
Do you want to learn German but thought that it may be hard or difficult? This course is a very simple and fun approach to learning even the more difficult concepts easily.
This video is an introduction to me, your German professor, and my easy beginners course "German 101".
I am a native German language professor in Southern California. In all the years that I have been teaching, I have found a way to make learning German an easy and very enjoyable experience for my students of all ages. You can complete this beginners course within a few weeks (even with your family and friends) and have a confident start into speaking German without accent. In order to assist you in learning German, I utilize very similar materials that I have been using and am still using with my on campus university students.
Regardless whether you are planning to travel within a German speaking country, work or study, this course will help you and provide you with a useful foundation. Most of all, this course will give you the confidence you need to actually speak German and build new friendships and relationships with German speakers.
Lastly: Remember that when learning German are two things are most important:
1.) Have fun! (Make learning German an enjoyable experience in order to finish strong) and
2.) Along with the German vocabulary and grammar - learn German culture AND German foods (:
And in this course we will do all that and more - I look forward to seeing you in class!
Bis bald,
Nancy
Ps: I will also post a short video of a young man who comes to Germany and is learning German for those of you who like watching shows! It is very entertaining and fun to learn along with him and I highly recommend you watch the short episodes.
Vocabulary & List of Countries
Week 1.1
Hallo und willkommen zu deinem 1. Tag! (Hello and welcome to your first day)
Here some tips and tricks: I highly recommend that you have a word document (or cards or a sheet of paper in your notebook) where you write down any new words and phrases that you are learning. Take that notebook/the cards or that document with you and study the vocabulary in an enjoyable place. Learning only 3-10 words a day will make you successful!
Also, I invite you to get a folder if you like to print out the pdf worksheets that I provide and file them in your folder as you take each lesson to stay organized. You can always go back and review. I am attaching an optional first cover page for your folder here also.
__________________________________________________________________
Learn & say out loud:
1.) Ich bin … - I am…. (Your name)
2.) Ich wohne in … - I live in …. (Your city or country*)
3.) Ich liebe … - I love …. (Anything you love)
You can say that in English for now or look up the word.
4.) Haus - house
5.) Maus - mouse
_____________________________________________________________________________________
*This is a list of all countries in German
DE|Deutschland
AT|Österreich
CH|Schweiz
LU|Luxemburg
AF|Afghanistan
EG|Ägypten
AX|Åland
AL|Albanien
DZ|Algerien
AS|Amerikanisch-Samoa
AD|Andorra
AO|Angola
AI|Anguilla
AQ|Antarktis
AG|Antigua/Barbuda
GQ|Äquatorialguinea
AR|Argentinien
AM|Armenien
AW|Aruba
AZ|Aserbaidschan
ET|Äthiopien
AU|Australien
BS|Bahamas
BH|Bahrain
BD|Bangladesh
BB|Barbados
BE|Belgien
BZ|Belize
BJ|Benin
BM|Bermuda
BT|Bhutan
BO|Bolivien
BA|Bosnien/Herzegowina
BW|Botsuana
BV|Bouvetinsel
BR|Brasilien
BN|Brunei Darussalam
BG|Bulgarien
BF|Burkina Faso
BI|Burundi
CV|Cabo Verde
CL|Chile
CN|China
CK|Cookinseln
CR|Costa Rica
CU|Cuba
DM|Dominica
DO|Dominikanische Republik
DJ|Dschibuti
DK|Dänemark
EC|Ecuador
SV|El Salvador
CI|Elfenbeinküste
ER|Eritrea
EE|Estland
FK|Falklandinseln
FJ|Fidschi
FI|Finnland
FR|Frankreich
GF|Französisch-Guayana
PF|Französisch-Polynesien
TF|Französische Südpolarterritorien
FO|Färöer
GA|Gabun
GM|Gambia
GE|Georgien
GH|Ghana
GI|Gibraltar
GD|Grenada
GR|Griechenland
GB|Großbritannien
GL|Grönland
GP|Guadeloupe
GU|Guam
GT|Guatemala
GG|Guernsey
GW|Guinea-Bissau
GN|Guinea
GY|Guyana
HT|Haiti
HM|Heard und McDonaldinseln
HN|Honduras
HK|Hong Kong
IN|Indien
ID|Indonesien
IQ|Irak
IR|Iran
IE|Irland
IS|Island
IM|Isle Of Man
IL|Israel
IT|Italien
JM|Jamaika
JP|Japan
YE|Jemen
JE|Jersey
JO|Jordanien
VI|Jungferninseln, Amerikanische
VG|Jungferninseln, Britische
KY|Kaimaninseln
KH|Kambodscha
CM|Kamerun
CA|Kanada
KZ|Kasachstan
KE|Kenia
KG|Kirgisistan
KI|Kiribati
CC|Kokosinseln
CO|Kolumbien
KM|Komoren
CG|Kongo
HR|Kroatien
KW|Kuwait
LA|Laos
LS|Lesotho
LV|Lettland
LB|Libanon
LR|Liberia
LY|Libyen
LI|Liechtenstein
LT|Litauen
MO|Macao
MG|Madagaskar
MW|Malawi
MY|Malaysia
MV|Maldiven
ML|Mali
MT|Malta
MH|Marshallinseln
MQ|Martinique
MR|Mauretanien
MU|Mauritius
YT|Mayotte
MK|Mazedonien
MX|Mexiko
FM|Mikronesien
MD|Moldawien
MC|Monaco
MN|Mongolei
ME|Montenegro
MS|Montserrat
MA|Morokko
MZ|Mosambik
MM|Myanmar
NA|Namibia
NR|Nauru
NP|Nepal
NC|Neukaledonien
NZ|Neuseeland
NI|Nicaragua
NL|Niederlande
AN|Niederländische Antillen
NG|Nigeria
NE|Niger
NU|Niue
KP|Nordkorea
NF|Norfolkinsel
NO|Norwegen
MP|Nördliche Marianen
OM|Oman
PK|Pakistan
PW|Palau
PS|Palestina
PA|Panama
PG|Papua-Neuguinea
PY|Paraguay
PE|Peru
PH|Philippinen
PN|Pitcairninseln
PL|Polen
PT|Portugal
PR|Puerto Rico
QA|Qatar
RW|Ruanda
RO|Rumänien
RU|Russland
RE|Réunion
SB|Salomonen
ZM|Sambia
WS|Samoa
SM|San Marino
SA|Saudi-Arabien
SE|Schweden
SN|Senegal
RS|Serbien
SC|Seychellen
SL|Sierra Leone
ZW|Simbabwe
SG|Singapur
SK|Slowakische Republik
SI|Slowenien
SO|Somalia
ES|Spanien
LK|Sri Lanka
BL|St. Barthélemy
SH|St. Helena
KN|St. Kitts/Nevis
LC|St. Lucia
MF|St. Martin
PM|St. Pierre/Miquelon
VC|St. Vincent/Die Grenadinen
SD|Sudan
SR|Surinam
SJ|Svalbard/Jan Mayen
SZ|Swasiland
SY|Syrien
ST|São Tomé/Príncipe
ZA|Südafrika
GS|Südgeorgien/Südlichen Sandwichinseln
KR|Südkorea
TJ|Tadschikistan
TW|Taiwan
TZ|Tansania
TH|Thailand
TL|Timor-Leste
TG|Togo
TK|Tokelau
TO|Tonga
TT|Trinidad und Tobago
TD|Tschad
CZ|Tschechoslowakei
TN|Tunisien
TM|Turkmenistan
TC|Turks- und Caicosinseln
TV|Tuvalu
TR|Türkei
UG|Uganda
UA|Ukraine
HU|Ungarn
UM|United States Minor Islands
UY|Uruguay
US|USA / Amerika
UZ|Usbekistan
VU|Vanuatu
VA|Vatikanstadt
VE|Venezuela
AE|Vereinigte Arabische Emirate
VN|Vietnam
WF|Wallis/Futuna
CX|Weihnachtsinsel
BY|Weißrussland
EH|Westsahara
CF|Zentralafrikanische Republik
CY|Zypern
Vocabulary & Information on the city of Hamburg
Week 1.2
I highly recommend that you have a word document (or cards or a sheet of paper in your notebook) where you write down any new words and phrases that you are learning. Take that notebook/the cards or that document with you and study the vocabulary in an enjoyable place. Learning only 3-10 words a day will make you successful!
_________________________________________________________________
VOCABULARY List 1
Learn & say out loud:
1.) Hallo, wie geht’s … - Hello, how is it going?
2.) Ich bin … - I am …. (Your name. Frau = Mrs Herr = Mr)
3.) Ich wohne in … - I live in…. (Your country)
4.) Ich komme aus Deutschland - I am from Germany
5.) Ich bin eine Hamburgerin - I am a Hamburger
6.) Ich habe…. - I have….
7.) Ich liebe … - I love….
8.) Wer mag Pizza? - Who likes pizza?
9.) Mein Hobby ist lesen - My hobby is reading
10.) Wer mag lesen? - Who likes reading?
11.) Sarah ist 13 Jahre alt und Jake ist 7. - Sarah is 13 years old and Jake is 7.
VOCABULARY List II - SECTION 2
Ich liebe Bücher - I love books
Ich lese gern Romane. - I like to read novels.
Ich spiele gern Tennis - I like to play tennis.
Ich liebe meine Familie - I love my family
Ich liebe meine Kinder - I love my children
Ich heiße _____ (your name) - I am called ________
Ich wohne in ______ (your city/country you live in) - I live in _________
Meine Muttersprache ist __________ - My native language is _______
Ich spreche auch ____________ - I also speak _____________
Wie heißen Sie? (Formal) - What are you called, Sir/Madam?
Ich heiße Maria. - I am called Maria.
Woher kommen Sie? (Formal) - Where are you from, Sir/Madam?
Ich komme aus Wien. - I am from Vienna.
Ich wohne in Los Angeles. - I live in Los Angeles.
Ich spreche Italienisch und Englisch. - I speak Italien and English.
Ich lerne Deutsch - I am learning German.
Wir kommen aus Frankreich. - We are from France.
Wir wohnen in Paris. - We live in Paris.
Wir sprechen Französisch und Englisch. - We speak French and English.
Wie alt sind Sie? (Formal) - How old are you?
Ich bin 34. - I am 34.
Wie alt bist du (informal)? - How old are you?
Was sind Sie von Beruf? - What is your profession?
Ich bin Sekretärin. - I am a secretary.
After this lecture you will be able to introduce yourself and know basic numbers, colors and foods. You will also be able to express likes and possessions
In this lecture you will start learning about the concept of German nouns and gender
In this lecture you will practice greeting, your introduction as well as possession and German nouns.
Learn the following greetings:
Wie geht's? How is it going?
Gut! Danke! Good! Thank you.
Wie war deine Woche? How was your week?
Gut! Danke! Good! Thank you.
Meine Woche war gut! My week was good.
Listen & learn a few more greetings and do the practice online test:
In this lecture you will learn about diphtongs and numbers as well as the calendar and time.
Take some time to review the past few lessons after watching this and practice with the materials provided. Learn the vocabulary we have covered so far and find an interesting German related topic you would like to research! Follow your interest!
In this lecture you will expand on your introduction and expressing likes and dislikes.
Vocabulary:
Magst du den Winter? Do you like the winter? (informal 'you' - 'du')
Ja, ich mag ihn sehr. Yes, I like it very much.
Mögen Sie Ihren Beruf? Do you like your job? (formal 'you' - 'Sie' - you and 'Ihren' - your)
Nein, leider nicht. No, unfortunately not.
Learn the verb "mögen" (to like):
Ich mag Wurst. I like sausage/sandwich meat.
Magst du Schokolade? Do you like chocolate?
Ja, du magst Schokolade. You like chocolate.
Paul mag Müsli. Paul (He/she/it) likes Müsli (granola).
Wir mögen Milch. We like milk.
Mögt ihr kein Fleisch? Do you guys (plural) not like meat?
Hans und Lina, meine Kinder, (sie) mögen Fisch. Hans and Lina (they), my children, like fish.
In this lecture you will learn about describing things.
1.) Practice saying:
Das ist eine Tafel. That is a whiteboard.
Das ist ein Stuhl. That is a chair.
Notice! Feminine nouns take an "e" in the end. It is "einE" not "ein" for feminine nouns!
You may also write down the items you see around you.
2.) Learn the words:
Abendessen - dinner (evening food literally)
Weihnachten - Christmas
Die ganze Familie - the whole family
Zu Hause - at home
Schuhe - shoes (Der Schuh - the shoe)
Meine Eltern - my parents
Aus dem Urlaub - from vacation
Ich bin froh - I am glad
Mit ist schlecht. - I am feeling sick
Die Toilette - the bathroom
Wir sind alleine. - We are alone
Wie ist dein Name? What is your name (informal)
Wie ist Ihr Name? What is your name sir/madam (formal)
Meine Haare sind braun. My hair is brown.
Sie spät ist es? What is the time? (Literally: How late is it?)
You will learn about the word "haben" (to have)
Learn:
Meine Schwester hat keine Zeit. My sister has no time.
Hast du keine Angst vor grossen Hunden? Don't you have fear of big dogs? (Aren't you afraid of big dogs)
Morgen haben wir eine Prüfung? Tomorrow we have a test/exam.
Wer hat Hunger? Who is hungry? (Who has hunger)
Wir haben heute Donnerstag. We have/it is Thursday today.
You will learn to ask questions in this lecture. Memorize the question words and practice asking your own questions.
Please learn:
Wo ist Hamburg? Hamburg ist in Deutschland. Where is Hamburg? Hamburg is in Germany.
Woher kommst du? Aus Köln. Where are you from? From Koeln.
Wohin gehst du? Where are you going to? Nach Berlin. To Berlin.
Wessen Hund ist das? Der meines Bruders. Whose dog is this? My brother's.
Wen möchtest du zu deinem Geburtstag einladen? Who would you like to invite to your birthday?
Alle meine Freunde. All my friends.
Was isst du gerade? What are you eating right now?
Wann sehen wir uns das nächste Mal? When are we seeing each other/meet next time/again?
Was möchten Sie wissen? What would you like to know?
Most German verbs follow predictable conjugation patterns in which a set of endings is added to the verb stem. To form the present tense of a regular verb, drop the -en or -n ending from the infinitive and add -e, -st, -t, or -en/-n to the stem.
For example: The word "spielen" (to play)
Cut off the "en" will give you the verb stem "spiel"
Now you have to add an ending depending on who the verb refers to.
Ich (I) -e,
Du (you/ informal) -st,
Er/Sie/Es (he/she/it) -t,
Wir (we) -en
Ihr (you guys/plural) -t
Sie (they) -en
He plays basketball = Er spielT basketball
I play tennis = Ich spielE tennis
You guys play soccer well = Ihr spielT gut Fussball
I come from Spain. = Ich kommE aus Spanien
Susie (SHE) lives in Hamburg. = Susie wohnT in Hamburg
Where do YOU live? = Wo wohnST du?
I do (make) homework = Ich machE Hausaufgaben
I am called Nicole. = Ich heißE Nicole.
In this lecture we are looking in more detail at some specific verbs: verbs that change their stem. Complete the homework in the attached pdf.
Assignment:
Memorize the verbs we covered in the lecture and the "common verbs" (in the pdf) and practice forming sentences in the present (!) tense. I also highly recommend daily using an app like DuoLingo to practice and adding more verbs to your vocabulary.
Continue learning the verbs from the previous lesson and apply them by forming at least 10 sentences stating what you or people you know are planing to do in the near future!
Assignment:
Make a fun first presentation in which you talk about a German person of influence. See the attached pdf for details.
Use SHORT sentences (1-2) per slide.
Important: Don’t talk about their past in your German part of the presentation! Stay in the
present. Don't talk about what they did in the past. Stay in the present. Use the -T ending in the verbs since you talk about a he or she! What is this person doing currently or habitually? Choose a person in your field of interest. It can be a famous athlete, politician, artist or writer.
- Start your powerpoint presentation with an introduction of yourself. It can be as long or short as you like. Try to incorporate as many items as you remember.
You may also talk about a city if you prefer. (see sample in pdf)
Feel free to do more research on any topic within Berlin that interests you. What places in Berlin will you visit on your next trip to Germany and why?
Assignment:
1.) Research the terms "BRD" and "DDR" in the context of Germany
Learn:
Der Bummel • the stroll
Die Einkaufsstraße • the shopping street
Die Fußgängerzone - the pedestrian zone
Die Mauer - the wall
Das Bundesland - German state
Der Staat - the state
Die Stadt - city
Das Viertel - district
Hauptstadt • Krieg • Mauer • Sehenswürdigkeiten • Wunsch
You don't have to memorize all the states. It is good to get an idea of the names however and where the important states are located within Germany. Notice especially: West, east and southern states.
Assignment 1: Learn the modal verbs covered in the lecture.
Write down 10 things that you or someone you know can do well using "kann" - remember word order. "kann" in the second position. Remember that when you use a name (e.g. Mario or Frau Schmidt) you will use "Kann" since it is he or she.
For example:
1.) Ich kann (gut/good) Basketball spielen. I can play basketball well.
2.) Ich kann gut kochen. I can cook well (I'm good at cooking)
3.) Mein Freund (my friend/boyfriend) kann gut schwimmen. My friend can swim well.
5.) Meine Mutter kann gut singen. My mother can sing well.
6.) Du kannst gut Klavier spielen. You are good at playing piano.
7.) Dina kann gut tanzen. Dina can dance well.
Assignment 2: Learn the vocabulary along with the vocabulary covered in the lesson:
Peter macht eine Party. Kommst du mit? Peter is making a party. Are you coming along?
Nein, tut mir leid. No, I'm sorry.
Das Zimmer aufräumen. Clean the room.
Die Klassenarbeit - the exam
Mein Fahrrad reparieren - to repair my bike
Saft trinken - to drink juice
mitkommen - to join/come along. Ich komme mit - I come along. Ich komme nicht mit. I don't come along.
Welcome!
Do you want to learn German but thought that it may be hard or difficult? This course is a very simple and fun approach to learning even the more difficult concepts easily.
I am a German language professor and have been teaching German language and culture at three prestigious universities in Southern California for the past 6 years. Prior to that I was teaching German in private and public schools. In all the years that I have been teaching, I have found a way to make learning German an easy and very enjoyable experience for my students of all ages. I am passionate about the German language and have found ways to make even grammatical concepts easy to grasp. I 'season' them with my experiences and fun stories and help you memorize vocabulary with proven methods. Learning German with me will feel like a breeze to you. I will provide you an abundance of free learning tools and resources that you can use while completing the course and beyond in your life.
You can complete this beginners course within a few weeks (even with your family and friends) and have a confident start into speaking German without accent. I am using materials that I have been utilizing with my on campus university students and that worked well.
Regardless if you are planning to travel in a German speaking country, work or study, this course will give you a great foundation and most of all the confidence to speak German and build new friendships with German speakers. I believe most important when learning German are two things: 1.) Have fun and 2.) Learn German culture (and foods) along with the German vocabulary and grammar (:
I look forward to seeing you in class!
Bis bald,
Nancy