German course

Lesson 77 of 240

New here? This is lesson 77 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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How good I am in German

Priya is at the co-working loft with Jule after work. Jule mixes sound for a living, and she makes it look easy.

Priya is still a beginner at German, and at the U-Bahn too. She wants to say how well she is doing, and why she likes the hard bits.

By the end, you'll say you are still new, you are getting better, and you do a hobby when you have time.

You'll also say it is fun but hard, and ask a friend why they enjoy it.

By the end of this lesson

Say how well you do a hobby, when you do it, and why you like it.

  • Ich bin noch Anfängerin.I'm still a beginner.
  • Ich werde langsam besser.I'm slowly getting better.
  • Es macht Spaß, aber es ist schwer.It's fun, but it's hard.
  • Ich mache das, wenn ich Zeit habe.I do it when I have time.
  • Ich mag es, weil ich abschalten kann.I like it because I can switch off.
  • Warum machst du das gern?Why do you enjoy it?

Scene — the loft after six

The loft by the canal is quiet after six. Laptops are still open, and Jule has her headphones around her neck.

Priya sits across from her with a notebook. German class is later, and the U-Bahn still feels new.

Priya and Jule settle at the table in the quiet canal loft after work.

Learn — how good you are

Six lines cover being a beginner, getting better, and doing a hobby when you have time.

You'll also say it is fun but hard, and ask why someone enjoys it.

  1. Priya reflects on her weekend while looking down at her notebook.

    Ich bin noch Anfängerin.

    I'm still a beginner.

    When to use it: Say this when you are still new at a hobby or at German.

    A woman says Anfängerin; a man would say Anfänger for the same idea.

    Say it: Ä in Anfängerin sounds like the e in get.

  2. Jule gestures toward the open mixing project as Priya looks over.

    Ich werde langsam besser.

    I'm slowly getting better.

    When to use it: Say this when practice is helping, even if you are still new.

    In a main clause the verb comes second, so werde stands after Ich.

    Say it: Langsam puts the stress on the first syllable.

  3. Priya asks Jule whether her project is going well.

    Es macht Spaß, aber es ist schwer.

    It's fun, but it's hard.

    When to use it: Say this when something is enjoyable and still difficult.

    Aber joins two short ideas: first the fun, then the hard part.

    Say it: Sch at the start of schwer sounds like English sh.

  4. Jule answers with a modest gesture that her mixing is gradually improving.

    Ich mache das, wenn ich Zeit habe.

    I do it when I have time.

    When to use it: Say this when you only do a hobby in free time.

    After wenn the verb comes last: wenn ich Zeit habe.

  5. Jule relaxes beside her headphones while describing how the hobby helps her switch off.

    Ich mag es, weil ich abschalten kann.

    I like it because I can switch off.

    When to use it: Say this when a hobby lets you rest your mind.

    After weil the verb comes last: weil ich abschalten kann.

  6. Priya taps her German notebook as she and Jule compare the challenge with the fun.

    Warum machst du das gern?

    Why do you enjoy it?

    When to use it: Ask a friend why they enjoy a hobby.

    Du is for a friend; Jule uses du with Priya from the first minute.

    Say it: The ch in machst is the German ach sound, as in Bach.

Story — sound and the U-Bahn

Listen as Jule and Priya talk about sound work, German, and the U-Bahn.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Jule hangs her headphones on the chair and grins.
  2. JuleWie war dein Wochenende?How was your weekend?
  3. PriyaGut. Ich war viel unterwegs.Fine. I was out and about a lot.
  4. She nods at the mixing software still open on Jule's screen.
  5. JuleIch habe heute viel gemischt.I mixed a lot today.
  6. PriyaLäuft dein Projekt gut?Is your project going well?
  7. JuleJa. Ich werde langsam besser.Yes. I'm slowly getting better.
  8. PriyaWarum machst du das gern?Why do you enjoy it?
  9. JuleIch mag es, weil ich abschalten kann.I like it because I can switch off.
  10. PriyaAch so. Und wann?Ah, I see. And when?
  11. JuleIch mache das, wenn ich Zeit habe.I do it when I have time.
  12. Priya taps her German notebook.
  13. PriyaDeutsch ist schwer. Ich bin noch Anfängerin.German is hard. I'm still a beginner.
  14. JuleUnd die U-Bahn?And the U-Bahn?
  15. PriyaAuch. Immer noch schwer.That too. Still hard.
  16. JuleBeides. Es macht Spaß, aber es ist schwer.Both. It's fun, but it's hard.

Practice — beginner or better

Eleven short exercises wait here. You'll listen, fill a gap, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay small, so you can check each new sentence.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Ich werde langsam besser.Drop the English here
    Es macht Spaß, aber es ist schwer.Drop the English here
    Ich mag es, weil ich abschalten kann.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Jule just talked about mixing sound. Ask why she enjoys it.

  4. Fill the gap

    I do it when I have time.

    Ich mache das, ____ ich Zeit habe.

  5. What does it mean?

    Es macht Spaß, aber es ist schwer.

  6. Swap the word

    Practice is helping, but only a little at a time.

    Ich werde ____ besser.

  7. Pick the reply

    Jule says:

    Warum machst du das gern?

    Why do you enjoy it?

    And you reply with:

  8. Build the line

    I'm still a beginner.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  9. Find the mistake

  10. True or false?

    Say this to a shop assistant you have just met.

  11. What do you say?

    You sit with Jule at the loft. Ask if her project is going well.

Say it — tell Jule

Now you're Priya at the loft with Jule. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. JuleIch habe heute viel gemischt.I mixed a lot today.
  2. Priya (you)Ask why she enjoys it.

    Warum machst du das gern?

    Why do you enjoy it?

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Ich bin noch Anfängerin.I'm still a beginner.
Ich werde langsam besser.I'm slowly getting better.
Es macht Spaß, aber es ist schwer.It's fun, but it's hard.
Ich mache das, wenn ich Zeit habe.I do it when I have time.
Ich mag es, weil ich abschalten kann.I like it because I can switch off.
Warum machst du das gern?Why do you enjoy it?
Next: lesson 78Evening and weekend routine

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