Learn German with German-Podcast.de Podcast
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Welcome to German-Podcast.de. This Podcast will teach you German. It is free and you can listen to the Podcast at anytime you want. PDF transcripts containing the new words are provided.
About Podcasting:
For those of you new to podcasting, Click Here to read our "Introduction to Podcasting" Article.
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Podcast Website:
http://german-podcast.blogspot.com/
Interested in an iPhone App?
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Jan 20, 2012
Hi everybody, as you might know there is an Android app containing the new lessons, a vocabulary trainer, different interactive quizs, etc.
Over the last weeks I got quite a few mails asking me for an iPhone version. As you can see however I am one of the last (one might think) PC users out there and iPhone apps can only be developed on a Mac. And you all know what those silver beautys cost.
So, here is the deal: If enough of you want an iPhone version, buy me a mac. Seriously, there is a donate button on the blog. Donate what ever you want and if we collect enough money for a nice Mac (remember Paypal takes its toll) I will take two weeks of holiday, learn how to program on an iPhone and develop an iPhone application. It will contain all the lessons available at that moment for free (no promise for future lessons) and of course my vocabulary trainer and the verb trainer from the Android app.
Deal?
If we do not get enough money, say by mid Februar I will donate half the money connected to a charity trust (and publish the receipt here of course). Fair enough?
Lucerne, 20.01.2011
Stephan Wiesner
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Lesson 11 - Die Zukunft
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Tue, Dec 27, 2011
Lesson 11 - Die ZukunftThe year is ending so this is a great time to learn about the future tense - about "die Zukunft". In German to say that you will do something you just need to use the correct form of the verb "werden" and ad the verb you want to use in its basic form.
So, to say that you will read a book you just say "ich werde ein Buch lesen".
ich werde
du wirst
sie wird
wir werden
ihr werdet
sie werden
Try to say- we will read a book
- we will take the bus
- you (sing) will go shopping
- they will be late
- he will learn German
- wir werden ein Buch lesen
- wir werden den Bus nehmen
- du wirst einkaufen gehen
- sie werden spΓ€t sein
- er wird Deutsch lernen
Luzern, 27.12.2011
Stephan Wiesner |
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Lesson 10 - Weihnachtszeit
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Tue, Dec 27, 2011
This weekend is Christimas, so today is a good opportunity to learn some "Weihnachts" vocabulary
night die Nacht
christmas Weihnachten
tree der Baum
fir tree der Tannenbaum
the present das Geschenk
to give a present etwas schenken
family die Familie
a feast das Festmahl
Advent der Advent
Advent wreath der Adventskranz
In preparation for Weihnachten (Christmas), many German families celebrate Advent. This is a time of religious preparation for the arrival of das Christkind (the Christ Child). Traditional advent activities include the Adventskranz (Advent wreath), which is set up on the 4th sunday before Christmas Day, the beginning of the season. Four candles adorn the wreath, and a new one is lit each week. Families often sing Christmas carols as they gather around the wreath to celebrate the preparation and Christmas season. Children also enjoy the Christmas calendar, which contains 24 doors (one for each day of December leading up to Christmas). Children open one door each day, and find a chocolate treat awaiting them. Many of the calendars also include pictures inside the doors, often Christmas-related.
Luzern, 22.12.2011
Stephan Wiesner
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Lesson 09 - Verb Drills
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Dec 23, 2011
In todays German Lesson I introduce the verb drill program included in the Android app. Give it a try and let me know if it works for you . . .
Here are the verbs from todays lesson:
lese,liest,liest,lesen,lest,lesen
will,willst,will,wollen,wollt,wollen
gehe,gehst,geht,gehen,gehen,geht
habe,hast,hat,haben,habt,haben
bin,bist,ist,sind,seid,sind
nehme,nimmst,nimmt,nehmen,nehmt,nehmen
fahre,fΓ€hrst,fΓ€hrt,fahren,fahrt,fahren
spreche,sprichst,spricht,sprechen,sprecht,sprechen
muss,musst,muss,mΓΌssen,mΓΌsst,mΓΌssen Luzern, 22.12.2011 Stephan Wiesner
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Lesson 08 - Lebensmittel
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Tue, Dec 20, 2011
This is a recycled lesson from the podcast about food related words and there is a PDF file with most of the words.
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006 - German-Podcast.de:
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Mon, Dec 19, 2011
Monday Montag
Tuesday Dienstag
Wednesday Mittwoch
Thursday Donnerstag
Friday Freitag
Saturday Samstag
Sunday Sonntag
January Januar
February Februar
March MΓ€rz
April April
May Mai
June Juni
July Juli
August August
September September
October Oktober
November November
December Dezember |
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004 - German-Podcast.de: Geld und Zahlen
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Mon, Dec 19, 2011
| money | das Geld | | EUR | der Euro | | CH | der Franken | | how much is the book? | Wieviel kostet das Buch? |
Some number exercises
Luzern, 17.12.2011
Stephan Wiesner
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003 - German-Podcast.de: Kaffee bestellen
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Dec 11, 2011
In todays German lesson we will learn how to order einen Kaffee oder einen Tee.
By the way, the audio file from lesson 002 was missing. I updated the link. If you don't find it in your Podcast program, come over to the blog at:
http://german-podcast.blogspot.com/
Sorry for the inconvenience :-(
| milk | die Milch | | coffee | der Kaffee | | tea | der Tee | | to drink | trinken | | please | bitte | | in two hours | in zwei Stunden |
Luzern, 11.12.2011
Stephan Wiesner
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002 - German-Podcast.de: Ich, Du, Er
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Dec 11, 2011
German Lesson 2 from the Android app. This is actually based on an old session.
| I, you, he/she/it, we, you, they | ich, du, er/sie/es, wir, ihr, sie | | my name is | mein Name ist | | what is your name (informal)? | wie heisst du? | | what is your name (formal) | wie heissen sie? | | thanks | danke |
You can find more about this at this podcast lesson (PDF): http://german-podcast.blogspot.com/2007/12/055-learn-to-speak-german-sich.html
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001 - German-Podcast.de: Introductions
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Thu, Dec 08, 2011
The first German lesson starts with basic introductions.
If you have an Android phone you might want to try the Learn German Podcast App. It contains a vocabulary trainer with all the words and the audio files. . .
Luzern, 9.12.2011
Stephan Wiesner
| I am | ich bin | | my name is | mein Name ist | | hello | hallo | | good morning | Guten Morgen | | good day | Guten Tag | | good evening | Guten Abend | | evening | der Abend | | the computer scientist | der Informatiker | | the baker | der BΓ€cker | | goodbye | auf Wiedersehen |
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The Android App (BETA)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Nov 18, 2011
I just released a beta version of the learn German Android App. Take a look at it, give me feedback and I will try to get it final in the christmas holidays at the latest.
You can find a list of my Android Apps here:
https://market.android.com/developer?pub=Stephan+Wiesner
Introduction
The GermanPodcast.de app provides a German teaching course. It is based on the popular GermanPodcast I maintained for some years (and have discontinued for the moment).
The lessons contain an audio file, some vocabulary and a review session. They build on each other, so you might want to start in the beginning. The new vocabulary can be imported into VociTeach, the vocabulary learn program included in the app.
The app is currently in BETA status, check for updates in November/Dezember 2011
The Lessons
You can obtain a list of all available lessons from the lessons menu. Just press "more lessons" and the app connects to my server and looks for new lessons. These are not downloaded automatically! Just open any lesson you want to learn and the app starts to download the lessons to your SD card.
If you go through the review of the lesson, you can add the contained vocabulary to your personal stack.
The data for the lessons is stored on your SD card. You can use the mp3 files with any mp3 player - and delete them if you need the space. If you just delete the mp3 file, the vocabulary is still displayed in the lesson screen. If you want to download the complete lesson again you need to delete the folder of the lesson (e.g. "lesson03") and reopen that lesson.
The Quiz The quiz asks you for random vocis from your personal stack. You get 1 point for every correct answer and -2 for every wrong one. Your personal highscore is recorded for each session, so make an effort...
VociTeach VociTeach is the vocabulary learning program included in the app. It is based on the Leitner System.
In this method words are sorted into levels according to how well you know each one. This is how it works: you try to recall the answer to the question asked. If you succeed, you send the card to the next level. But if you fail, you send it back to the first level. Each succeeding level has a longer period of time before you are required to revisit the word.
 You can solve the question (but this results in the word moving back to level 1!) or get a hint (first letters of the answer). If you press "Next" you will be asked if you knew the correct answer. Be honest, the sytem only works if you are honest with yourself...
 The beauty of the Leitner system is that you can achieva maximum recall with minimum effort! After all the hard part of learning vocis is not the learning, its the remembering over a long period of time...
Errors, Feedback, FeaturesIf you find errors in the app itself or the vocabulary, please drop me an email and I will try to fix it. Please don't write it into recessions in the Android market. I can not answer those, I might not even read them and they are sure to be outdated after I fix it. So, be fair, let me know personally, ok?
The same goes for feedback or feature wishes. I will include a FAQ section in this help file in the future - but you need to contact me to fill that first :-)
Planned Features
- Add/Edit vocis
- Customize the intervals of levels
- Random function in VociTeach
- Store name for highscore
- Layout of list of all vocis could be . . . optimized
- And, of course, add mor lessons .-)
Luzern, 18.11.2011
Stephan Wiesner
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116 - Learn to speak German - Body Mass Index
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Jan 15, 2011
In todays German lesson you will learn about the BMI - Body Mass Index.
You will learn how to calculate it and the German vocabulary connected to it.
After this lesson you can go to the Android market and download an App that I wrote (search for BMI). It can calculate your BMI, your WtHR and the amount of daily calories you burn.
weight = das Gewicht body = der KΓΆrper mass = die Masse calculation = die Berechnung to calculate = berechnen to measure = messen size = die GrΓΆsse scales = die Waage age = das Alter calorie = die Kalori
ich bin 178cm gross / ich bin 1.78m gross ich wiege 70kg mein bmi ist 22
Bern, 16.01.2011
Stephan Wiesner
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115 - Learn to speak German - Gute VorsΓ€tze
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Jan 15, 2011
Ein paar Vokabeln fΓΌr euch: Happy new year = frohes neues Jahr wish = der Wunsch diet = die DiΓ€t, eine DiΓ€t machen lose weight = abnehmen weight = das Gewicht stop smoking = mit dem Rauchen aufhΓΆren exercise more = mehr Sport machen holiday = der Urlaub, die Ferien work = die Arbeit, arbeiten mobile phone = das Handy, das Nattel (Swiss slang)
You can find it by searching for Gipfel (peak) in the Android market.
Features - Show World Map - Show more than 6600 Huts and Peaks in Switzerland - Show Distance from Current Position - Show Current Position on Map - Show Compass - Send a mail with the current position - Links all Peaks/Huts to Wikipedia (German Version) - Search Places, Huts, Peaks (Only in Full Version)
The picture was taken on the Christkindli Markt at the ZΓΌrich mainstation. I really hate crowded places and taking that picture at about 6 in the morning was about all I could make my self do. . .
11.01.2011
Stephan Wiesner
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113 - Learn to speak German - Vocabulary and the Android Quiz App
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Dec 05, 2010
And I present you my first app for Android. A little quiz that you can use to check the words presented today. If you own an Android smartphone: go to market and search for Learn German quiz and you should be able to download it. Let me know if it works for you (or if it does not!) and what you think of it. The picture shows the famous Matterhorn in Switzerland. I took the picture at dawn when we climbed Mt. Alphubel in the summer of 2010.
Happy learning, Stephan Lucerne, 5.12.2010
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112 - Learn to speak German - Do you own a smartphone?
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Dec 04, 2010
Winter has come to Switzerland. Snow and ice (and closed airports) and long evenings at home. So this is a good time to start some new projects. I am currently thinking about resuming the podcast and I would like to write some small helper applications for smartphones. Word trainer, small vocabulary games and the like.http://german-podcast.blogspot.com/
Weisse GrΓΌsse aus Luzern, Stephan
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110 - Learn to speak German - Reisebericht Chile und Ojos del Salado
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Mar 12, 2010
Ein schriftlicher Reisebericht vom Ojos del Salado kann hier nachgelesen werden:
 Ein Lama vor dem Vulkan Parinacotta
 Farbige Berge im Lauca Nationalpark (hier bei knapp 5000m)
 Im Altiplano braucht es Spanischkenntnisse, um auch mal nach dem Weg zu fragen...
 Die Laguna Miscanti und Laguna Minique, zwei blaue Augen mitten im Nichts. Wir sind auf den Vulkan Minique gestiegen (es braucht ein Permit).
 Das Basislager am Ojos del Salado (im Hintergrund). Unser Zelt ist das rechte grΓΌne...
 Fischer am Strand des Pazifiks im Nationalpark Pan de Azucar
 Hektisches Treiben in Lima
06.02.2010 Luzern, Stephan Wiesner 
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109 - Learn to speak German - Farben - Colors
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Dec 25, 2009
red blue green yellow black white brown orange grey gold silver
......................... rot blau grΓΌn gelb schwarz weiss braun orange grau gold silber
Luzern, 25.12.2009 Stephan Wiesner
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108 - Learn to Speak German - Ferien in Chile
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Dec 20, 2009
In todays German lesson I will tell you about my trip to Chile in January. Sorry about the sound quality. I still could not make my soundcard work properly so I used my movile phone and converted the files to mp3 files for the upload to itunes.
This might actually be a good exercise for you to get a feeling about how it would be to talk to somebody on the phone . . . .
In Chile we will start in Putre and the Lauca National Parc in the north of Chile. For more information. You can see some pictures and read about the parc at Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauca_National_Park
 The picture from Google Earth shows Mt. Parinacota as seen from the Lauca National Parc. And here is a map of the area. As you can see it is quite a wilderness....
 And here is an overview of the region around ojos del salado. It is right next to the border to Argentinia (Argentinien) and there are some beautiful lakes and even some hot springs to soak in and get warm again :-)
GrΓΆΓere Kartenansicht
Bern, 20.12.2009 Stephan Wiesner
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106 - Learn to Speak German - Am Lagerfeuer
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Mon, Nov 30, 2009
In this lesson of German-Podcast.de I present you a short video taken in the Swiss Alps last weekend. I went camping with my girlfriend as part of our training for our trip to Chile in January.
As you can imagine, the hot "Abendbrot" tasted wonderful :-)
Bern, 30.11.2009
Stephan Wiesner
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105 - Learn to Speak German - Chapter 4
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Nov 13, 2009
Sorry for not posting for three weeks. I had a ton of work to do at the office, got a cold and started planing my trip to Chile/Peru in January.
Next week I will go on a business trip to Wien ( Vienna ), so here is a picture of the most famous thing Wien has to offer: 
:-)
Lucerne, 12.11.2009
Stephan Wiesner
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104 - Learn to Speak German - Urlaub in SΓΌdfrankreich
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Tue, Oct 27, 2009
I am back from my holiday in the south of France and will tell you a little bit about what I have seen and done there in todays Podcast.
 Die Madonna in Le Puy in der Auvergne
There is even a video of the town:
 Ein Blick auf den einsamen Leuchtturm am Mittelmeer Strand nahe Montpellier.
 Stephan Wiesner auf dem Le Pont du Gard et l'Aqueduc de NΓmes.
 Eine der typischen KΓΌhe der Auvergne
Ein Blick in den KΓ€se-Keller in Roquefort
 Unsere herrliche Unterkunft in der Morgensonne.
 Das Amphitheather in Nimes.
 Ein Blick nach aussen vom Papspalast in Avignon.
Luzern, 25.10.2010
Stephan Wiesner
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103 - Learn to Speak German - Chapter 3
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Oct 09, 2009
Todays German lesson continues with the book (second part). I read from chapter 3 and provide you some information about the Swiss railway system as well.
Here are the flashcards with the vocabulary.
 Here you can see a picture of the Freiburger Alpen
 And here is autumn in Switzerland. Die LaubbΓ€ume sind wunderschΓΆn eingefΓ€rbt :-)
The first video shows me at the start of the bike tour, near Thun
The second video was taken at 1600m in the Freiburger Alpen
ZΓΌrich, 09.10.2009
Stephan Wiesner
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101 - Learn to Speak German- Chapter 1
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Tue, Sep 29, 2009
In todays German lesson I read an excerpt from the book "Welcome to Switzerland", provide you with a number of new flashcards with German vocabulary and tell you how beautiful the autumn in Switzerland is (wie schΓΆn der Herbst in der Schweiz ist) . . .
The next lesson is already in the making and it will teach you all you need to know about Possesivpronomen (mein Haus, meine Katze, etc.) . . .
Die Bilder sind vom Flughafen ZΓΌrich . I sometimes change train there on my way to work. That always makes me want to go on a looong holiday again .-) Lucerne, 29.09.2009
Stephan Wiesner
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100 - Learn to Speak German - A new Beginning
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Sep 26, 2009
Welcome to German Podcast.de dem Podcast zum Deutsch lernen.
All your mails and comments made me change my mind about the German podcast: I will continue with it!
This lesson is not a German lesson, but an introduction. I will continue the next few lessons with text excerpts and exercises from the book Learn German with a story, which you can buy at amazon or lulu.com (link on the homepage), so you might want to order it. Its only 2.5 EUR and available as a download or printed book.
Please download the Flashcards with German Vocabulary.
Note about the old lessons
Please note that there are old lessons from previous years. I restarted the Podcast in the autumn 2009 and the new lessons start with the number 100. Please note that there is a gap in the numbering.
 The picture displays the famous Mt. Matterhorn, probably the most famous Mountain of Switzerland and some alpinists on their way to climp Mt. Dom, near Zermatt. The Dom is the highest Mountain in Switzerland. I took the picture on my way to Mt. Lenzspitze. The video is taken before dawn, when we left the glacier a few minutes before I took the picture.
About the Podcast
This podcast will help you learn to understand and even speak German. There are currently three types of German lessons available:
- Beginners German lessons: These start with the very first words in German and will build upon each other. Please start with lesson 100 and follow them in the order of their numbering. Some of these lessons will even teach you basic German grammar.
- Special Topics (advanced): Some lessons will have a special topic. These lessons are for advanced listeners and are therefore mostly in German. I do provide some vocabulary and there will be special information to download and help you further. Examples might be a lesson about Bern, the capital of Switzerland, where I currently work. Or a lesson about making hotel reservations or about fruits and vegetables.
- Freerider lessons: Lessons with all kind of stuff that doesnβt fit into any other category.
How does the Podcast work?
Start by subscribing to the podcast. It is free! Go to this page: http://feeds.feedburner.com/German-podcast and click on the subscribe button on the right. Or use iTunes: Open iTunes, search for German and choose subscribe to this podcast.
Most of my listeners use iTunes (download it for free from Apple), but you can use a varity of tools. Each new episode will be downloaded automatically with this subscription.
The more active YOU work, the more YOU will profit from the podcast. I provide a lot of different exercises and it is up to you to use them. Letβs face it: You will not learn to speak German by just passively listening to a single lesson a week . . .
Specials
Please visit the homepage of the podcast: http://german-podcast.blogspot.com/. I will provide a lot of extra goodies with the German podcast. Some, but not all, are free. Examples include:
Flashcards
Personally I have an IPod nano and those can display pictures as well as text. I will provide you with flashcards for the lessons, so that you can learn some vocabulary on your IPod, while you listen to your favourite music. This should work with all devices that can display pictures.
Transcripts
Though I will not provide complete transcripts of the lessons (who wants to read those?), I do provide some text. Check out the homepage to see what you will find.
Interviews and videos
From time to time I interview friends of mine or even make a small movie. The interviews will help you prepare for different speakers and local accents.
Money
It is expensive to host so many large audio and video files and it takes an enormous amount of work to produce the lessons. So, if you like the podcast, please feel free to donate something (link on the homepage). Furthermore I will provide some extra stuff that you can download only if you pay for it. This includes the texts I use for the beginners lessons and extra information or exercises for some lessons. They are very cheap, so please grab them all :-)
Seriously, if everybody of you buys some of the stuff I can offer you more of my time, improving on the podcast and offering you better services. So everybody wins . . .
Disclaimer
I am German, from the northern part of Germany (near Hamburg). I therefore speak what we call βreines Hochdeutschβ. This means that I do not have a German accent. During some of the lessons you will hear other people speak and some of them come from different parts of Germany or Switzerland and I will point out how there accents are different.
Please note that I have never lived for a long period in an English speaking country and I am told that I do have a strong German accent when speaking English. I do make mistakes when I write or speak English. Sorry for that and please feel free to drop me an email if you have feel the need to point out some of those mistakes. My German, however, should be correct.
Lucerne, 26.09.2009
Stephan Wiesner
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074 - Learn to Speak German - The End
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Mon, Jan 26, 2009
This is the last session of German-Podcast.de. I just don't have the time for all my interests and need to cut back on some of them and as there is already such a large amount of material available for you to pratice your German . . . well, I will not continue with the podcast.
Lucerne, 26.01.2009
Stephan Wiesner
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073 - Learn to Speak German - Urlaub in Γgypten / Holidays in Egypt
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Jan 11, 2009
This morning I arrived in ZΓΌrich - in the cold and gray. The temperature was about 25 Β°C lower than in Egypt where I spend the last two weeks.
Today I will talk about my holiday in egypt, providing you with a number of useful vocabulary and sentences.
First of all: Many thanks to all of you who wrote me about the podcast. I did not access the Internet from Egypt and am very surprised (and pleased) about the number and the quality of emails you wrote me! We will come back to that later.
 I spend my holidays with my girlfriend in Sharm el Sheik.
Ich war mit meiner Freundin in Sharm el Sheik im Urlaub.
As you can see, I visited the Pyramids near Kairo.
Wie ihr sehen kΓΆnnt, habe ich die Pyramiden bei Kairo besichtigt.
We spend most of the time lying at the beach.
Die meiste Zeit haben wir am Strand gelegen.
The weather was perfect and very warm for the season. Though we did feel cold most of the time because of the wind and the cold water (22Β°C).
Das Wetter war super und fΓΌr die Saison sehr warm. Wegen dem stΓ€ndigen Wind und dem kalten Wasser haben wir aber dennoch die meiste Zeit gefroren.
We had a hotel with demi-pension and the food was delicious.
Wir hatten ein Hotel mit Halbpension und das Essen war kΓΆstlich.
I also went scuba diving in the red sea.
Ich war auch tauchen im Roten Meer.
We went for a few excursions for example to Mt. Sinai and the Colored Canyon.
Wir haben ein paar AusflΓΌge gemacht, z.B. zum Berg Sinai und dem Colored Canyon.
As always the holiday was way too short...
Wie immer waren die Ferien viel zu kurz...
Stephan
stephan@german-podcast.de
Luzern, 11.01.2009
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072 - Learn to Speak German - Wo soll es hingehen? The future of German-Podcast.de?
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Dec 19, 2008
Heut haben wir schon die Folge 72 von German-Podcast.de. Zwei Jahre.
Today we are at lesson 72 of German-Podcast.de. Two years.
Another year is ending and that is always a good point in time to reflect on the past - and the future.
So, what do I do with the Podcast?
Let me think what YOU want it to be.
What do you expect from it, how are you learning German and why. For how long. How much time do you spend on the learning, what other material do you use, etc.
I will spend Sylvester in Egypt, with plenty of time to read your mails and to think about it, so write me either by posting on the page or by sending me an email.
Stephan
stephan@german-podcast.de
Luzern, 19.12.2008
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071 - Learn to Speak German - German Survival Phrases - Wo ist der Bahnhof?
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Dec 13, 2008
Most cities in Germany or Switzerland have a train station and in most cases this is located at or near the center of town. So, even if you do not travel by train, it is always a good idea to know where the train station is located.
That is why we will learn to ask for directions to the train station (Bahnhof) or other points of interest today.
train station - der Bahnhof
where - wo
is - ist
city hall - das Rathaus
metro - die U-Bahn
left - links
right - rechts
 The mountains on the photo are called Grosser und Kleiner Mythen and are right next to the town called Schwyz. They are quite famous and can be seen from most of central Switzerland.
Luzern, 13.12.2008
Stephan Wiesner
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070 - Learn to Speak German - German Survival Phrases - Bitte und Danke
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Dec 06, 2008
Heute wollen wir endlich mal wieder eine AnfΓ€ngerlektion durchgehen. German Survival Phrases soll eine kleine Serie mit sehr grundlegenden Dingen werden. Ein paar Worte Deutsch fΓΌr den Urlaub, genug um das Eis zu brechen und zu zeigen, dass ihr einen "effort" macht.
Today we are back to some basics. German Survival Phrases is going to be a small series of very basic phrases. Just enough to show that you made an effort.
please - bitte
you are welcome - bitte, gerne geschehen
thanks - danke
thank you very much - vielen Dank, danke sehr
 Todays pictures show Schloss SchΓΆnbrunn and the famous wheel at the Prater, both in Wien (Vienna).
Luzern, 06.12.2008
Stephan Wiesner
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070 - Learn to Speak German - Ein Besuch in Wien / a visit to Vienna
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Nov 30, 2008
Vor kurzem war ich fΓΌr ein Wochenende in Wien (Vienna) und morgen fliege ich noch mal fΓΌr ein paar Tage hin. Grund genug, euch ein wenig ΓΌber diese schΓΆne Stadt zu erzΓ€hlen.
Wien ist die Hauptstadt von Γsterreich und hat rund 1.7 Millionen Einwohner.
 Wien ist eine sehr bekannte Stadt, die von vielen Touristen besucht wird. Wie man auf diesem Bild schΓΆn sieht, kann man das zu Fuss, im Bus oder in der Pferdekutsche machen...
 Zu einem richtigen Besuch gehΓΆrt natΓΌrlich die berΓΌhmte Sacher-Torte. Sehr teuer, man muss anstehen, um ΓΌberhaupt einen Platz zu bekommen und wird dafΓΌr mit einem echten Geschmacks-Highlight verwΓΆhnt. Ich habe mir erlaubt, dieverse Torten in verschiedenen Cafes zu geniessen und sie waren alle sehr gut. Die Sacher war nicht besser, aber auch nicht schlechter als die Anderen...
 Und was wΓ€re ein Besuch in Wien ohne die schΓΆnen SchlΓΆsser (hier Belvedere)? Bei dem herrlichen Wetter mochten wir nicht reingehen, aber auch der Besuch der Parks lohnt sich schon...
Nun, und hier ist schliesslich ein Bild von Bern. Womit wohl klar ist, warum ich gerne in Bern arbeite und, so schΓΆn Wien auch ist, immer wieder gerne dorthin zurΓΌckkehre .-)
Die Berner Altstadt, im Hintergrund die Alplen mit Schreckhorn, Finsteraarhorn, Eiger, MΓΆnch und Jungfrau.
Luzern, 30.11.2008
Stephan Wiesner
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 069 - Marathon in Luzern und Galgenraten
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Wed, Nov 26, 2008
Zwei Themen habe ich heute. Den Marathon in Luzern 26.10.2008 und das Spiel Galgenraten.
Das Spiel ist ein kleines Programm in C#, dass ich geschrieben habe. Es ist zwar nur sehr klein, setzt aber evtl. updates von Microsoft voraus, so dass es nur auf aktuellen Systemen laufen wird.
Im Verzeichnis gibt es eine Textdatei (vocis.txt), in der die Worte enthalten sind. Ihr kΓΆnnt sie also einfach austauschen. Probiert es einfach mal aus .-)
Am 26.10.2008 ist der diesjΓ€hrige Marathon in Luzern. Das ist doch ein guter Grund, Luzern einen Besuch abzustatten? Es ist ein sehr schΓΆner Marathon und mit aktuell 6000 angemeldeten Teilnehmern auch nicht so ΓΌberfΓΌllt. Die Homepage mit mehr Informationen ist hier:
http://www.lucernemarathon.ch/ Stephan Wiesner beim Marathon in Luzern 2007
 Stephan Wiesner nach dem Marathon in Basel 2006 - leicht dehydriert .-)
GalgenmΓ€nnchen, Galgenraten oder auch Galgenmann oder einfach auch Galgen und englisch hangman ist ein einfaches Buchstabenspiel.
[http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galgenraten]
Erst mit den Ausgrabungen an historischer Stelle in Marathon, bei denen 1890 ein HΓΌgel mit den GrΓ€bern der gefallenen Athener von der Schlacht von Marathon freigelegt wurde, kam die Legende ΓΌber Pheidippides wieder in Erinnerung. Der Sprachwissenschaftler Michel BrΓ©al besuchte bei einer Griechenlandreise diesen Ort. Als er dann 1894 dem Olympischen Kongress in Paris beiwohnte, wuchs in ihm die Idee, den legendΓ€ren Lauf des Pheidippides im Rahmen der fΓΌr 1896 geplanten Olympischen Spiele von Athen als Wettkampf aufleben zu lassen. Mit einem Brief teilte er seinem Freund, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, dem BegrΓΌnder des Internationalen Olympischen Komitees (IOC), seine Idee mit. Der Sieger sollte einen von ihm gestifteten Pokal erhalten. Nach einigem ZΓΆgern stimmte man der Idee zu, und so wurde der Olympische Marathon 1896 von Athen der erste organisierte Marathonlauf.
[http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathonlauf]
Luzern, 19.09.2008
Stephan Wiesner
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068 - Learn to Speak German - Zungenbrecher (tongue twister)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Thu, Aug 14, 2008
Ein Zungenbrecher ist ein tongue twister.
Hier sind zwei Zungenbrecher:
Fischers Fritze fischt frische Fische.
Fischt Fischers Fritze frische Fische?
Bierbrauer Bauer braut braunes Bier, braunes Bier braut Bierbrauer Bauer.
Nebenbei stelle ich weitere WΓΆrter aus dem tΓ€glichen Deutsch Newsletter von http://www.bitesizedlanguages.com vor und sage was zum Wetter.
The picture shows me right before we start to climb the Witenwasserenstock (3082m), which you see right behind me. Excellente Gratkletterei .-)
Luzern, 15.08.2008
Stephan Wiesner
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067 - Learn to Speak German - 1. August Nationalfeiertag
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Aug 01, 2008
Today is the first of August (again) and the legend says that Switzerland was founded on the first of August 1291. This story is depicted in Friedrich Schillers famous story about Wilhem Tell.
You can find the whole text of Wilhelm Tell online at Project Gutenberg.
Google has it as well, in Altdeutsch. Finally here is a link to Wikipedia with details about Wilhelm Tell.
Gessler:
Nun Tell! Weil du den Apfel triffst vom Baume
Auf hundert Schritte, so wirst du deine Kunst
Vor mir bewΓ€hren mΓΌssen - Nimm die Armbrust -
Du hast sie gleich zur Hand - und mach dich fertig,
Einen Apfel von des Knaben Kopf zu schiessen -
Doch will ich raten, ziele gut, dass du
Den Apfel treffest auf den ersten Schuss,
Denn fehlst du ihn, so ist dein Kopf verloren. Alle geben Zeichen des Schreckens. Tell:
Herr - Welches Ungeheure sinnet Ihr
Mir an - Ich soll vom Haupte meines Kindes -
- Nein, nein doch, lieber Herr, das kΓΆmmt Euch nicht
Zu Sinn - VerhΓΌt's der gnΓ€d'ge Gott - das kΓΆnnt ihr
Im Ernst von einem Vater nicht begehren!
Don't forget to subscribe to the daily newsletter in German at http://www.bitesizedlanguages.com
Luzern, 01.08.2008
Stephan Wiesner
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066 - Learn to Speak German - Learn German with Bitesizedlanguages
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Thu, Jul 17, 2008
In today's lesson we will learn some German vocabulary. First I need to apologize, though, for not posting regularly anymore. I started a new job on the first of July and had to get into the new company. It is a IT consulting company in ZΓΌrich and I joined my first project for them in Bern last Monday, so again everything new and a lot to learn.
Furthermore I met a wonderful woman, or met again, I should say, which did not quite turn out the way it should have, though. Finally: I joined http://www.bitesizedlanguages.com/, a daily mail sender with sentences for different languages. I use them for my learning of French and Spanish and starting soon you can receive a daily phrase in Germen as well. We are discussing some exciting new features, but currently you can only register (for free) and receive a daily sentence of German (translated by me). We will therefore learn some new vocabulary today. And if you register with http://www.bitesizedlanguages.com/ you will see those words again β in a different context to help you remember them. | piece of jewellery | das SchmuckstΓΌck | | umbrella | der Regenschirm | | map | die Karte | | slowly | langsam | | office | das BΓΌro | | diet | die DiΓ€t | | degree | das Grad | | subject | das Thema | | to rip / to tear | zerreissen | | to bring | bringen | | unforgettable | unvergesslich | | all the best | alles Gute | | This month's star sign: Leo | Das Sternzeichen des Monats: der LΓΆwe | | while | wΓ€hrend | | Bless you! | Gesundheit! | | nonsense | der Quatsch |
 The picture was taken at about 10000 feet in mid June. So if you are planning to come to Switzerland, better pack your warm clothes .-)
Luzern, 17.07.2008 Stephan Wiesner
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065 - Learn to Speak German - Die Zugspitze
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Jun 27, 2008
Diese Woche war ich das erste Mal in den Deutschen Alpen. Den hΓΆchsten Berg Deutschlands, die Zugspitze, haben wir auf der Route durch das HΓΆllental erstiegen. Ausserdem waren wir noch in der Meiler HΓΌtte (2374m) und haben ein herrliches Mittagessen gehabt. ZunΓ€chst wollen wir von der Zugspitze aus den JubilΓ€umsgrad machen, aber die Besatzung des MΓΌnchner Haus oben auf der Zugspitze war so unfreundlich, dass wir es nicht ΓΌber uns gebracht haben, dort zu schlafen.
Der Aufstieg durch das HΓΆllental ist spektakulΓ€r und nicht ganz ohne. Es geht durch eine wilde Klamm, WΓ€lder, ΓΌber zwei lange Klettersteige und einen kleinen Gletscher. Dazu ist es mit 2200 HΓΆhenmetern auch fΓΌr geΓΌbte Wanderer anstrengend genug. Was will man also mehr? Absolute Trittsicherheit und Schwindelfreiheit sind aber Voraussetzung! Gerade der Γbergang vom Eis in den Klettersteig ist bei den aktuellen WetterverhΓ€ltnissen sehr heikel gewesen.
Wikipedia hat folgendes zur Zugspitze zu sagen:Die Zugspitze wurde erstmals 1590 namentlich erwΓ€hnt. Im 19. Jahrhundert erwachte schlieΓlich das Interesse an einer ErschlieΓung des Massivs. Am 7. August 1807 startete die erste dokumentierte Expedition von Partenkirchen aus in Richtung Zugspitze: FranΓ§ois Gabriel Graf von Bray, der Botaniker Kaspar Graf von Sternberg, Professor Charles FranΓ§ois Duval, Generalmajor Reinhard Friedrich Freiherr von Werneck und zwΓΆlf Einheimische als FΓΌhrer und TrΓ€ger. Ziel der Expedition war es, den Verlauf sowie die Temperatur-Entwicklung der Partnach bis zu ihrer Quelle am westlichen Ende des Reintals zu erforschen, sowie die Botanik der Region zu erkunden. In Graf Brays Bericht der Expedition wird jedoch die Zugspitze, welche die Mannschaft in knapp vier Kilometern Entfernung gesehen haben muss, mit keinem Wort erwΓ€hnt. Kaiser Franz-Joseph von Γsterreich schenkte die Zugspitze 1854 anlΓ€sslich seiner Hochzeit mit Elisabeth in Bayern, auch Sisi genannt, an Bayern.[1] Durch die starke Γberbauung des Gipfels ist die ursprΓΌngliche Struktur kaum mehr erkennbar. Der gegenΓΌber dem Ostgipfel um einen Meter hΓΆhere Westgipfel wurde im Zweiten Weltkrieg weggesprengt. Der Mittelgipfel fiel 1931 dem Bau der Seilbahn vom Schneefernerhaus zum Gipfel zum Opfer. Identifizierbar ist noch der Ostgipfel mit dem goldenen Gipfelkreuz. Auf dem Bild βZugspitzgipfel um 1900β ist der Westgipfel, hinter dem MΓΌnchner Haus durch eine Signalstange gekennzeichnet, noch vorhanden. Der Leutnant Josef Naus bestieg im Auftrag des KΓΆniglich Bairischen Topographischen Bureaus zusammen mit dem Messgehilfen Maier und dem BergfΓΌhrer Johann Georg Deutschl am 27. August 1820 die Zugspitze. Damit gilt er als erster namentlich bekannter Besteiger des Westgipfels. Eine frΓΌhere Besteigung durch Einheimische ist aufgrund von Hinweisen auf historischem Kartenmaterial aus der Zeit um 1770 anzunehmen.
Luzern, 28.06.2008 Stephan Wiesner
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064 - Learn to Speak German - Back in Switzerland
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Jun 13, 2008
 Hallo zusammen,
ich bin zurΓΌck in der Schweiz und in der neuen Wohnung eingezogen. Die Kurzfassung: Ich war vier Wochen in Antigua, zwei in Honduras zum Tauchen und dann noch mal zwei in Antigua, weiter Spanisch lernen.
Das obere Bild zeigt mein erstes Zimmer bei einer Gastfamilie in Antigua. Charm hat es gehabt, wenn es auch etwas eng war. Das untere Bild ist mein neues Daheim. Auch nicht viel grΓΆsser, nur habe ich jetzt etwas mehr GepΓ€ck als nur einen Rucksack. . . Kleines Zimmer, Dusche auf dem Flur, da fΓΌhlt man sich wieder wie beim MilitΓ€r - oder wie in einer Jugi (Jugendherberge).
 Luzern, 13.06.2008
Stephan Wiesner
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063 - Learn to Speak German - Guatemala
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Mar 02, 2008
Sorry for the long time without a post, tons of things to do. I am currently planning a trip to Guatemala for 8 to 10 weeks, so this is a good opportunity to talk about the country. Furthermore I have canceled the contract for my apartement and still need a place to store my stuff and somewhere to sleep when I am back...
You can find out more about Guatemala at http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemala
Guatemala ist ein Staat in Zentralamerika, im SΓΌden der Halbinsel YucatΓ‘n. Der Name Guatemala leitet sich vom toltekischen (Nahuatl-) Wort Cuauhtemallan ab, was soviel wie 'Erde der BΓ€ume verrottet' bedeutet. Guatemala grenzt im SΓΌdosten an Honduras, im SΓΌden an El Salvador, im Norden an Mexiko und im Osten an Belize. Guatemala hat zwei KΓΌsten, im Osten einen schmalen Zugang zum Karibischen Meer und im SΓΌdwesten die PazifikkΓΌste.
Der nordΓΆstliche Teil, El PetΓ©n, ist Tiefland mit fast durchgehendem tropischen Regenwald. Im Zentrum Guatemalas liegt das Hochland mit Vulkanen bis zu 4.220 m HΓΆhe. Hier ist auch einer der hΓΆchsten Vulkane Mittelamerikas zu finden, der Tajumulco. Mit seinen 4220 m, ΓΌberragt er das Hochland von Guatemala.
Klima Der schmale, flache und fruchtbare KΓΌstenstreifen am Pazifik hat durchgehend feuchttropisches Klima. Das Hochland ist von sehr unterschiedlichen Klimazonen geprΓ€gt. Wegen der Lage zwischen 1.300 und 1.800 Metern ΓΌber dem Meer, herrscht fast das ganze Jahr ΓΌber ein mildes Klima mit Tagestemperaturen zwischen 18 und 28 Grad Celsius. In hΓΆheren Lagen kann die Lufttemperatur vor allem im Januar und Februar stark sinken. Das Hochland ist das kulturelle und bevΓΆlkerungsreichste Zentrum Guatemalas. In einem tiefergelegenen Teil dieser Hochlandregion liegt die heutige Hauptstadt Guatemala-Stadt.
Ballungsgebiete Die wichtigsten StΓ€dte sind (Stand 1. Januar 2005): Guatemala-Stadt ca. 2,5 Mio. (inoffizielle SchΓ€tzungen gehen bereits von 5 Millionen Einwohnern aus), Mixco 297.039 Einwohner, Villa Nueva 218.294 Einwohner, AmatitlΓ‘n 61.562 Einwohner und Chinautla 61.520 Einwohner. Im Weiteren Quetzaltenango 112.121 Einwohner, Escuintla 69.311 Einwohner, CobΓ‘n 59.428 Einwohner, Huehuetenango 28.500 Einwohner, sowie Antigua mit 20.600 Einwohnern.
BevΓΆlkerung 59,4 % der Guatemalteken sind europΓ€ischer oder gemischt europΓ€isch-indigener Abstammung. Diese BevΓΆlkerungsgruppe wird lokal anders als in anderen LΓ€ndern Mittelamerikas als Ladinos bezeichnet. Der europΓ€ische Anteil ist ΓΌberwiegend spanischer Herkunft. Weitere 40 % der GesamtbevΓΆlkerung sind Indigene, meist aus den VΓΆlkergruppe der Maya. Der Rest der BevΓΆlkerung ist asiatischer Abstammung oder zΓ€hlt zu den Garifuna, an der KaribikkΓΌste lebenden Nachkommen der Kariben, von diesen unterworfener Arawak und entflohener und ursprΓΌnglich aus Afrika stammender Sklaven der Insel St. Vincent.  The picture is a prove that we do have bad weather from time to time as well -) Hope it will be better next weekend as I am planning to climb mount Wildhorn (10656 feet).
StΓΌrmischen Gruss aus Luzern,
Stephan Wiesner
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062 - Learn to Speak German - Hotel Reservationen
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Mon, Feb 04, 2008
 Making a reservation in a hotel in a foreign country can often be a little difficult, especially when making the reservation by telephone. This lesson will give you the necessary tools to achieve this daunting task. We already had this topic in lessons 024 and 025, so you might want to take a look at the archive as well.
The PDF (we have 8 pages today!) with the transcript, exercises, fotos, additional information, etc. Can be bought for only 49 Cents. It is in the same format as the PDF files from the last few sessions.
The picture shows the Graustock (8730 feet), which is a great mountain for a "Schneeschuhwanderung".
Lucerne, 04.02.2008
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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061 - Learn to Speak German - Beginner: Welcome to Switzerland
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Jan 25, 2008
 Todays lesson is a beginners lesson, as the last poll indicated that about 70% of you are studying German for less than 3 years.
There is no PDF for todays lesson, but you can find a transcript of the text I read (and much more) at www.LuLu.com, you can also order it from Amazon, it might take a day or two longer to deliver, though.
If you like it, please buy the book or pay for the download of the Ebook-version and write a nice comment at LuLu or at Amazon.com and if enough of you buy it, I will continue the series and start on writing book number two .-)
Remember that there is a blog-page where I try to post something German every day:
http://learn-german-blog.blogspot.com/
Finally todays picture shows one of the many shop windows we see around the city at the moment, claiming that everything is very cheap at the moment (Ausverkauf).
Lucerne, 25.01.2008
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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060 - Learn to Speak German - Arzt und Fragen (in Vergangenheit)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Jan 20, 2008
 Today we talk about a very important topic: How to talk to a doctor. You will learn how to make an appointment and how to describe different symptoms. Lesson 050 was about this topic as well, so you might want to check there for further exercise. There are two Podcasts concerning the PDF transcript for today: Lessons 059 and 060.
Todays picture shows the river Reuss with the NΓΆlliturm in Lucerne
Lucerne, 18.01.2008
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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059 - Learn to Speak German - Beim Zahnarzt
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Jan 13, 2008
Todays German lesson is about how to make an appointment with a dentist. We will hear a telephone interview, then I will go to the dentist and she is going to examine me and give me a root canal treatment. Ouch!
Lucerne, 13.01.2008
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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058 - German-Podcast.de - Mehr Lebensmittel und das Perfekt (PDF)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Jan 06, 2008
Weiter geht es mit dem Lernen von Vokabeln rund um Lebensmittel. Dazu ein klein wenig Grammatik: Das Perfekt wird vorgestellt.
Ausserdem gibt es einen Blog mit tΓ€glichen Γbungen, Vokabeln oder sonstigen Γberraschungen:
http://learn-german-blog.blogspot.com/
Lucerne, 06.01.2008
Stephan Wiesner
http://german-podcast.blogspot.com
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057 - Learn to Speak German - Stephan macht einen Salat (Video)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Jan 05, 2008
Hallo liebe Freunde, im Rahmen unserer Lebensmittel-Serie zeige ich euch heute mal in einem kleinen Video, wie ich einen Salat mache. Dabei tauchen viele der Vokabeln der letzten Episode wieder auf.
 Vorsicht, die Datei ist 38MB gross.
Viel Spass und ...
... Film ab,
Stephan
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055 - Learn to Speak German - Sich Vorstellen
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Dec 30, 2007
In today's lesson we will talk about different ways to introduce oneself. Different names, jobs and hometowns provide a good opportunity to learn some new words. Furthermore a big DankeschΓΆn an D'Arcy for the large donation via PayPal.
If you want to support me, just follow this link, enter the amount of money you want to donate and send it off .-)
Luzern, 29.12.2007
Stephan Wiesner
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056 - Learn to Speak German - Lebensmittel (PDF)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Dec 30, 2007
Currently www.archive.org where I host my audio files does not allow to upload (and not all downloads work) any files. Hope they will fix it despite the new year weekend. Please come back and try again later .-(
Anyway, here is the PDF for the current German lesson, containing vocabulary and additional information about food.
And here is an interesting page: You can download sample tests for German language certification. Why not try one of those and see how fit you already are?
http://www.telc.net
Lucerne, 30.12.2007
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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055 - Learn to Speak German - Sich Vorstellen (PDF)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Dec 29, 2007
Here is the PDF file for the current learn German lesson, containing the transcript, vocabulary and extras.
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054 - Learn to Speak German - Vocabulary Drill
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Thu, Dec 27, 2007
This is a German vocabulary drill unit. We will repeat the vocabulary of the last few sessions. For this, I will say the English word, give you time to speak the German translation and then I will give the correct answer, giving you time to repeat it once more. Feel free to listen repeatedly to this lesson to "drill" the words.
Todays pictures shows my brother Michael in the garden of my parents. He is playing with a remote controled airplane, one of his Christmas presents. Give us men a toy that moves and makes noise and we turn back into children at once .-)
gesund = healthy
der Zauberer = wizard
der Furz = fart
der Arzt/die Γrztin = doctor
die Krankenschwester = nurse
die Sprechstundenhilfe = receptionist
das Wartezimmer = waiting room
die Zeitschrift = magazine
die Krankheit = illness
die Grippe = flu
die ErkΓ€ltung = common cold
der Schnupfen = common cold
der Husten = cough
das Halsweh = sore throat
die Halsschmerzen = sore throat
untersuchen = to examine
ausziehen = to undress
der KΓΌrbis = pumpkin
das GrossraumbΓΌro = open-plan office, cube farm
das Papier = paper
der Schreibtisch = desk
der Computer = computer
die Tastatur = keyboard
der Monitor = screen
die Maus = mouse
der Bleistift = pencil
die Sitzung = meeting
das Telefon = telephone
der Schrank = locker
der Stuhl = chair
fluchen = to swear
die Rolltreppe = moving stairs
der Fahrstuhl = elevator
Luzern, 26.12.2007
Stephan Wiesner
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 053 - Martin Luther
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Wed, Dec 19, 2007
Allen from Wisconsin asked me about a catholic version of the bible. Though I do not know about that his mail got me thinking about Luther. Luthers translation of the bible into German lead to one German "Hochdeutsch" from the many dialects. Maybe I should tell that to some of my Swiss friends, who still talk in dialect .-)
Here is one famous quote from that time:
"Wenn das Geld im Kasten klingt, die Seele aus dem Fegefeuer springt. "
It means that on could by letters of absolution. Those made the church rich and Luther mad, so he started his famous "95 Thesen". I am not going into religious details about Luthers work, but will concentrate on his translation work here.
Luther translated the new testament during his time on the Wartburg 1521-22 and later the old testament. By 1525 a third of those Germans that could read owned a copy of his bible. He used the "Ostmitteldeutsch" of his hometown. This became what is now known as "Hochdeutsch".
Luther is famous for his "volksnahe Sprache" and "vulgΓ€re AusdrΓΌcke" like:
"Aus einem glΓΌcklichen Arsch kommt ein frΓΆhlicher Furz."
"Ein Rausch ist zu ertragen, die Trunkenheit aber nicht."
"Anstrengungen machen gesund und stark."
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Learn to Speak German - 052 - Der Zauberlehrling by Goethe
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Wed, Dec 19, 2007
You really need to know about Goethe if you plan to come to Germany and not appear to be an uneducated person. So I will read on of his most famous poems "Der Zauberlehrling" for you.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, geadelt 1782 (* 28. August 1749 in Frankfurt am Main; β 22. MΓ€rz 1832 in Weimar; auch GΓΆthe), ist als Dichter, Dramatiker, Theaterleiter, Naturwissenschaftler, Kunsttheoretiker und Staatsmann der bekannteste Vertreter der Weimarer Klassik. Sein Werk umfasst Gedichte, Dramen und Prosa-Literatur, aber auch naturwissenschaftliche Abhandlungen. Er gilt als bedeutendster deutscher Dichter und ist eine herausragende PersΓΆnlichkeit der Weltliteratur.
[http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Wolfgang_von_Goethe]
As a kid we had to learn some of his poems (Der Zauberlehrling und der ErlkΓΆnig) by heart and read "Die Leiden des jungen Werthers". As a kid we hated him for that. As a grown up I came to really like some of his poems, especially "Der SchatzgrΓ€ber".
The Zauberlehrling is about the apprentice of a wizard. His master went away and now he wants to do some magic (seine Worte merkt ich und den Brauch...). It works (seht er lΓ€uft zum Wasser...) at the beginning. Then he realizes that he forgot how to end the spell (ach ich merk es, wehe wehe, hab ich doch das Wort vergessen...). Finally he begs his master to return and end the spell, which he does (in die Ecke Besen...)
Luzern, 16.12.2007
Stephan Wiesner
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 049 - In the Office
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Nov 11, 2007
Geschichten und Vokabeln rund aus dem Leben im GrossraumbΓΌro sind heute an der Reihe...
 der KΓΌrbis = pumpkin
das GrossraumbΓΌro = open-plan office, cube farm
das Papier = paper
der Schreibtisch = desk
der Computer = computer
die Tastatur = keyboard
der Monitor = screen
die Maus = mouse
der Bleistift = pencil
die Sitzung = meeting
das Telefon = telephone
der Schrank = locker
der Stuhl = chair
fluchen = to swear
die Rolltreppe = moving stairs
der Fahrstuhl = elevator
Lucerne, 11.11.2007
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 047 - Sardinien und neu in ZΓΌrich
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Oct 14, 2007
Hallo Freunde, da bin ich jetzt also vom Strand in Sardinien direkt ins BΓΌro der Credit Suisse. Kravatte statt Badelatschen. What a difference!
Heute erzΓ€hle ich also ein wenig, wie es mir die letzten Wochen ergangen ist, von Klettern in Finale Ligure, Highlights des Kletterns auf Sardinien, was fΓΌr eine komische Team Zusammensetzung ich habe und warum ich mal wieder im Hotel "wohne". Gespickt mit ein paar Vokabeln, versteht sich...
der Strand - beach
die FΓ€hre - ferry
das Klettern - climbing
das Eis - ice cream
die Nuss - nut
die Ferienwohnung - holiday flat
kochen - to cook
der Stein - stone
trocken - dry
die Strassenbahn (die Tram) - tram
die kΓΌndigungsfrist - notice period
rennen - to run
das Training - training
MΓΌsliriegel -? (e.g. power bar)
I let my other canon camera drop from about 10m, by the way, so it really was a very expensive holiday. On the first day, no less...
 Unsere Unterkunft in Finale. Hey, es sieht schlimmer aus als es ist, Γ€h, well, at least it was quiet out there...
 Ich liebe solche Kletterrouten: 6a+, ΓΌberhΓ€ngend, grosse Griffe, 25m lang. Was will ich mehr? .-)  4 people and 8 back packs really make this room crowded...
 Der Strand von Cala Luna ist angeblich einer der schΓΆnsten in Europa...
Lucerne, 14.10.2007
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 046 - France: Gorge de la Jonte
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Tue, Sep 18, 2007
The Gorge de la Jonte is a canyon in the south of France (Le Midi). The Jonte itself is a 38km long river.  I have been on holiday there last week, climbing of course, and it really is a fantastic landscape. You can find out more here: http://www.pecheaveyron.com/aveyron_sud/jonte.php (en francais).
There are several small and very beautiful villages close to the river, adding to the atmosphere. Everything looks surprisingly clean and freshly renovated.  You can go hiking, biking, climbing, rafting there, enjoy the local wine and the baguettes. The picture shows me still laughing. That was before we climbed the pillar behind me. During that climb I did not laugh at all, as we say "mir ist das Lachen vergangen" .-)
I booked the trip with HΓΆhenfieber and the chose fantastic accommodations. We slept in a renovated house in the ruins of an castle from around the year 1000. Up on a hill the next house was more than a km away. Perfect to relax and enjoy the sunsets. 
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 045 - Transalp
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Aug 26, 2007
Last week I rode my MTB across the Alps: Transalp. With 10 other "Biker" on a trip organized by http://www.dav-summit-club.de/. We started at the Bodensee in the north of Switzerland and rode across the San Bernardino pass to Locarno.
 6 days of "biken" with a typical "HΓΆhenprofil" looking like this:
 Each night we slept in a different hotel in a different town (Appenzell, Chur, San Bernardino, etc.).
 The picture shows us standing above the Rhein, looking down at Lichtenstein and Vaduz.
For me this was the first time that I did such an activity with Germans, so I will tell you a little about cultural differences that became obvious...
 The bad news is that I dropped my new Canon 400D into a canyon, destroying it and my most expensive lens .-( Good that I still have my Sony R1, a great camera with which I took many of my best fotos. Still, the Canon will have to be replaced when I find my new job and get my first salary...
Lucerne, 26.08.2007
Stephan Wiesner
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 044 - The Book and about finding a Job
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Aug 17, 2007
We have two topics today:
1) I finished the book. That is, the PDF version. It takes several weeks to get an ISBN and to publish the printed version.
2) You will learn something about finding a job in Switzerland.
 The book can be bought and read/printed at LuLu. Later it will be available at Amazon as well. A preview is available and there is a homepage for the series. You know that I am not a native English speaker, but I hope that there are not too many mistakes in it. The German parts should be correct; I have made a teacher proof read it :-)
If you are looking for a job in Switzerland, you might want to take a look at Monster. I usually find my jobs with head hunters, though. I am lucky because I work in software development and there are so many jobs available in this area at the moment. We have full employment here in Switzerland, so there are many opportunities, especially in IT and health care.
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 043 - Tiere der Schweiz
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Wed, Aug 15, 2007
Many animals live in the beautiful nature of Switzerland. Here are some of them:
Der Alpensalamander
Der Steinbock
Der Schwan
 Die Ente
 Die Eidechse
 Die Dohle
 Can anybody recommend a good trekking trip into a dessert (WΓΌste) that I could do in September? I am thinking about 2 to 3 weeks and it needs to be a little bit tough or really special. Not the usual tour in a jeep...
I am going to make a Transalp tour (cross the Alps on my bike). Therefore I am training very hard at the moment. Went biking for 85km (nearly 1000m uphill) today. And that was reason enough to eat a full pound of roast potatoes (Bratkartoffeln, RΓΆsties) with eggs and cheese. Hmh, that will refill my energy cells over night like nothing else .-)
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 042 - Learn German with a story Part Two
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Aug 04, 2007
I have a dream about writing books - and live of it.
Today I present some vocabulary from the book to learn German I am working on and you get the first two chapters for free.
The summer finally returned to Switzerland, so I will spend the afternoon lying at Lake Lucerne reading Harry Potter...
Here is a picture of some Swiss money.
 http://german-podcast.blogspot.com/
Lucerne, 04.08.2007
by Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 041 - Learn German with a story
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Aug 04, 2007
I prepared a little story to help you build your vocabulary. You can download it here:
http://www.testmanager.info/Preview_Learn_German_with_a_Story.pdf
Please let me know what you think about that and if you think that kind of story helpful to you. You might want to take a look back at episode 2, which was similar.
 Today is the first of August. That is the national holiday of Switzerland.
[http://www.tell.ch/schweiz/1august.htm]
The picture above is taken above the town Kandersteg, with a view on lake Oeschinensee.
http://german-podcast.blogspot.com/
Lucerne, 01.08.2007
by Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 040 - Freiburg
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Jul 22, 2007
We have Franziska from Freiburg here and she tells you what she loves about the town.
 
Freiburg (frz. Fribourg [fΚiΛbuΚ]) ist der Hauptort des Schweizer Kantons Freiburg und des District de la Sarine (deutsch Saanebezirk). Im internationalen deutschen Sprachgebrauch wird meist der Zusatz Freiburg im Γechtland verwendet, um Verwechslung mit Freiburg im Breisgau vorzubeugen.
Weil das Γechtland jedoch eine veraltete Landschaftsbezeichnung darstellt, schreibt und spricht man in der Deutschschweiz in den meisten FΓ€llen lediglich von Freiburg ohne Namenszusatz (schweizerdeutsch ausgesprochen als [fribΚrg]).
We went hiking on mount Pilatus yesterday and met some SteinbΓΆcke. You can see on the foto that we got as close as maybe 5m to them.
Lucerne, 22.07.2007
Stephan Wiesner
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 039 - BΓ€rentrek und Smalltalk
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Tue, Jul 10, 2007
Wandern auf dem BΓ€rentrek
I went hiking on the famous BΓ€rentrek last weekend.  The full tour lasts 7 days, but we did only two of those from Gimmelwals (Lauterbrunnen) to  Rosenlaui (Meiringen). You can see a map and some pictures on the homepage.
Edith and I used the evening to record some smalltalk, like you might encounter in a bed and breakfast or a mountain hotel like the one we stayed in.
The tour passed some of the most famous Mountains of Switzerland like the famous trio Eiger, MΓΆnch und Jungfrau. The Schreckhorn, Wetterhorn, EngelhΓΆrner and many more. The landscape was indescribable (unbeschreiblich).
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 038 - Weather
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Jun 23, 2007
We have had a terrible thunderstorm in the last week here in Switzerland so today I will talk about the weather. The first picture shows a climber with perfect weather last sunday in the morning. The sky is blue: Perfektes Wetter mit blauem Himmel.
Later we got some dark clouds, though. Es zogen dunkle Wolken auf. And in the late afternoon it started to rain and we got a thunderstorm. Am spΓ€ten Nachmittag fing es an zu regnen und wir bekamen ein Gewitter. Auf dem Bild sieht man meinen Balkon und wie man sieht regnet und hagelt es fΓΌrchterlich...
You can find a good weather report on the Meteo homepage.
And the last picture shows the Google Earth view from the area where I went climbing with the BergfΓΌhrer Markus Burch.
 Lucerne, 23.06.2007
Stephan Wiesner
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 037 - Familie, mein Bruder Micha und der Pilatus
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Jun 08, 2007
My brother Michael visited me last weekend. He works as a cook on a passenger ship and has  never really been in the mountains before. He told me that he wanted to know what I found here in Switzerland that made me stay for so long (besides my ex girlfriend of course).
So, I showed it to him...
This is a good opportunity to talk about "family words", so I will teach you words like Vater and Mutter.
On the pictures on the homepage you can see us starting by having fun on the long sledge trail on the way up mount Pilatus next to Lucerne.
The second pictures shows Michael at our first rest. We were there together with Edith and Michael told us "das habe ich mir irgendwie anders vorgestellt". Less exhausting, I suppose.
It had rained for several days and we had Hochnebel (high fog) and climbed for three hours with a visibility of no more than 20 to 30 meters. Then we broke through the fog and the view was magnificent.  I simply can't describe how magic that moment is. How special the atmosphere is in the zone where the fog stops, when you can see for a moment and then everything disappears again.
Finally we reached the top of mount Pilatus (7000 feet) and made a lunch break. We even got a sunburn there.
The last picture shows the view from top, looking at the Swiss Alps.
Interested in the marathon in Lucerne (28.10.2007)? Here is the homepage.
http://german-podcast.blogspot.com/
Lucerne, 08.06.2007
by Stephan Wiesner
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 036 - Interlaken und "werden"
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Wed, May 30, 2007
Missy from Washington asked me about "werden" and I will say a few words about the town Interlaken.
You can find some very nice pictures from Interlaken here.
I spend some time there with Berg und Tal to go climbing and to learn some Yoga from a nice Yoga teacher from www.prana-yoga.ch.
We slept in the hotel Carlton Europe. It was nice and very clean, the food was fantastic and the personal extremely friendly. And all for a fair price. It is right next to the train station, by the way.
http://german-podcast.blogspot.com/
Lucerne, 30.05.2007
by Stephan Wiesner
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 035 - Pfingsten und Sauerkraut
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, May 27, 2007
Welcome to German-Podcast.de. This Podcast will teach you German.
I am told that may Americans see us German as always eating Sauerkraut. I will have to say something about this rumour. And as we have Pfingsten today I will explain something about that custom.
This is an advanced lesson.
See http://german-podcast.blogspot.com for the corresponding Webpage. There is an archive on the right side where you can find all old lessons.
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 034 - Learn German
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, May 27, 2007
The most basic lesson I can think of and some information about the free vocabulary learn program VociTeach (http://vociteach.sourceforge.net/).
I created a password protected directory where I store PDF transcripts and a start vocabulary for VociTeach. If you pay me just 2$ using PayPal you will get access to it until the 25.06.2007. The audio podcast will stay free, of course and this is just intended as an experiment. Let's see what happens...
Those of you who have already payed me some money, please contact me per mail and I will send you the password.
Lucerne, 5.05.2007
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 033 - BrΓΆtchen und andere Fragen
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, May 27, 2007
Today I will answer some of your questions, like how to pronounce BrΓΆtchen and that all Swiss eat MΓΌsli for breakfast. On the picture you can see what I normally eat for breakfast.
 You can find all you want to know about BrΓΆtchen at Wikipedia.de.
When asked about his breakfast Toby, a good friend from me, said "brΓΆtchen, mΓΌsli, bΓΆse kellogs oder bΓΆse brΓΆtchen", he does a lot of sports, too, though.
My podcast helps you? Why not support me and donate some dollars, euros, or whatever with PayPal? Its simple, safe and helps me to pay for my equipment.
Lucerne, 15.05.2007
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 032 - Climbing in Ardeche
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Tue, May 15, 2007
Hallo liebe Freunde,
Eins lasst euch gesagt sein: Esst kein Fleisch in Frankreich!
Das spart euch Kummer und Euros. Auch wenn der Garcon fragt, ob ihr das Fleisch gut durch haben wollt, das meint er nicht so. Ein Steak muss noch tropfen (to drip, in this case means that the meat was very bloddy), dafΓΌr darf es dann aber beliebig zΓ€h (tough meat) sein...
Wer beim Italiener Pasta mit Lachs (salmon) bestellt, der darf sich nicht wundern, wenn er das auch bekommt: Einen Topf weicher Nudeln, darauf ein StΓΌck Butter und eine Scheibe Lachs. Hmh.
Und nicht wundern, wenn beim Italiener in Frankreich Salat und Schinken ausgehen oder die Pizza schwarz wird, das sind schliesslich die schΓΆnsten Urlaubserinnerungen (holiday memories). Ich hoffe nur, die haben uns fΓΌr HollΓ€nder gehalten und nicht fΓΌr Deutsche, so laut wie wir waren und so doll wie wir am Essen rumgemeckert haben. Hey, so eine kalte Pizza, das ist doch kein Beinbruch! Man, waren wir froh, als wir im Adler in Meiringen endlich wieder gute Schweizer KΓΌche geniessen konnten!
Aber ich beginne am Ende. ZurΓΌck also zum Anfang: Eine Woche Klettern in SΓΌdfrankreich war angesagt und  die Herberge war zwar nicht sehr sauber, aber so richtig im GrΓΌnen gelegen und urgemΓΌtlich (very homey). Leider gab es allerdings nur vegetarisches (vegetarian) aus dem eigenen Garten. Wir lernten die nΓ€chsten Tage allerdings, das dies wahrscheinlich ein GlΓΌcksfall war, denn gutes Fleisch fanden wir wie oben bereits erwΓ€hnt nirgends.
Das Klettern war super, so ein 35m Riss (fissure? crack?) 6b, ist zwar nicht das, was ich unter "Warmklettertag" verstanden hΓ€tte, aber dran vorbeigehen konnten wir ja auch schlecht... Leider hatten wir ab Mittwoch Regen und so sind wir zurΓΌck in die Heimat geflΓΌchtet und in Meiringen noch an die WΓ€nde und die Halle gegangen. Zu Hause ist es halt doch am schΓΆnsten .-) Die Gruppe war super und so haben wir viel gelacht, Black Stories gespielt und ΓΌberhaupt eine schΓΆne Zeit gehabt. Im Anhang sieht man einen kleinen Eindruck von der wirklich grΓΌnen Gegend. Mit dem Kanu (canoe) muss das der absolute Hammer sein, zum Klettern lohnt es sich aber nicht hin zu fahren... Wie ΓΌblich hΓ€tten es ruhig ein paar Tage mehr "einfach im jetzt leben" sein kΓΆnnen, aber bei euch ist es ja auch schΓΆn und bei dem Wetter keine Schande ins BΓΌro zu gehen...
Remember that you can find all old lessons on the homepage (links are on the right side):
http://german-podcast.blogspot.com/
Lucerne, 07.05.2007
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 031 - Sprachurlaub in Siena Teil 2
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, May 06, 2007
Today I will continue the story from Italy started in Lesson 26. Hans writes from Siena what happens to him at the language school.
We hit 200.000 downloads today, wow! With 15$ of donations up to now, that makes 0,000075$ per download. Now that is what I call being part of "The Long Tail" :-)
Heute in der Schule waren wir sieben Neue. Zuerst habe ich eine kleine, dicke, schnaufende Frau gesehen. sie war wirklich am Schnaufen. Ohne Ende. Und immer hin und her gegangen. Wohl Hitzewallungen gehabt, die arme. Wahrscheinlich wegen der HΓΌgeligen Lage der Stadt und einem kurzen Fussmarsch. Jedenfalls habe ich mir gedacht βoh nein, die ist Deutsch und so richtig zum SchΓ€men.β Monika heisst sie und kommt aus Montreux (eigentlich aber St. Gallen und ich habe sehr geschmunzelt, als ich das vernahm) und da sie kein italienisch kann und nur wenig englisch bekommt sie ErklΓ€rungen mal auf Deutsch von mir und mal auf FranzΓΆsisch von der Norwegerin Nina. Das ist ΓΌberhaupt das spannendste an der Sache: Ich denke auf Deutsch, rede aber wahlweise auf englisch oder italienisch und hΓΆre auch mal franzΓΆsisch oder japanisch. Jedenfalls alles sehr multilinguistisch und spannend. Irgendwie klappt es tatsΓ€chlich immer mit der VerstΓ€ndigung. Jedenfalls gibt es zur Zeit drei Gru ppen: Null Wissen, Kaum Wissen und der Rest. Ich habe es in die Mittlere Gruppe geschafft (wir sind nur zu viert, was super ist!) und bin dort natΓΌrlich das Schlusslicht, jedenfalls wenn es ums Sprechen geht. Aber das ist voll okay. Habe mein Ziel erreicht: Ich muss nicht erneut lernen βmi chiamo Stephanβ (obwohl ich froh war dies zu kΓΆnnen). Chinchi aus Japan kann kein Englisch, Hans aus Schweden hat ein Haus in Ligurien und lernt italienisch um den Klempner rufen zu kΓΆnnen und Manuela aus ZΓΌrich hat nen italienischen Freund und lernt Italienisch wegen βlβamoreβ. Erstaunlich jedenfalls, wie viel ich verstehe, wobei ich nur durchkomme, weil ich die letzten Tage soviel LearnItalianPod-Podcast gehΓΆrt habe. Edith: Du hΓ€ttest Deine Freude, wir machen hauptsΓ€chlich Grammatik. Unsere insegnante (Lehrerin) Mariangela ist genau s o, wie man sich eine Italienerin vorstellt. Ende 30, schwarzhaarig, dΓΌnn und laut. Sehr laut. Und ich muss die ganze Zeit an S.. denken, wenn ich sie sehe. Wild und hemmungslos. [rΓ€usper, zieh die Schultern hoch und setz den Unschuldsblick auf] Hey, da kann ich ja nichts fΓΌr! Versuche ja mich zu konzentrieren! Ein Gedanke an Monika reicht dann meist um die kalte Dusche zu ersetzen. Die ist jedenfalls echt anstrengend und nach drei Stunden waren wir alle stanco morto (TodmΓΌde). Zum Abendbrot habe ich mir einen Fertigsalat gekauft und dazu einen Brokkoli und ein paar Nudeln aus der Region. Nicht wirklich gut, aber billig und nahrhaft. Nur, irgendwie nicht La Dolce Vita, wie man sich das vorstellt. Immerhin, dafΓΌr habe ich mir absolut super Kekse (i biscotti) gekauft. Heissen Cavallucci (Seepferdchen, aber vielleicht spinnt mein WΓΆrterbuch auch) und schmecken nach Mehl und Anis und haben genΓΌgend Zucker um mich durch den nΓ€chsten Marathon zu treiben. Wie gesag t, sehr gut, wie ich gerade merke auch zu Wein.
So, zum Abschluss noch was zur Stadt. Das wichtigste zuerst: Sie hat genau die richtige GrΓΆsse fΓΌr mich. Am ersten Abend habe ich mich im Dunkeln und Regen ein wenig verlaufen, aber das ge ht eigentlich gar nicht wirklich, weil sie von einer Mauer umgeben ist und man schnell wohin kommt, wo man schon mal war. Selbst am ersten Abend. Die Stadt ist also handlich genug fΓΌr einen Landjungen wie mich. Und ich verstehe warum sie bei Amerikanern so beliebt ist: Sie ist alt. Man spΓΌrt das ΓΌberall. Enge, hohe Gassen, alte GebΓ€ude, 
schΓ€big aber dennoch irgendwie schΓΆn. Es gibt 17 Bezirke, jeder mit einem Brunnen und einer Kirche. Plus Dom und sehr grosser Basilika. Und schliesslich natΓΌrlich den βschΓΆnsten Platz der Weltβ (Il Piazza di Campo). Dazu ist es hΓΌgelig und immer wenn man gerade hoch steht, dann sieht man die grΓΌnen HΓΌgel der Toskana locken. Am kommenden Wochenende gehe ich daher wandern, keine Frage. Die Abende sitze ich ja hier und versuche zu verstehen, was denn wohl ein indirektes Personalpronom ist (oder PrΓ€position? Und wie war das noch mit dem Genitiv?). Sagte ich schon, dass ich Deutsch abgewΓ€hlt habe, sobald ich konnte? Zusammen mit FranzΓΆsisch. DafΓΌr lieber Physik Leistungskurs gemacht, auch nicht gerade meine schlauste Entscheidung, aber das ist eine andere Geschichte. So, wer jetzt noch dabei ist: Chin Chin und merci fΓΌr die Aufmerksamkeit und Γ presto. Stephan (der jetzt noch irgendwie 30 Vocis in seinen benebelten SchΓ€del kriegen muss. Wegen der Statistik und so)
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 030 - Climbing
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Apr 14, 2007
Today I will tell you something about climbing in Switzerland and teach you some words connected to it.
 If you are interested, here are some pictures from my climbing trip to the Tessin.
If you want to learn climbing you might want to try http://www.bergundtal.ch/and if you want to improve your climbing in a warm climate, try Pesche at http://www.bigwall.ch.
The picture was taken at http://www.melchsee-frutt.ch/ an area at 2000m with over one hundred prepared routes in the Klettergarten. You can go ski there in the winter and if the weather is good one can climb there around the year.
If you want to support me, feel free to donate some money via Paypal:
Lucerne, 14.04.2007
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 029 - Velo or Bike
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Apr 01, 2007
You can see a picture of a bike here on http://german-podcast.blogspot.com/ and I tell you all the important words.
 Next week is the Osterwochenende and I will go climbing in the Tessin. You can even see the walls I am going to climb at Google.
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 028 - Mein Schlafzimmer
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Mar 17, 2007
Today I will show you my bedroom... You can see the German words on the picture. I build the bed myself, by the way and have yet to find a woman, to, you know, Γ€hm, test it with me. So if you live in Switzerland, please feel free to, you know, mhm, apply .-)
Lucerne, 17.03.2007
Stephan Wiesner
stephan@german-podcast.de
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 027 - Der Schweizer Alpen Club SAC
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Mar 11, 2007
 I went on a ski tour today and it was fantastic. Fresh snow and perfect weather. As we started quite early, we were the first to ski through that fresh Pulverschnee or Pulver as the snow boarders call it.
Anyway, this inspired me to tell you something about the SAC the Schweizer Alpen Club. If you usually only listen via ITunes, you might want to visit the blog site for this, as I posted and talk about some pictures.
You can see larger versions of the pictures by clicking on them, by the way.
The second picture shows the Brisenhaus, near Lucerne. It is a SAC-HΓΌtte. Those are houses in the mountains, where people can sleep and eat. Some are very simple but some like the Cristallina HΓΌtte in the Tessin are surprisingly comfortable.
Der Schweizer Alpen-Club (SAC), gegrΓΌndet 1863 im Bahnhofbuffet Olten, ist der Club der Bergsteiger. Er ist sowohl Sportverband als auch eine Vereinigung mit verschiedensten AktivitΓ€ten.
Die Mitglieder des SAC sind in 111 Sektionen, eigenstΓ€ndigen Vereinen, organisiert. Die Sektionen bauen und betreiben die HΓΌtten, organisieren Touren und Kurse fΓΌr ihre Mitglieder und stellen Delegierte fΓΌr die Abgeordnetenversammlung, welche dem Zentralvorstand und der GeschΓ€ftsstelle vorsteht.
The picture above shows the Cristallina HΓΌtte with some goats (Ziegen) in front of the door, they are domestic and trying to get some warmth from the house (or to even get into it).
On the next one you can see a Notunterkunft (emergency hut). Those are not staffed, so you have to carry and prepare your own food and melt snow for water. Thats why it is a good advice to use the toilet and not just, well, the snow behind the hut...
And finally here is a picture of the Vignettes HΓΌtte. We are just starting for a ski tour. It is 5:35 in the morning by the way...
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Learn to Speak German - Lesson 026 - Sprachurlaub in Italien: Hinreise (Advanced Lesson)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Mar 09, 2007
 Fa Freddo, non caldo
Today I start a new series of emails from Hans to his friends in Switzerland. Hans is in a language school in Italy for two weeks and wants to learn Italian there.
Das beste zuerst: Ich bin saufroh [very happy], dass ich mir fΓΌr die Reise noch so einen schickes KapuzenjΓ€ckchen [slang for jacket with a hood] geleistet habe. Es ist nΓ€mlich kΓ€lter hier als bei euch! Und die Regenjacke (l'impermeabile) [rain jacket] brauchte ich auch schon am ersten Abend. Und in der Bude [slang for appartement] funktioniert die Heizung nur manchmal, bin mir noch nicht sicher wann, aber glaube Stephane hat da die Finger drin.
Mhmh, ich probiere gerade meinen ersten Schluck Chianti Classico [the famous wine of Tuscany] (ohne Classico und schwarzen Hahn ist er nicht original). Im kleinen Wasserglas, weil mehr hat es hier nicht. Der ist jedenfalls ganz ordentlich der lokale Tropfen [βdropβ, slang for booze] und mit 13,5% wird er mich ja schnell wΓ€rmen [nimm gleich noch nen Schluck und schmatz mit den Lippen].
Aber Hallo erstmal, liebe Freunde. Ich schicke euch einfach mal einen kurzen (okay, streiche kurz) Reisebericht aus der schΓΆnen Toskana. Heutzutage hat man natΓΌrlich einen Wireless Internet Point in der Schule, wenn ich den Lappy [slang for notebook] mitschleppe kann ich also von euch hΓΆren (und freue mich drΓΌber!).
Andiamo in treno
Die Anreise verlief super. Die Zeit verging dank gutem Buch und meinem neuen IPod wie im Fluge. Nur in Mailand kamen wir mit VerspΓ€tung an und ich musste auf den anderen Zug rennen und bin zum Zug nach Venezia gesprungen. Wohl weil ich Donna Leone gelesen habe und ihre BΓΌcher dort spielen. Zum GlΓΌck kam mir die 5 MinΓΌtige Abfahrtsverschiebung [departure deferral] aber komisch vor und so bin ich dann in letzter Sekunde mutig auf den nach Rom gesprungenβ¦
β¦ Und heil in Florenzia angekommen. Dort war die offizielle Abfahrtzeit nach Siena nur um 3 Minuten anders als von der Schweizer Bundesbahn angegeben, das ist normal hier.
Wichtig ist noch zu wissen, dass man sein Ticket abstempeln muss. Auch wenn man dies im Ausland gekauft hat. An den Gleisen stehen dazu gelbe Automaten. Die Schaffner kontrollieren das.
Fussmarsch zur Wohnung war keins Problem und Stephano der farbige Hausherr hat mich schnell durch gefΓΌhrt und mit vielen Gesten und wenig Worten die Einrichtung erlΓ€utert. Gab ja nicht viel zu sehen: KΓΌche, WC, Wohnzimmer, sein Zimmer, mein Zimmer und das Zimmer von Anja.
Ich fragte Stephane wo denn βla dotschaβ sei? βDotscha? Ah, la doccia!β ZurΓΌck ging es ins WC:
Ah, ja. Der Duschkopf ist direkt ΓΌber der Toilette und ein Loch mitten im Boden fΓΌr den Abfluss. Dauert also etwas lΓ€nger das Duschen, weil man ja danach feudeln [to mop] muss.
In der KΓΌche hat es keine SpΓΌlbΓΌrste und keinen StΓΆpsel fΓΌrs Becken, alles steht praktischer weise in Griffweite rund um die SpΓΌle und mein Geschirr wasche ich daher VOR dem Kochen besser ab als danach. Das Handtuch wird einmal im Monat gewechselt, gut habe ich ein Eigenes dabei. Wegen der Bakterien und so.
Mein Zimmer ist wirklich sehr einfach, das Bett klein und die BettwΓ€sche (le lenzuola) wohl typisch italienisch? Eine dΓΌnne Wolldecke, ein Tuch drΓΌber und noch eine Zweite Wolldecke, falls es mal wirklich kalt wird. Das stΓΆrt mich jedenfalls am meisten, aber FlΓΆhe habe ich immerhin keine gefunden.
Ah, und neben mir und Stephane wohnt noch so ein junges, blondes Ding hier. Sie fragt mich βDi dove sei?β
Keine Reaktion von mir, meine Gedanken rasen, versuchen ein Muster zu erkennen. Das hatte ich doch schon mal gehΓΆrt? βDi dove sei?β fragt sie erneut und ich stammel βsono tedesco ma abito in Svizzerraβ. Worauf sie antwortet βDas habe ich mir doch gleich gedacht.β Puh, das erleichtert natΓΌrlich vieles. Anja kommt aus Berlin und studiert hier Italienisch und FranzΓΆsisch.
See http://german-podcast.blogspot.com for the corresponding Webpage.
Stephan (stephan@german-podcast.de)
Lucerne, 10.03.2007
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Learn to speak German - Lesson 025 - im Hotel auschecken
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Tue, Feb 27, 2007
 Today we will learn how Hans pays for his visit in the hotel and makes a new reservation for the following week.
And Rex and Regula, two friends of mine (she is the woman on the video from lesson 9), married last weekend.
H: Guten Morgen, ich mΓΆchte gerne auschecken. M: Guten Morgen Herr Schmidt, einen Moment bitte. Zwei NΓ€chte im Doppelzimmer mit FrΓΌhstΓΌck, das macht genau 300 Franken. Wie mΓΆchten Sie zahlen? H: Kann ich mit Kreditkarte zahlen? M: SelbstverstΓ€ndlich. H: Hier meine Coop-Karte. M: Soll die Rechnung auf Ihren Namen lauten? H: Nein, bitte auf den Firmennamen, hier ist meine Visitenkarte. M: So, bitte sehr hier ihre Rechnung. H: Danke. Und ich mΓΆchte gleich fΓΌr nΓ€chste Woche reservieren. Wieder Montag bis Mittwoch. Und bitte ein Einzelzimmer mit Badewanne. M: Ja, da habe ich noch etwas frei. Das Zimmer ist reserviert, Sie kΓΆnnen es bis Freitag Abend kostenlos stornieren. H: Danke und auf Wiedersehen. M: Eine gute Heimreise Herr Schmidt.
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Learn to speak German - Lesson 024 - im Hotel einchecken
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Feb 25, 2007
 Today Hans arrives at the hotel. And we have Edith with her favorite Redensart, spoken in the dialect of Lucerne.
Today we passed 100.000 downloads and again many of you wrote me with hints and feedback. Thanks for that!
M: Guten Abend. H: Guten Abend, mein Name ist Hans Schmidt, ich habe ein Zimmer reserviert. M: Einen Moment bitte, Herr Schmidt. Ja, da haben wir es, Zimmer 213. Wenn Sie mir bitte dieses Formular ausfΓΌllen wollen. H: Gerne. ... Bitte sehr. M: Danke schΓΆn und hier ist ihr SchlΓΌssel. Zweiter Stock, der Fahrstuhl ist dort drΓΌben. H: Danke. Ab wann kann ich frΓΌhstΓΌcken? M: FrΓΌhstΓΌck gibt es von 06:30 bis 10:00. Der FrΓΌhstΓΌckssaal befindet sich im ersten Stock. H: KΓΆnnen Sie mich um 6:00 wecken? M: Gerne, ich notiere es fΓΌr den Nachtportier. H: Danke und einen schΓΆnen Abend noch. M: Angenehmen Aufenthalt wΓΌnsche ich Ihnen, Herr Schmidt.
The picture was taken in a hotel in Milano, Italy. It is right next to the main station, so I had to pay 110 EUR for the night (without breakfast). Please take a look at the blanket, we had those in the military as well...
See http://german-podcast.blogspot.com for the corresponding Webpage.
Stephan (stephan@german-podcast.de)
Lucerne, 25.02.2007
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Learn to speak German - Lesson 023 - Ein Hotel Buchen
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Feb 25, 2007
 Back to Hans. He is going to work in Bern for a time and needs a hotel to stay in from Monday to Wednesday. He calls the hotel βSternenβ in Bern and asks for a reservation. The picture on the right shows one of Switzerlands famous "Postauto". In the mountains where you can not go by train, you take the Postauto. At every bend it blows its special horn. That is only allowed in certain regions, as indicated by the blue sign below.
M: Hotel Sternen, mein Name ist MΓΌller, was kann ich fΓΌr sie tun?
H: Schmidt, guten Tag. Ich mΓΆchte ein Zimmer reservieren.
M: Gerne, fΓΌr welches Datum?
H: Ich treffe Morgen Abend ein und reise am Mittwoch wieder ab.
M: Hmh, fΓΌr Morgen habe ich nur noch ein Doppelzimmer frei.
H: Was kostet das pro Nacht?
M: 150 Franken mit FrΓΌhstΓΌck.
H: Haben Sie Internetzugang auf den Zimmern?
M: Nein, aber wir haben einen PC Raum mit kostenlosem Internetzugang.
H: Okay, dann nehme ich das Doppelzimmer.
M: Gerne, Herr Schmidt. Ich reserviere Ihnen das Zimmer. Einen schΓΆnen Abend noch und bis Morgen.
H: Ja, Ihnen auch.
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Monsterkorso in Luzern (Video)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Feb 24, 2007
 Here is a short video captured on the last evening of the Fasnacht in Lucerne, the Monsterkorso. I did not find a good spot, so what you see is the area where the musicians started. They are not really playing music yet, but you will get an idea of the atmosphere.
When I went to work the next morning, I passed through the same street and at 5:45 in the morning there were still people there drinking and singing. We had a temperature of -1Β°.
There is a (slang) saying in Germany "Es friert im dicksten Rock, der SΓ€ufer und der Hurenbock" but that was obviously not true for those "monsters".
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Learn to speak German - Lesson 022 - Fasnacht
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Feb 18, 2007
 Use German-Podcast.de to learn German for free. Today I want to present you a famous local custom from Lucerne: Die Fasnacht. You can find a detailed description (in German) at Wikipedia, but here is the short version: Die Luzerner Fasnacht ist eine der grΓΆssten jΓ€hrlich stattfindenden kulturellen AnlΓ€sse in Luzern und die grΓΆsste Fasnacht der Schweiz. Sie verfΓΌgt ΓΌber eine lange Tradition und beginnt immer am βSchmutzigen Donnerstagβ (dirty thursday). Um fΓΌnf Uhr morgens beginnt mit der Einfahrt via Boot vom VierwaldstΓ€ttersee (lake lucerne) des "Fritschivaters", dem Oberhaupt der grΓΆssten und Γ€ltesten Zunft (guild) Luzerns, der Zunft zu Safran (saffron) und dem gleichzeitig stattfindenden "Urknall" (ein sehr lauter Knall (bang), der in der ganzen Stadt zu hΓΆren ist), die Fasnacht. Am Nachmittag des "Schmutzigen Donnerstags" findet der erste von zwei, vom " LozΓ€rner Fasnachtskomitee" organisierten, grossen UmzΓΌgen statt. Auf der Umzugsstrecke prΓ€sentieren sich die ZΓΌnfte und Gesellschaften der Stadt Luzern, "Guuggenmusigen" primΓ€r Blasmusikgruppen (music for brass instruments ) und weitere 
Gruppierungen mit Wagen, auf welchen kleine BΓΌhnen aufgebaut sind. Meist werden dort humorvoll aktuelle politische und gesellschaftliche Geschehnisse dargestellt. Ein weiterer HΓΆhepunkt der Fasnacht ist der so genannte Monsterzug (auch Monstercorso genannt) am darauf folgenden Dienstag Abend, bei dem alle an der Fasnacht teilnehmenden Guggenmusiken einen Zug durch die Altstadt, dem Zentrum der Strassenfasnacht, durchfΓΌhren. Die Fasnacht endet mit dem Beginn der Fastenzeit (Lent), dem Γschemettwoch (Aschermittwoch, Ash Wednesday ), also am Morgen nach dem Monsterzug. ------------------------------------
Read my other blog about work in software projects:
http://testmanager.blogspot.com/
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German-Podcast.de - 021 - Reading the News
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Feb 16, 2007
βSchweizerinnen haben im europΓ€ischen Vergleich kleine BrΓΌste. Nur der Busen der Γsterreicherinnen und Italienerinnen ist noch kleiner.β
So lautete diese Woche die Titelzeile [headline] einer der grΓΆssten Zeitungen der Schweiz. In dem Artikel ging es um eine Studie, derzufolge die EnglΓ€nderinnen die grΓΆsste Oberweite [bust size] (Slang: Holz vor der HΓΌtte) haben. Demnach hΓ€tten 14% der Schweizerinnen die kleinste KΓΆrpchengrΓΆsse (als wenn ich als Mann wΓΌsste welche das ist). Meine persΓΆnliche Erfahrung verschweige ich hier dezent.
FΓΌnfmal weniger GΓ€ste als im Vorjahr In meiner lokalen Tageszeitung [daily newspaper] stand gestern zu lesen, dass der geringe Schneefall [snowfall] zu massiven EinnahmeausfΓ€llen bei den Schweizer Bergbahnen [mountain railway] gefΓΌhrt hat. βBis jetzt haben sie 40% weniger verdient als im Vorjahr.β Nur die hochgelegenen Gebiete haben ein normales WintergeschΓ€ft [winter business]. Nicht zurΓΌckgegangen sind hingegen die Hotelbuchungen [hotel accommodations]. Interessant ist auch noch, dass immer mehr Superreiche Russen ihre Winterferien in der Schweiz verbringen und viele hier auch Ferienwohnungen [holiday home] erwerben. Langlaufen im Goms Ich war heute im Goms Langlaufen (cross country skiing). Das ist ein langes Tal in den Alpen, das leicht abschΓΌssig und damit ideal zum Langlaufen ist.
Den gesprochenen Text gibt es hier.
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Learn to Speak German - 021 - Uhrzeiten
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Feb 11, 2007
 German-Podcast.de - 021 - Uhrzeiten
Welcome to German-Podcast.de. The Podcast to learn German.
Today we will learn how ask for and how to tell the time.
Furthermore I will give some explanations to the new design of the podcast, so please let me know if is better or worse for you.
Knusper, knusper, kneuschen.
Wer knuspert an meinem HΓ€uschen?"
Von drauΓen antwortete ein dΓΌnnes Stimmchen:
"Der Wind, der Wind, das himmlische Kind!
[from HΓ€nsel und Gretel]
In Germany we use the 24 hour system for all official times. For private dates you can use both versions, but we do not have the βPMβ so it needs to be clear what you mean. You might say βWir treffen uns um 7 vor dem Kinoβ, because it is clear that you will not meet in the morning. Otherwise you would say βWir treffen uns um 19 Uhr vor dem Kinoβ.
Noon is Mittag and midnight is Mitternacht.
7:20 is Zwanzig nach Sieben
8:15 is βAcht Uhr FΓΌnfzehnβ oder βViertel nach Achtβ
9:45 is βViertel vor Zehnβ
10:30 is βHalb Elfβ
We have some local customs that tell the time differently, but I will skip those here as they are more like a dialect.
I am currently reading βThe World is Flatβ by Thomas L. Friedman and he tells an interesting story about a company in India that offers e-tutoring for children in america. If anybody is interested in e-tutoring to learn German by a real native speaker (and willing to pay me), please let me know and we might arrange something .-)
See http://german-podcast.blogspot.com for the corresponding Webpage.
Stephan (stephan@german-podcast.de)
Lucerne, 11.02.2007
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German-Podcast.de - 020 β Mit dem Bus
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Feb 10, 2007
Welcome to German-Podcast.de. The Podcast to learn German. Hans and Julia are finally back in Switzerland. They are at the station in Lucerne and now they need to take the bus to take them home. See the corresponding Webpage and look for exercises on http://www.german-podcast.de. Remember that you can use iTunes or other podcast tools to subscribe.
Here are some of the new words:
Busfahrer
Fahrkarte
Tageskarte
Busfahrplan bus driver
ticket
day ticket
bus schedule
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German-Podcast.de - 020 β Mit dem Bus (PDF)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Feb 11, 2007
Here is the PDF for lesson 020.
Remeber you can subscribe to this podcast:
Subscribe to German-Podcast.de
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German-Podcast.de - 019 β Du oder Sie?
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Feb 09, 2007
 Today I will teach you when to use the formal Sie and when to use the informal Du. Basically you use Du for kids and friends and Sie to adress grown ups you do not know. This is true for Germany as well as for Switzerland.
The lesson explains about the infamous "FrΓ€ulein" and how to adress somebody with a title.
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German-Podcast.de - 018 β Tage und Monate
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Feb 04, 2007
Hier ist das MP3 mit den Wochentagen und Monaten und hier finden Sie die ausgeschriebenen WΓΆrter.
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German-Podcast.de - 017 - Zugfahrt (MP3)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Feb 02, 2007
 Hans and Julia are on the train from Hamburg to Switzerland and the conductor is aproaching...
Here is the MP3.
Today we had a lot of fog, like so often in Lucerne. Nobody told me that before I moved from Basel (where there is always good weather) to Luzern. Anyway, I took the afternoon off and went up into the mountains and above the fog. That is absolutely wonderful! The picture on the left was taken last year, though. We finally came above the fog around 300m and after two whole days in the "white nothing". You can see the famous Matterhorn in the background.
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German-Podcast.de - 017 - Zugfahrt (PDF)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Feb 02, 2007
Here is the PDF.
Download File - 0.3 MB
German-Podcast.de - 015 - Zugticket (PDF)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Jan 28, 2007
Here is the PDF.
Download File - 0.2 MB
German-Podcast.de - 016 - Alphabet
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Jan 28, 2007
 Today I will pronounce the German alphabet for you. This is a very short beginner session.
We had perfect weather today: Fresh snow, sun and temperatures above zero. I used this to go Schneeschuwandern on mount Wildspitz in central Switzerland. On the picture you can get a little impression of that. Imagine walking for hours through fresh snow on a ridge, with a clear sky and good long distance sight. Low hills in the north (towards Basel) and the swiss alps on the south. Some seas and as we started very early hardly anybody else to disturb us.
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German-Podcast.de - 015 - Zugticket
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Jan 28, 2007
Hans and Julia are finished with Hamburg and need to buy tickets for the train to Switzerland. The PDF contains a picture of a train ticket with explanations.
Here is the episode.
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German-Podcast.de - 014 - eine Postkarte (Audio)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Jan 26, 2007
Finally it's Friday! Weekend! Did have a long week in Bern, and that though I spend two
nights in a hotel, cutting on travel time. It was very cold, though so I did not really explore Bern yet.
Anyway, here is the audio for the episode with vocabularies about post cards and letters.
The picture is taken from my appartement, so you can see why I long to go Schneeschuwandern on the weekend, now that we finally did get some new snow.
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German-Podcast.de - 014 - eine Postkarte
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Fri, Jan 26, 2007
Todays lesson teaches you the elements of a letter or postcard. The PDF contains the written words with translations and a picture of a real postcard to make things more clear.
Download File - 0.1 MB
Geldwechsel (PDF)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Mon, Jan 22, 2007
The PDF for the episode about Geldwechsel is here.
My first day on the new project was tough, but good. Mostly shaking hands and listening to others, though. I will not be able to post a new learn german episode until the weekend, though.
Download File - 0.1 MB
Geldwechsel
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Jan 21, 2007
Todays german lesson is very important, as it will teach you how to change money at a bank. Often you find a machine to do that at the major train stations, but otherwise you will have to talk to somebody.
Hans and Julia are still in Hamburg, and are now visiting the town. As they live in Switzerland they need to change money at a bank.
Here is the file.
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German-Podcast.de - 012 β Nach dem Weg fragen (MP3)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Jan 20, 2007
Hans and Julia are still in Hamburg, and are now visiting the town. And they are lost. Again. They need to ask for directions.
This lesson builds on the last one so you might want to hear that one first.
The Podcast is here.
And I have started to add exercises to the homepage: http://www.german-podcast.de/
Download File - 5.6 MB
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German-Podcast.de - 012 β Nach dem Weg fragen (PDF)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sat, Jan 20, 2007
The PDF file for 012 is here.
Download File - 0.1 MB
German-Podcast.de - 011 β Wegbeschreibung (MP3)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Wed, Jan 17, 2007
We are back to Hans and Julia. They are still in Hamburg, and are now visiting the town. As they both have not been there before, they need to consult a map and Julia needs to explain Hans how to get to the market place (as she is better at reading maps than he is). This is an important lesso, so bes sure that I will let you work on directions some more in the following sections.
The podcast is here.
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German-Podcast.de - 011 β Wegbeschreibung (PDF)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Wed, Jan 17, 2007
The PDF for lessen 011 is here.
Download File - 0.2 MB
German-Podcast.de - 010 - Zusammenfassung (PDF)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Mon, Jan 15, 2007
Here is the PDF file for episode 010.
Download File - 0.2 MB
German-Podcast.de - 010 - Zusammenfassung (MP3)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Tue, Jan 16, 2007
The number 10 should be reason enough to take a short look back to where we come from,  where we are at the moment and to take a look forward to where we will go. I read some comments from users.No new words today, just some exercises to repeat old words. The Podcast is here.
Do not forget that you can subscribe to the podcast with iTunes or any other podcast tool here:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/German-podcast
Download File - 6.0 MB
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German-Podcast.de - 008 - Zahlen
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Thu, Jan 11, 2007
Today we will learn and practice the numbers from 0 to 100.
This is the last Podcast for some days, but I plan something special for the weekend, so you might want to check back on sunday evening/monday morning.
There is no PDF today, as it would contain only numbers:
Null, Eins, Zwei, Drei, Vier, FΓΌnf, Sechs, Sieben, Acht, Neun, Zehn.
Zwanzig, Dreissig, Vierzig, FΓΌnfzig, Sechzig, Siebzig, Achtzig, Neunzig, Einhundert.
The Podcast is here.
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German-Podcast.de - 007 β Wie war die Konferenz? (MP3)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Wed, Jan 10, 2007
And here ist the MP3 file.
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German-Podcast.de - 006 β Treffen mit Julia (meeting Julia)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Jan 07, 2007
 Our lesson of today continues with Hans a German programmer who arrived at the airport in Hamburg in one of our last sessions. He is still at the airport, bought a coffee and is now sitting in the bar, reading a newspaper, waiting for a friend to arrive. Finally Lisa arrives. They say hello and he orders a tea for her.
The German learning Podcast can be downloaded here.
The pictures shows me standing in front of the infamous Eiger Nordwand next to Grindelwald (Switzerland). Up here at last we found some snow...
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German-Podcast.de - 006 β Treffen mit Julia (PDF)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Sun, Jan 07, 2007
This is the PDF containing the transcript of todays lesson.
Download File - 0.2 MB
German-Podcast.de - 005 β Ein Telefonanruf (telephon call)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Thu, Jan 04, 2007
Our lesson of today continues with Hans a German programmer who arrived at the airport in Hamburg in one of our last sessions. He is still at the airport, bought a coffee in the last session and now sits in the bar, reads a newspaper and waits for a friend to arrive. She calls him on his mobile to say that she is late.
We have a guest today, by the way. Her codename is Julia and she will help me out from time to time. The Podcast is here and the PDF here. You can subscribe with iTunes or any other podcast tool here.
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German-Podcast.de - 004 β Kaffee trinken
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Thu, Jan 04, 2007
Our lesson of the German learn Podcast continues with Hans a German programmer who arrived at the airport in Hamburg in one of our last sessions. He is still at the airport, bought a newspaper in the last session and now wants to drink a coffee and read the newspaper. The PDF here.
Download File - 0.2 MB
German-Podcast.de - 003 β Am Kiosk (at the kiosk)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Tue, Jan 02, 2007
Welcome to German-Podcast.de.
 This Podcast will teach you German. Our lesson of today continues with Hans a German programmer who arrived at the airport in Hamburg in our last session. He is still at the airport and now wants to buy a newspaper. See the podcast here, the PDF here and subscribe to the podcast here.
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German-Podcast.de - 002 β Beim Zoll (customs)
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Wed, Jan 03, 2007
Our lesson of today introduces Hans a German programmer who arrives at the airport in Hamburg. He returns from a business trip to England and has to show his passport at customs. The MP3 file is here and the PDF here.
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Welcome to German-Podcast
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Mon, Jan 01, 2007
Welcome to German-Podcast.de. This podcast will teach you German. Lesson one starts with no requirements on your part. This is an easy lesson that is intended to get you (and me) started. Future lessons will elaborate on this. The first lesson is about how to say hello and good morning and ask for your name. You can find the MP3 file here and the PDF transcript here. You can subscribe to the podcast with iTunes on this page: http://feeds.feedburner.com/German-podcast
Download File - 2.4 MB
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German-Podcast.de - 004 β Kaffee trinken - MP3
stephan@german-podcast.de (Stephan Wiesner)Author: Stephan Wiesner
Thu, Jan 04, 2007
Here is the MP3 Podcast.
Download File - 5.7 MB
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