German sounds and introductions
German spelling is highly regular: once you know a few sound patterns, unfamiliar words become much easier to pronounce.
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand and respond to spoken and written German
Key learning points
- • Sound-spelling links
- • Introduce yourself
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 10 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 10
Watch first
German sounds and introductions
An English teaching video on this topic from Learn German with GermanPod101.com. Watch it, then scroll down for the lesson.
In a nutshell
Understand and respond to spoken and written German
Explore the idea
Part 2 of 10
Learn
Sound-spelling links
German w sounds like English v, j sounds like English y, and ei sounds like eye. Practise with wie, ja and mein before reading a new sentence aloud.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 10
Learn
Introduce yourself
Ich heiße… gives your name; Ich bin dreizehn Jahre alt gives your age; Ich wohne in… says where you live. Ask Wie heißt du? and Wo wohnst du?
Quick check
Part 4 of 10
Quick check
How does German w usually sound?
Quick check
Part 5 of 10
Quick check
What does 'Ich heiße…' introduce?
Quick check
Part 6 of 10
Quick check
Which asks where someone lives?
Challenge round
Part 7 of 10
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 8 of 10
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
____ w sounds like English v, j sounds like English y, and ei sounds like eye.
Mastery quiz
Part 9 of 10
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: German sounds and introductions
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. How does German w usually sound?
2. What does 'Ich heiße…' introduce?
3. Which asks where someone lives?
Lesson round-up
Part 10 of 10
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
Not played
Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaDo the work
Your written work for this lesson
This is the part you'd do in your book at school. Pick the pieces below, write here or on paper, and photograph anything you draw or work out.
Une journée à Lyon
Samedi matin, je me lève à sept heures et demie. Je prends le petit déjeuner avec ma sœur — du pain, du beurre et un chocolat chaud. Ensuite, nous prenons le bus jusqu'au centre-ville.
J'aime beaucoup Lyon parce qu'il y a un grand marché près du fleuve. Ma sœur préfère les magasins, mais moi, je préfère le marché : c'est moins cher et c'est plus intéressant. À midi, nous mangeons un sandwich au parc.
L'après-midi, il commence à pleuvoir, alors nous rentrons à la maison en tram. Le soir, je fais mes devoirs et je regarde un film avec mes parents.
Original text written for Good Learning Co.
Reading questions
- In English, say what the writer does in the morning, at midday and in the evening.
- Find the phrases that give an opinion and a reason, and copy them out.
- Write 8–10 sentences about your own Saturday, using at least three phrases from the text.
Written practice
WritingWrite the sentences out in the language, then translate them back into English.
8–10 sentences
Vocabulary page
Working outCopy the new words, cover them, and test yourself. Note the ones you keep missing.
15 words
Saved as you type.
Part 1 of 10 · Watch & discover