggage
*: Accusative case: 'victim of the verb': der > den: Der Gepaecktraeger traegt den Koffer
11.: (CD 4, track 3)
*: Examples: 'victim of the verb' situation
*: zuerst firstly; danach afterwards
12.: (CD 4, track 4)
*: eingepackt; ausgepackt: practice with the Accusative Case
*: Link-word: falls in case
*: Verb - comma - verb situation: Falls es regnet, habe ich einen Regenschirm mitgebracht
*: Clothes vocabulary: Regenmantel, Regenhut, Schal, Regenschirm, Pulli, Hosenanzug, Handschuhe, Hose, Bluse, Bikini, Badeanzug
13.: (CD 4, track 5)
*: Verbs diving with sein: Mostly -en for diving form
*: ein, aus, um^steigen (gestiegen) to climb into, out of, change( means of transport)
*: Koennten Sie mir bitte sagen ... ? Could you please tell me ... ?
14.: (CD 4, track 6)
*: More verbs using sein in the Past: fliegen fly; laufen run
*: zu + die words: zur Bushaltestelle
*: verpasst missed + Accusative case
*: nach + towns/countries. Exceptions: in die Schweiz; in die Tuerkei
15.: (CD 4, track 7)
*: sich duzen and sich siezen (being informal and formal)
*: per du sein be on informal terms
: Course segment 3: Everyday Expressions
1.: (CD 4, track 8)
*: Happy situation: sich freuen to be pleased; sich freuen ueber to be pleased about; sich freuen auf to look forward to
*: hin und zurueck there and back
*: Sommer-, Oster-, Weihnachtsferien Summer, Easter, Christmas holidays
*: Months of the year (complete listing in the Glossary)
2.: (CD 4, track 9)
*: Spass haben to have fun and Spass machen to be fun
*: Viel a lot of and wenig little: no agreement in the Singular. Viele Leute many people. Exception: vielen Dank many thanks
*: verbringen spend time and ausgeben spend money
3.: (CD 4, track 10)
*: Liking things: gern, gerne gladly: Ich diskutiere gern I like to discuss
*: Preferring: lieber rather: Ich trinke lieber Tee I prefer drinking tea
*: meinen to mean: meiner Meinung nach ... in my opinion ...
*: fern^sehen to watch TV; Sport treiben/machen to do sport; uebernachten to stay overnight; buchen to book; vorziehen to prefer
4.: (CD 4, track 11)
*: Enjoyment: geniessen to enjoy
*: Geschmack taste; backen to bake; Kuchen cake; frischgebacken freshly baked
*: Gestern habe ich den Geschmack vom frischgebackenen Brot in der Baeckerei genossen Yesterday I enjoyed the taste of freshly baked bread in the bakery
*: Aroma aroma; frischgemahlenen freshly ground
*: Hast du das Aroma vom frischgemahlenen Kaffee im Cafe genossen? Did you enjoy the aroma of freshly ground coffee in the cafe?
*: 'mit, von, zu situation': von of/from triggers change in der/das words to dem:
: von + dem = vom
*: mit with and zu to trigger the same change in der/das words: zu + dem = zum
*: echt truly; spannend exciting; lustig funny; dumm/doof stupid; schlecht bad
5.: (CD 4, track 12)
*: Lust haben to fancy doing something: Ich haette Lust zur Kunstausstellung zu gehen I would fancy going to the art exhibition
*: hassen to hate: Moderne Kunst hasse ich! I hate modern art!
*: provozieren to provoke
*: um ... zu + whole verb in order to ... : um eine Reaktion/einen Schock zu provozieren
6.: (CD 4, track 13)
*: Annoyance and weather: sich aergern ueber to be annoyed about
*: damit, davon, darin, darueber with it, of it, in it, about it
*: Es geht mir auf die Nerven! It gets on my nerves!
*: irritieren to irritate; Papierkrieg battle with paperwork
7.: (CD 5, track 1)
*: Shock, disappointment, discouragement
*: schockieren to shock; schockierend shocking
*: enttaeuschen to disappoint; enttaeuschend disappointing
*: Link word: dass that triggers the 'weil situation'
*: ent- corresponds to dis: entdecken discover
*: Mut courage; mutig courageous; ermutigen encourage; entmutigen discourage
8.: (CD 5, track 2)
*: Surprise: ueberraschen to surprise; ueberraschend surprising
*: sich beklagen to complain
9.: (CD 5, track 2)
*: Anger: boese sein to be angry/cross; wuetend furious
*: mit mir, dir, ihm, ihr, uns, ihnen, Ihnen with me, you (informal), him, her, us, them, you (formal)
10.: (CD 5, track 3)
*: Embarrassment: peinlich embarrassing: Es war mir so peinlich ... It was so embarrassing ...
*: Trinkgeld hinterlassen to leave a tip
*: 'UEbung macht den Meister' 'Practice makes perfect'
*: fuer triggers a change in der words only: der > den
*: fuer + das = fuers
11.: (CD 5, track 4)
*: Expressions based on haben
*: keine Zeit haben to have no time
*: Ich habe keine Ahnung I haven't a clue
12.: (CD 5, track 4)
*: Ich habe Hunger/Durst; Ich bin hungrig/durstig I'm hungry/thirsty
*: Ich habe einen Baerenhunger; Ich habe einen riesigen Durst I'm famished; I'm enormously thirsty
13.: (CD 5, track 4)
*: ver- intensifies meaning: verhungern/verdursten to die of hunger/thirst
14.: (CD 5, track 5)
*: Glueck haben to be lucky; Pech haben to be unlucky
*: Ausweispapiere ID papers; Studentenausweis student card; Pass passport
*: loesen to solve
15.: (CD 5, track 6)
*: sich Sorgen machen to worry; Sorgen haben to have worries
*: entweder ... oder either ... or
*: gute/schlechte Laune haben to be in a good/bad mood
16.: (CD 5, track 6)
*: Angst haben vor to be frightened of
*: Spinnen spiders; Schlangen snakes; Schlange stehen to queue
17.: (CD 5, track 7)
*: Recht haben to be right; Schuld haben an ... to be to blame; die Gewohnheit haben to be accustomed to
18.: (CD 5, track 7)
*: die Absicht haben to intend to
*: morgen/abends in the mornings/evenings; spaet dran sein to be late
19.: (CD 5, track 8)
*: Telling the time (numbers listed in the Glossary)
*: Wieviel Uhr ist es?; Wie spaet ist es? What's the time?
*: Es ist drei Uhr It's 3 o'clock; Viertel nach/vor quarter past/to
*: halb elf 10:30
*: um at(+ time)
20.: (CD 5, track 8)
*: Meeting up: einen Termin ausmachen to fix a date
*: sich treffen to meet up: Um wieviel Uhr treffen wir uns? When do we meet?/When are we meeting?
21.: (CD 5, track 9)
*: Es hat keinen Sinn ... There's no point ...
*: 'Victim of the verb' personal pronouns: mich me; dich (informal) you; ihn him; sie her/them; Sie (formal) you
*: Stoer mich nicht! Ich habe zu tun Don't disturb me! I'm busy
*: 'Puenktlichkeit ist Hoeflichkeit' 'Punctuality is politeness'
22.: (CD 5, track 10)
*: Expressions based on sein: weather
*: Wind/windig wind/windy; Sonne/sonnig sun/sunny; Sturm/stuermisch storm/stormy
*: Es regnet it's raining; es schneit it's snowing; stark/leicht bewoelkt very/slightly cloudy
*: die Wettervorhersage weather forecast
23.: (CD 5, track 11)
*: More expressions using sein
*: Mir ist kalt, warm, heiss, kuehl, schlecht, uebel I feel cold, warm, hot, cool, unwell, sick
24.: (CD 5, track 11)
*: Es ist mir klar It's clear to me
25.: (CD 5, track 12)
*: Es ist/es sind there is/there are stating a general situation
*: Es gibt there is/there are more specific + 'victim of the verb' situation
*: Es war/es waren there was/there were; es gab there was/there were
*: niemand nobody
26.: (CD 5, track 13)
*: Was gibt's? What's new?
*: Gibt's etwas Neues bei dir? Is there anything new with you?
*: Using etwas + adjective transformed into a noun: etwas Kleines something small
*: nichts and wenig: nichts Interessantes nothing interesting
*: dasselbe the same; etwas Anderes something different
27.: (CD 5, track 14)
*: Attitude words used to give emphasis: denn then: Was ist denn los? What's the matter then?
*: Wieso denn? How so? Wieso denn nicht? Why not?
*: halt simply/just: Er ist halt immer gestresst He's just always stressed out
28.: (CD 5, track 15)
*: das erste Mal the first time; einmal once
*: Attitude word: mal just adds a touch of informality: Moment mal! Just a moment!; Ich muss mal ueberlegen! Just let me have a think!; Guck mal! Just look!; Schauen Sie mal! Now look!; Hoer mal! Now listen!; Na, raten Sie mal! Well, just guess!
29.: (CD 5, track 16)
*: Attitude word: doch! yes! after a negative statement: Du bist nicht muede, oder? You're not tired, are you? - Doch! Yes, I am!
*: oder? Isn't that so?; nicht wahr? Isn't that true?
*: Kommen Sie doch! Do come!
*: Sei! Be! (informal command); Seien Sie! Be!(formal command): Sei doch nicht so dumm! Don't be so stupid!; Seien Sie so nett und sagen Sie mir ... Be so kind and tell me ...
*: ja really adds emphasis: Das war ja toll! That really was great!
*: Es ist doch nun mal so! That's just how it is!
30.: (CD 5, track 17)
*: Concluding remarks and suggestions for further practice
*: 'Ich bin ein Berliner' - JFK
*: 'Ronnie, you can now say you to me!' - Kohl
*: bekommen to get; werden to become
*: eventuell possibly; endlich eventually/in the end