Think of one English sentence that introduces you by name and one simple fact. Two or three of you will share with the class. Ready?
Today you will learn to do that in German: say who you are, ask a classmate, and swap a little about where you come from.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Introduce yourself by name in German
- Ask a classmate their name and where they come from
- Notice what people choose to say about themselves
You are about to hear seven short German introductions, one at a time. Listen to each one, then say it back together as a class. As you go, notice which lines tell people your name, which ask a question, and which talk about where you are from.
Picture two new pupils meeting on the first day at a Berlin Grundschule (primary school). Your teacher will model one short chat with a German name such as Lukas or Emma, then you will join in.
Polite tip: In the formal name question, Sie means polite "you" (said "zee"). It is not a girl's name here.
Volunteers will flip two cards at a time on the board. Before each flip, the whole class tries to say the German aloud together. When a match is found, everyone repeats the German phrase once more.
Keep the word list and these two model lines on the board while you write.
Ich heiße Cara.
Ich komme aus Cork.
Open your copy and write the same two sentences about you. Take care with capital Ich and the special letter ß in heiße (sharp double-s sound, not a plain B).
Stand up and face a partner. Run the short name-and-home chat your teacher models: one of you asks, the other answers, then you swap and add where you come from. When you finish, find a new partner and try again.
After a few rounds, your teacher will ask some of you the polite form, as an adult would. Answer with your name phrase.
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