Emergency services
Notdienste
- Know the names of emergency services of your new country.
- Calling and advising about situations.
This lesson covers how to report emergencies in German, including accidents, fires, and medical aid. Learn key terms like Notruf (emergency call), Krankenwagen (ambulance), Feuerwehr (fire brigade), and Notarzt (emergency doctor). Practice essential phrases for clear communication in urgent situations.
Vocabulary (9) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Im Notfall ____ Sie sofort den Krankenwagen.
(In an emergency, ____ the ambulance immediately.)2. Die Feuerwehr ____ verletzte Personen schnell und sicher.
(The fire department ____ injured persons quickly and safely.)3. Der Notarzt hat den Patienten gestern ____.
(The emergency doctor saved the patient yesterday ____. )4. Wir haben den Notruf ____ , als der Unfall passierte.
(We ____ the emergency number when the accident happened.)Exercise 3: An Emergency in the Park
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Spazieren - to walk
Präsens
- ich spaziere
- du spazierst
- er/sie/es spaziert
- wir spazieren
- ihr spaziert
- sie/Sie spazieren
Rufen - to call
Präsens
- ich rufe
- du rufst
- er/sie/es ruft
- wir rufen
- ihr ruft
- sie/Sie rufen
Kommen - to come
Präsens
- ich komme
- du kommst
- er/sie/es kommt
- wir kommen
- ihr kommt
- sie/Sie kommen
Helfen - to help
Präsens
- ich helfe
- du hilfst
- er/sie/es hilft
- wir helfen
- ihr helft
- sie/Sie helfen
Retten - to rescue
Präsens
- ich rette
- du rettest
- er/sie/es rettet
- wir retten
- ihr rettet
- sie/Sie retten
Sein - to be
Präsens
- ich bin
- du bist
- er/sie/es ist
- wir sind
- ihr seid
- sie/Sie sind
Grammar Share Copied!
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Lesson Overview: Emergency Services in German
This lesson is designed for A2-level learners who want to familiarize themselves with essential vocabulary and expressions related to emergency situations in German. You will learn how to report accidents, fires, and medical emergencies using common phrases and structured dialogues. The content includes useful verbs related to calling for help, describing incidents, and interacting with emergency responders.
Key Topics Covered
- Reporting an accident at the roadside
- Informing the fire department about a building fire
- Requesting medical emergency services for sudden illness
Important Vocabulary and Expressions
This lesson introduces practical words and phrases such as Unfall melden (to report an accident), Notruf (emergency call), Krankenwagen (ambulance), Feuerwehr (fire department), and ärztlicher Notdienst (medical emergency service). You will practice sentences like „Ich möchte einen Unfall melden“ (I would like to report an accident) and „Bitte schicken Sie die Feuerwehr schnell!“ (Please send the fire department quickly!).
Verb Conjugations and Usage
The lesson includes exercises focusing on verb conjugations in present tense for verbs commonly used in emergencies, such as:
- rufen (to call)
- retten (to rescue)
- helfen (to help)
- kommen (to come)
- sein (to be)
Understanding these verbs and their conjugations is essential to form clear and accurate emergency statements.
Contextual Mini-Story and Practical Application
A short story illustrates a real-life emergency in the park where quick action and communication with emergency services are vital. Verbs are practiced in the present tense and highlighted, reinforcing your ability to describe actions during emergencies.
Instruction Language vs. German Differences
While English and German share some emergency-related terms, there are critical linguistic differences to note:
Politeness and formal address: In German, the formal "Sie" form is used when calling emergency services, e.g., „Können Sie bitte...?“, which differs from the more informal English usage.
Compound words: German frequently combines nouns to form compound words like "Notruf" (emergency call) and "Feuerwehr" (fire department), which require understanding of word formation.
Numbers and locations: Specifying exact locations is crucial. Phrases like „an der Kreuzung Hauptstraße und Parkallee“ illustrate how Germans express precise places during emergencies.
Useful German phrases include:
- „Ich möchte einen Unfall melden.“ – I would like to report an accident.
- „Es gibt zwei verletzte Personen.“ – There are two injured people.
- „Bitte schicken Sie einen Krankenwagen.“ – Please send an ambulance.
- „Wo genau ist der Unfall?“ – Where exactly is the accident?
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