Bucket list
Bucketlist
- Talk about your bucket list and future plans
This lesson focuses on discussing wishes and future plans in German, introducing key expressions like Wunschliste (wish list), Zukunft (future), and Träume (dreams), alongside modal verbs in Konjunktiv II such as möchte (would like) and würde (would). Practise real-life dialogues to confidently express your desires and plans.
Vocabulary (13) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Übung 1: Conversation exercise
Anleitung:
- What did you want to be when you were a child? (What did you want to be when you were a child?)
- What plans do you have for the future? Would you like to change your job anytime soon? (What plans do you have for the future? Would you like to change your job anytime soon?)
- How will you accomplish them? (How will you accomplish them?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Als ich klein war, wollte ich Feuerwehrmann werden. When I was little I wanted to become a firefighter. |
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Als Kind träumte ich davon, Arzt zu werden. As a child I dreamed of becoming a doctor. |
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Ich möchte in Zukunft mehr Verantwortung in meinem Beruf übernehmen. I want to have more responsibility in my job in the future. |
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Ich möchte in ein paar Jahren der Chef meines Unternehmens sein. I want to be the boss of my company in a few years. |
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Ich möchte bald meinen Beruf wechseln, da ich mit meinem aktuellen Job unzufrieden bin. I would like to change my profession soon because I am not happy with my current job. |
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Ich werde wieder zur Universität gehen, um Lehrer zu werden. I will go to university again to become a teacher. |
| ... |
Exercise 2: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Bevor ich sterbe, ______ ich gern eine Weltreise machen.
(Before I die, ______ I would like to go on a world trip.)2. Wenn ich Zeit hätte, ______ ich mehr Erfahrungen sammeln.
(If I had time, ______ I would gain more experience.)3. Ich denke, ich ______ viele Wünsche erfüllen, wenn ich mehr Geld hätte.
(I think I ______ could fulfill many wishes if I had more money.)4. Ich ______ es, meine Träume zu verwirklichen, wenn ich hart arbeite.
(I ______ manage to realize my dreams if I work hard.)Exercise 4: My Wishlist for the Future
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Sein - To be
Konjunktiv II Präsens
- ich wäre
- du wär(e)st
- er/sie/es wäre
- wir wären
- ihr wär(e)t
- sie/Sie wären
Mögen - To like
Konjunktiv II Präsens
- ich möchte
- du möchtest
- er/sie/es möchte
- wir möchten
- ihr möchtet
- sie/Sie möchten
Haben - To have
Konjunktiv II Präsens
- ich hätte
- du hättest
- er/sie/es hätte
- wir hätten
- ihr hättet
- sie/Sie hätten
Schaffen - To manage
Konjunktiv II Präsens mit würde
- ich würde schaffen
- du würdest schaffen
- er/sie/es würde schaffen
- wir würden schaffen
- ihr würdet schaffen
- sie/Sie würden schaffen
Denken - To think
Präsens
- ich denke
- du denkst
- er/sie/es denkt
- wir denken
- ihr denkt
- sie/Sie denken
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Sein to be Share Copied!
konjunktiv_ii_prasens
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) wäre | I would be |
| (du) wärst | you would be |
| (er/sie/es) wäre | he/she/it would be |
| (wir) wären | we would be |
| (ihr) wäret | you would be |
| (sie) wären | they would be |
Mögen may Share Copied!
konjunktiv_ii_prasens
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) möchte | I would be allowed |
| (du) möchtest | You would be allowed |
| (er/sie/es) möchte | he would like |
| (wir) möchten | we would like to be allowed |
| (ihr) möchtet | you would be allowed |
| (sie) möchten | they would be allowed |
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Lesson Overview: Talking About Your Bucket List in German
This lesson helps you learn how to discuss your wishes, dreams, and future plans in everyday German, especially in informal settings like at work, dinner, or parties. It is designed for A2 level learners, focusing on useful vocabulary and typical expressions used to share hopes and aspirations.
Key Themes and Vocabulary
- Wunschliste – bucket list or wish list
- Träume und Pläne – dreams and plans for the future
- Reisen – travel, e.g., traveling to Japan or Australia
- Sprachen lernen – learning new languages (Spanish and English highlighted)
- Konjunktiv II (Subjunctive II) – expressing wishes, hypothetical situations, and polite requests
Lesson Focus: Expressing Wishes and Future Plans
You will practice conversations that involve talking about your bucket list items and future goals, such as:
- Discussing travel dreams and cultural experiences
- Sharing ambitions like running a marathon or buying your own apartment
- Expressing intentions to learn a new language
Grammar Highlight: Using the Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II)
The lesson introduces important verb forms in the Konjunktiv II for polite and hypothetical expressions, such as:
- wäre (sein) – would be
- möchte (mögen) – would like
- hätte (haben) – would have
- würde schaffen (schaffen) – would manage/accomplish
Example sentences include:
- "Bevor ich sterbe, würde ich gern eine Weltreise machen." (Before I die, I would like to travel the world.)
- "Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich mehr Erfahrungen sammeln." (If I had time, I would gain more experiences.)
Learning with Context: Dialogues and Mini-Story
The structured dialogues simulate natural conversations for practicing phrases about your dream plans in the office, at dinner, or on a party. The mini-story provides a practical example of using these verb forms and vocabulary together, helping you recognize and use them fluently.
Important Note on Language Differences
In English, expressing wishes or hypothetical situations often uses "would" plus the base verb, similar to the Konjunktiv II in German. However, German uses specific verb conjugations in the subjunctive mood (Konjunktiv II) such as wäre, hätte, or combines verbs with würde plus an infinitive. The modal verb möchte is a soft way to say "would like," which is very common in polite German speech. Unlike English, word order in German sentences with Konjunktiv II is particularly important and follows the same rules as other subordinate clauses.
Helpful Phrases to Begin Speaking
- Was steht auf deiner Wunschliste? (What's on your bucket list?)
- Ich möchte gern... (I would like to...)
- Wenn ich Zeit hätte,... (If I had time,...)
- Ich plane, ... zu machen. (I plan to do...)
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