Session goals
- Understand the exam pattern and what to prepare for
- Build a daily vocabulary habit
- Start self-introduction (Expression 1 / speaking card)
- Learn basic pronunciation rules
- Begin Chapter 1 textbook exercises (pronouns, articles in context)
Topics covered
1. Exam overview (Telc A1 style)
| Section | Notes |
|---|
| Hören (Listening) | Audio plays first; answer on separate sheet |
| Sprechen (Speaking) | Expression 1 card — self-introduction; can be 1-on-1 or small group |
| Schreiben (Writing) | Form fill, short letter/email |
| Lesen (Reading) | Booklet format with vocabulary tiles |
- Exam uses a booklet — not loose cross-test papers
- Vocabulary tiles (Wortkarten) are given — you form questions/answers from them
- Speaking max ~11.5 points; individual Teil (part) ~3.5 points
- Exam day flow: Hören (audio first) → Lesen (booklet + tiles) → Schreiben (Formular, Postkarte/E-Mail) → Sprechen (Expression 1 card, 1-on-1 or group of 2–3)
- Registration form filled before exam — details matched in German on exam day (form number, DOB, email)
5. Self-introduction template (Expression 1)
- Name: Ich heiße… / Mein Vorname ist… / Mein Familienname ist…
- Origin: Ich komme aus Pakistan. (country)
- City: Ich wohne in [city] — e.g. Ich wohne in Berlin.
- Date of birth: Geboren am 14. August 1998.
- Marital status: verheiratet / geschieden / ledig
- Family: family members
- Languages: Ich spreche…
- Profession: Ich bin Student. / Ich arbeite als Software…
- Hobbies: Mein Hobby ist… (singular) / Meine Hobbys sind… (plural)
Example pieces from class: Ich spreche Englisch und Urdu. · Mein Hobby ist Badminton.
Vocabulary
Verbs with prefixes (an-, auf-, aus-) & other daily vocab
| German | English |
|---|
| abwaschen | to wash (dishes) |
| abnehmen | to take off / lose weight |
| allein | alone |
| alt | old |
| die Ampel | traffic light |
| anfangen | to begin |
| angeln | to go fishing |
| Angst haben | to be afraid |
| anhalten | to stop |
| anmachen | to turn on |
| anprobieren | to try on |
| anrufen | to call / ring |
| antworten | to answer |
| sich anziehen | to get dressed |
| der Apfel | apple |
| arm | poor |
| der Arzt | doctor |
| aufgeben | to give up / (also: assignment) |
| aufhören | to stop |
| aufladen | to charge |
| aufpassen | to pay attention |
| aufräumen | to tidy up |
| der Aufschnitt | cold cuts / sliced meat |
| aufstehen | to get up |
| aufwachen | to wake up |
| das Auge | eye |
| ausgeben | to spend (money) |
| ausgehen | to go out |
| das Ausland | abroad |
| aussehen | to look (appearance) |
| die Aussicht | view |
Greetings & farewells
| German | English |
|---|
| Guten Morgen | Good morning |
| Guten Abend | Good evening |
| Guten Nacht | Good night |
| Auf Wiedersehen | Goodbye (formal) |
| Auf Wiederhören | Goodbye (on phone) |
| Bis bald | See you soon |
| Bis später | See you later |
Useful expressions
| German | English |
|---|
| so lala | kind of / so-so |
| Ich weiß nicht / Keine Ahnung | I don't know |
| Einen Moment bitte | One moment please |
| Ich heiße… / Mein Name ist… | My name is… |
Grammar notes
Pronunciation rules (highlights)
- ß (Eszett): capital ß exists; know when to use lowercase
- Z: ~99% sounds like ts (Zeit); ~1% like s
- V: often like f (Vater)
- W: like English v (Wasser)
- R: pronunciation depends on position (after vowel vs. after i)
- E at word end: often silent (Name, Moderate)
- English loanwords keep English stress (Sofa, Water, Paper)
- TH is pronounced (unlike many languages)
- Double consonant = short preceding vowel; double vowel = long sound
Personal pronouns
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|
| 1st | ich | wir |
| 2nd informal | du | ihr |
| 2nd formal | Sie (capital) | Sie |
| 3rd | er / sie / es | sie |
- das Messer — always das (knife, neuter)
- Capital Sie = formal “you”
- der Tisch → die Tische (masculine noun, plural article is always die)
Chapter 1 sample sentences
- Hier ist Gupta und Frau Kyoka. Sie wohnen in Berlin.
- Guten Tag. Ich heiße Berger Roland.
- Frau Meyer geht einkaufen. Sie kauft Gemüse und Obst.
- Maria arbeitet in einer Bank.
- der Schrank — cupboard · das Regal — shelf · kosten — to cost · basteln — to craft
- die Mode — fashion · die Schule — school
- Das Zimmer kostet 100 Euro. / Die Zimmer sind günstig. (plural = die)
Café dialogue
- Müssen Sie einen Kaffee? — formal “Do you want/need a coffee?”
- Article fix: der Kuchen (not das Kuchen)
- Maria möchte zwei Tee. — Maria wants two teas
- Was möchten Sie? / Was mögen Sie? — What would you like? / What do you like?
Mistakes / focus areas
Pronunciation (Z = ts, W = v, V = f) · article errors (der Kuchen, not das) · last-meeting content is important — don't skip even if joining late · form number 176 may appear on registration.
Homework / next steps
- Prepare Expression 1 self-introduction card
- Practice pronouns (ich, du, Sie, er, sie, es, wir, ihr, sie)
- Revise Chapter 1 vocabulary and sentences
- Build a daily vocabulary habit