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Lesson 132 of 240

New here? This is lesson 132 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Still learning in German

Tuesday evening at the Volkshochschule. Priya's class is on separable verbs, and the teacher wants a short presentation too.

Priya still needs more practice. She has never tried a full talk, and she is not ready yet.

You'll say what you still need to work on, what you have never tried, and when help makes it possible.

By the end, you can ask for a turn and try.

By the end of this lesson

Say what you are still learning and what you have never tried.

  • Lass mich mal probieren.Let me try.
  • Ich muss ___ noch mehr üben.I need more practice with ___.
  • Ich habe das noch nicht gelernt.I haven't learned that yet.
  • Ich habe noch nie versucht, ___.I've never tried to ___.
  • Ich bin noch nicht bereit.I'm not ready yet.
  • Wenn mir jemand hilft, geht das.I can do it if someone helps me.

Scene — Tuesday class

The Volkshochschule classroom is bright and a bit too warm. Priya sits near the front with her notebook open.

The teacher stands by the board. A classmate sits beside Priya, waiting for the pair work to start.

Priya sits near the front with Jonas beside her while Herr Schulze checks his notes at the board.

Learn — still learning

Six lines for a class when the work still feels new.

You'll ask for a turn, say what you still need, and name when help is enough.

  1. Priya raises her hand to get Herr Schulze’s attention before asking her question.

    Lass mich mal probieren.

    Let me try.

    When to use it: Ask a classmate for a turn when you want to try.

    A classmate gets du here, but a teacher still gets Sie.

  2. Priya works through an exercise in her open notebook, showing that she needs more practice.

    Ich muss ___ noch mehr üben.

    I need more practice with ___.

    When to use it: Name a skill you still need more practice with.

    The verb muss stays second; name the skill in the blank.

    Say it: The ü in üben is a tight rounded vowel.

  3. Priya looks toward the board as Herr Schulze indicates the presentation activity she has never tried.

    Ich habe das noch nicht gelernt.

    I haven't learned that yet.

    When to use it: Say this when a topic is still new for you.

    Noch nicht means you have not reached this point yet.

    Say it: The ch in nicht is the soft ich sound.

  4. Priya sits back as Herr Schulze invites her to try, making clear she is not ready yet.

    Ich habe noch nie versucht, ___.

    I've never tried to ___.

    When to use it: Name something you have never tried to do.

    Noch nie means not even once, up to now.

  5. Herr Schulze offers support beside Priya’s desk as she agrees she can manage with help.

    Ich bin noch nicht bereit.

    I'm not ready yet.

    When to use it: Say this when you need more time before you start.

    Noch nicht bereit means you still need a little time.

  6. Jonas leans toward Priya, and she turns to him ready to take a first try.

    Wenn mir jemand hilft, geht das.

    I can do it if someone helps me.

    When to use it: Say this when help from someone makes it possible.

    After wenn, hilft comes last in that clause.

Story — a short talk

Priya tells the teacher what she still needs, then she asks a classmate for a turn.

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

  1. The teacher looks up from her notes.
  2. TeacherHeute machen wir einen kurzen Vortrag.Today we are doing a short presentation.
  3. Priya raises her hand.
  4. PriyaDarf ich eine Frage stellen?May I ask a question?
  5. TeacherJa, gerne.Yes, of course.
  6. PriyaIch muss trennbare Verben noch mehr üben.I need more practice with separable verbs.
  7. TeacherUnd der Vortrag?And the presentation?
  8. PriyaIch habe noch nie versucht, einen Vortrag zu halten.I've never tried to give a presentation.
  9. TeacherWollen Sie es trotzdem versuchen?Do you want to try it anyway?
  10. PriyaIch bin noch nicht bereit.I'm not ready yet.
  11. TeacherWarum nicht?Why not?
  12. PriyaIch habe das noch nicht gelernt.I haven't learned that yet.
  13. TeacherIch helfe Ihnen gern.I'm happy to help you.
  14. PriyaWenn mir jemand hilft, geht das.I can do it if someone helps me.
  15. TeacherGut, dann machen wir es zusammen.Good, then we will do it together.
  16. The classmate beside her leans in.
  17. ClassmateSoll ich den ersten Satz vorlesen?Should I read the first sentence aloud?
  18. PriyaLass mich mal probieren.Let me try.

Practice — try or wait

Ten short tasks wait here. You'll listen, build, fill a gap, and pick a reply.

They stay close to the classroom talk.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    You still need more practice with separable verbs.

  3. Fill the gap

    I haven't learned that yet.

    Ich habe das noch nicht ____.

  4. What does it mean?

    Ich bin noch nicht bereit.

  5. Put the chat in order

    1. TeacherWhat comes first?
    2. Priya…
    3. Teacher…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

  6. What do you say?

    The teacher asks if you have finished the exercise. You are still working.

  7. Build the line

    I can do it if someone helps me.

    , .

    Tap the words in order.

  8. What do you say?

    You want to ask the teacher a question before starting.

  9. Swap the word

    Say that you can do it if someone helps.

    ____ mir jemand hilft, geht das.

  10. Find the mistake

Say it — your turn

Now you're Priya in Tuesday class, with a classmate beside you. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak.

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

  1. TeacherWas müssen Sie noch mehr üben?What do you still need more practice with?
  2. Priya (you)Say you need more practice with this.

    Ich muss ___ noch mehr üben.

    I need more practice with ___.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Lass mich mal probieren.Let me try.
Ich muss ___ noch mehr üben.I need more practice with ___.
Ich habe das noch nicht gelernt.I haven't learned that yet.
Ich habe noch nie versucht, ___.I've never tried to ___.
Ich bin noch nicht bereit.I'm not ready yet.
Wenn mir jemand hilft, geht das.I can do it if someone helps me.
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