Deutsch, Mittelstufe 2
(B1-B2)

Willkommen zum Kurs, Deutsch, Mittelstufe 2!

This is the fourth course in the basic German language sequence. This course is roughly the equivalent of the fourth semester of language study at a college or university.

The Tell Me More language program German, Advanced Intermediate, Level B1, All Skills, form the basis of the following lessons. This course develops your ability to understand German words and expressions and to communicate verbally and in writing. You will speak German confidently with activities designed to perfect your pronunciation and to improve your command of German grammar.

The practical situations that form the scenarios for the dialogues of these lessons include shopping for clothing and food, dealing with medical problems and personnel, and travelling in the car.

Click here for information on how to enter your course.

Lektion 1. Im Einkaufzentrum

• This lesson reviews and expands vocabulary for
  • riding the bus,
  • buying clothing and
  • expressing your opinion.
• In grammar, you will examine the use of the preposition "an" both as a prefix with verbs and as a description of where something is located or is going.
  • Der Bus kommt bald an.
    • The bus is arriving soon.
  • Ich studiere an der Universität.
    • I study at the university.
• You will compare the use of the prepositions "an" (which usually means "at" or "to") as opposed to "auf" (which usually means "on" or "to") and practice using them appropriately.
  • Stell den Stuhl an den Tisch.
    • Put the chair at the table.
  • Stell den Teller auf den Tisch.
    • Put the plate on the table.
• You will review the different ways to express the English verb "to know": wissen, kennen and können.
  • "Wissen" describes knowledge or information you can share with someone else.
  • "Kennen" describes familiarity that one can only acquire through personal experience. You can share information about someone with a third party, but not your personal acquaintance with them.
  • "Können" describes what you know how to do, such as play the guitar or swim. "Ich kann schwimmen. Ich kann Gitarre spielen."
• You will learn how to combine words in order to create the compound words that are so beloved and so distinctive of German.

Lektion 2. Kleider anprobieren

• This lesson reviews and expands vocabulary relating to clothing and parts of the body, including toiletries and shopping.
• In order to describe these items, this lesson includes a review of the declension of adjectives: the adjective endings that help indicate the gender, number and case of each noun they modify. They assist us in deciphering which element is the subject and which is the object of our sentence - who is doing what to whom.
• We will also pay special attention to two categories of verbs: those whose infinitives end with "-ieren" (such as "studieren") and verbs that are paired with dative objects (such as "helfen" and "danken").
  • Wie lange hat Max schon Englisch studiert? - How long has Max been learning English now?
  • Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen? - Ich danke Ihnen herzlich! - Could you please help me? - I thank you from the heart!
  • Lektion 3. Landeskunde.
    Words and grammar are only parts of a system of communication … the cultural context is also important. These brief lessons provide an insight into an aspect of German culture.

Lektion 4: Einkäufe machen

• Wortschatz: Speisen und Lebensmittel einkaufen, alles zum Thema "Kochen."
• Review and expand vocabulary relating to food, grocery shopping and cooking.
• In grammar, examine the use of the passive voice and the use of such substitutes as the use of the infinitive in such contexts as describing a recipe.
• Review the expression "es tut jemandem leid" (someone is sorry). This requires a review of pronouns in the dative case.
• Focus on the use of the modal verb "wollen" (to want to).

Lektion 5: Im Supermarkt

• Review and expand vocabulary relating to food items and grocery shopping, including the different kinds of stores in which one can buy groceries, and weights and measures.
• Examine words made of three parts.
• In grammar, we will practice with verbs that form the various tenses with the pattern "ie-o-o" such as "fliegen, flog, geflogen" (to fly, flew, flown).
• Lektion 6. Landeskunde.

Lektion 7: In der Notaufnahme

• In this lesson, you will learn important vocabulary that will be useful in the case of illness or emergency. You will expand vocabulary for the parts of the body and various conditions of health so that you will be able to provide basic information to medical personnel if necessary.
• In grammar, we will review the separable-prefix verbs, this time concentrating on verbs beginning with "auf" such as "aufmachen" (to open).
  • Machen Sie den Mund bitte auf. - Please open your mouth.
• We will also review the use of prepositions to describe locations.
• A look at how adjectives can be made into nouns will help us review the pattern of the adjective endings.
• deutsch - der Deutsche, ein Deutscher
  German - the German, a German (man)
• die Bluse - die Rote oder die Blaue
  the blouse - the red or the blue one
• We will review the use of the genitive case to describe whose things everything is.
• das Auto meines Bruders und das Motorrad meiner Mutter - my brother's car and my mother's motorcycle

Lektion 8: Beim Arzt

• Review and expand your vocabulary relating to the body, health matters and medical treatment.
• In the grammar, you will concentrate on the uses of verbs in German, especially the forms of important irregular verbs. You will practice the verbs in different tenses and also in the subjunctive mood. The subjunctive is used for polite requests and for hypotheses and wishes.

Wir gratulieren! At this point of your program you will advance to the next language proficiency level! Go to the "My Program" tab in your Tell Me More program and click on "Add to my program." Then switch your choice of levels to "Advanced" in order to proceed to the next lesson.

Lektion 1: Im Auto

• In this lesson you will prepare for a road trip by learning vocabulary related to auto travel. You will review use of adjectives by practicing describing a car. You will also learn how to ask for directions and indicate whether you have understood well or need further clarification.
• You will also be able to discuss travel plans with others and indicate agreement or disagreement with their ideas.
• In grammar we will concentrate on the uses of the preposition "über" (over, beyond, about).
• We will also look at nouns that are made from verbs such as "das Reisen" (travelling).
• The use of the infinitive in the place of the imperative is becoming increasingly common in German. Giving directions will provide us with examples and practice with this verb usage.

Lektion 2: Auf der Autobahn

• Continuing with the preparations for our road trip, in this lesson we will learn some important expressions and vocabulary that will come in handy when we need to fuel our vehicle or converse with a police officer. We'll learn how to discuss routes and traffic conditions and how long our trip may last.
• Grammar review focuses on the conjugation of irregular verbs in the various tenses, and of verbs with separable and inseparable prefixes.
• Review includes a return to the important prepositions "an" and "auf" and their various uses.

When you have completed Lektion 2, take the Language Achievement Test in Tell Me More. You will find it on your TMM Homepage by clicking the "Tests" tab. This assessment becomes available when you have completed thirty-six hours of practice with Tell Me More.

Congratulations on your new level of proficiency! Let your instructor know whether you want your Language Achievement Test outcome entered on your Certificate of Course Completion.