At the camping
Beim Camping
- Learn the names of common natural objects.
- Navigate using a map or GPS.
- Know common regions to go camping in your new country.
At the camping introduces vocabulary and dialogues for registering a campsite, asking for directions with a map, and discussing camping regions. Key words include der Stellplatz (campsite), die Karte (map), and beobachten (to observe), helping you navigate and enjoy German camping culture.
Vocabulary (15) 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. Wir ____ gestern viele Vögel am See beobachtet.
(We ____ many birds at the lake yesterday.)2. Am Lagerfeuer ____ wir den klaren Sternenhimmel beobachtet.
(By the campfire ____ we observed the clear starry sky.)3. Morgen ____ wir das Zelt auf dem Campingplatz aufbauen.
(Tomorrow ____ we will set up the tent at the campsite.)4. Ich ____ den Mond und die Sterne beobachten.
(I ____ will watch the moon and the stars.)Exercise 3: At the Campsite: Stargazing
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Beobachten - Watch
Perfekt
- ich habe beobachtet
- du hast beobachtet
- er/sie/es hat beobachtet
- wir haben beobachtet
- ihr habt beobachtet
- sie/Sie haben beobachtet
Zeigen - Show
Präteritum
- ich zeigte
- du zeigtest
- er/sie/es zeigte
- wir zeigten
- ihr zeigtet
- sie/Sie zeigten
Nehmen - Take
Präteritum
- ich nahm
- du nahmst
- er/sie/es nahm
- wir nahmen
- ihr nahmt
- sie/Sie nahmen
Suchen - Look for
Präteritum
- ich suchte
- du suchtest
- er/sie/es suchte
- wir suchten
- ihr suchtet
- sie/Sie suchten
Aufbauen - Set up
Präteritum
- ich baute auf
- du bautest auf
- er/sie/es baute auf
- wir bauten auf
- ihr bautet auf
- sie/Sie bauten auf
Sehen - See
Präteritum
- ich sah
- du sahst
- er/sie/es sah
- wir sahen
- ihr saht
- sie/Sie sahen
Leuchten - Shine
Präteritum
- ich leuchtete
- du leuchtetest
- er/sie/es leuchtete
- wir leuchteten
- ihr leuchtetet
- sie/Sie leuchteten
Freuen - Look forward
Präsens
- ich freue
- du freust
- er/sie/es freut
- wir freuen
- ihr freut
- sie/Sie freuen
Beobachten - Watch
Präsens
- ich beobachte
- du beobachtest
- er/sie/es beobachtet
- wir beobachten
- ihr beobachtet
- sie/Sie beobachten
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Beobachten to observe Share Copied!
perfekt
| German | English |
|---|---|
| ich habe beobachtet | I have observed |
| du hast beobachtet | You have observed |
| er/sie/es hat beobachtet | he/she/it has observed |
| wir haben beobachtet | we have observed |
| ihr habt beobachtet | You have observed |
| sie haben beobachtet | they have observed |
Beobachten to observe Share Copied!
prateritum
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) beobachtete | I observed |
| (du) beobachtetest | you observed |
| (er/sie/es) beobachtete | he/she/it observed |
| (wir) beobachteten | we observed |
| (ihr) beobachtetet | you observed |
| (sie) beobachteten | they observed |
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Lesson Overview: At the Camping Site
This lesson focuses on practical German language skills related to camping and outdoor activities, suitable for A2 learners. It introduces dialogues and vocabulary for registering at a campsite, giving directions using a map, and discussing popular camping regions and natural features. The content helps you navigate real-life situations while camping in German-speaking areas.
Key Dialogues and Situations
- Registering at the Campsite: Phrases like „Guten Tag, ich möchte mich für einen Stellplatz anmelden.“ (Good day, I would like to register for a pitch) and asking about nearby features such as Tannenbäume (fir trees) and Bach (brook) help you communicate your needs clearly at reception.
- Giving Directions with a Map: You will learn how to explain routes, for example using „Fahren Sie zuerst geradeaus bis zum Dorf“ (First drive straight ahead to the village) and spot natural landmarks like kleiner See (small lake) or Kiefern (pine trees).
- Talking about Camping Regions: Conversations about areas such as the Schwarzwald (Black Forest) and Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest) include vocabulary for natural features like Tannenbäume, Flüsse (rivers), and Wanderwege (hiking trails).
Important Vocabulary Highlights
- Camping-related words: Stellplatz (pitch), Wohnmobil (camper van), Campingplatz (campground), Zelt (tent), Lagerfeuer (campfire).
- Natural features: See (lake), Bach (brook), Tannenbaum (fir tree), Fichtenwald (spruce forest), Berge (mountains).
- Directional phrases: geradeaus (straight ahead), links abbiegen (turn left), Ausfahrt (exit), Wegweiser (signpost).
Verb Tenses and Useful Expressions
The lesson includes a focus on relevant verb tenses for describing past and future camping activities, such as the perfect tense with haben beobachtet (have observed), past simple with zeigte (showed), and future tense with werden aufbauen (will set up). Understanding these forms helps describe events like watching stars (Sterne beobachten) or setting up your tent (Zelt aufbauen).
Learning Tips and Useful Phrases
- Guten Tag, ich möchte mich für einen Stellplatz anmelden. – Use this to politely register at a campsite.
- Haben Sie schon eine Karte vom Campingplatz? – Ask if you can have a map to find your way.
- Der Bereich für Wohnmobile ist hier auf der Karte markiert. – Understand how to refer to areas designated for camper vans on a map.
- Gibt es dort viele Bäume und einen kleinen See? – Use this to inquire about natural surroundings.
- Fahren Sie zuerst geradeaus bis zum Dorf. – Give or follow simple, clear driving directions.
Comparing German and English Instructions
In this lesson, the instruction language is English, but the content is entirely in German to maintain immersion and relevance. Unlike English, German often places the verb in the second position in main clauses (Ich möchte mich anmelden), but in subordinate clauses, the verb moves to the end. Also, the German language uses formal and informal forms of address; for example, Sie for formal 'you' in conversations with campsite staff, which is different from English where 'you' is universal.
Important phrase structures to note are modal verbs such as möchte (would like), which are common in polite requests, and separable verbs like aufbauen (to set up), where the prefix separates depending on the sentence structure.
This lesson balances practical vocabulary, real-life dialogues, and grammar features to build your confidence in camping-related conversations in German.
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