From post office to email
Von Postamt zu E-Mail
- Send and receive messages.
- Email and internet.
This lesson covers practical communication about sending mail and emails in German, including useful vocabulary like "Briefmarken" (stamps), "Post" (post office), and "E-Mail-Adresse" (email address), as well as important verbs such as "empfangen" (to receive) and polite requests with "Könnten Sie...?".
Vocabulary (15) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Übung 1: Conversation exercise
Anleitung:
- Do you still send letters or only emails? (Do you still send letters or only emails?)
- What is necessary when you want to send a letter? Use the subjunctive. (What is necessary when you want to send a letter? Use the subjunctive. )
- How many emails do you usually receive in a day? (How many emails do you usually receive in a day?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Ich verschicke jetzt nur noch E-Mails. Es ist schneller und einfacher. I only send emails now. It’s faster and easier. |
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Manchmal schicke ich Briefe für besondere Anlässe. Wie Geburtstage oder Feiertage. Sometimes I send letters for special things. Like birthdays or holidays. |
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Es ist wichtig, dass Sie den Brief unterschreiben. It is important that you sign the letter. |
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Es ist notwendig, dass Sie den Brief zum Beispiel zur Post bringen. It is necessary that you send the letter by taking it to the post office for example. |
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Ich bekomme normalerweise 10 oder 15 E-Mails. Die meisten sind für die Arbeit. I usually get 10 or 15 emails. Most are for work. |
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Ich erhalte 5 E-Mails pro Tag. Einige sind von Freunden, einige von Zeitungen. I receive 5 emails a day. Some are from friends, some from newspapers. |
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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. Ich ___ jeden Tag viele E-Mails im Büro.
(I ___ many emails every day at the office.)2. Gestern habe ich eine wichtige E-Mail ___ .
(Yesterday I ___ an important email.)3. Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, ___ ich schneller auf E-Mails antworten.
(If I had more time, I ___ reply to emails faster.)4. ___ Sie mir bitte das Paket schicken?
(___ you please send me the package?)Exercise 4: From the Post Office to the Email
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Empfangen - Receive
Präsens
- ich empfange
- du empfängst
- er/sie/es empfängt
- wir empfangen
- ihr empfangt
- sie/Sie empfangen
Empfangen - Receive
Perfekt
- ich habe empfangen
- du hast empfangen
- er/sie/es hat empfangen
- wir haben empfangen
- ihr habt empfangen
- sie/Sie haben empfangen
Können - Can
Konjunktiv II Präsens
- ich könnte
- du könntest
- er/sie/es könnte
- wir könnten
- ihr könntet
- sie/Sie könnten
Können - Can
Präsens
- ich kann
- du kannst
- er/sie/es kann
- wir können
- ihr könnt
- sie/Sie können
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
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Lesson Overview: From Post Office to Email
This lesson is designed for A2-level learners and explores common scenarios related to sending letters at the post office, writing professional emails at work, and exchanging email addresses. The focus lies on practical vocabulary, polite phrases, and verb usage essential for everyday communication in German.
Key Topics Covered
- Sending mail at the post office: Learn to ask about postage costs, specify letter types (Standardbrief vs. Paket), and buy stamps.
- Writing work emails: Practice composing emails to colleagues or supervisors, requesting information, attaching files, and using formal greetings and closings.
- Asking for and sharing email addresses: Get comfortable spelling out your email address and noting down others', a useful skill for professional and personal exchanges.
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
- Briefmarken (stamps), Porto (postage), Beleg (receipt)
- E-Mail schreiben (writing an email), Anhang (attachment), Bericht (report)
- E-Mail-Adresse (email address), phrases like "Entschuldigung, wie ist Ihre E-Mail-Adresse?" and spelling letters such as "Punkt" for dot.
Grammar and Verb Practice
The lesson features essential verbs such as empfangen (to receive), können (can/be able to), and schicken (to send) in different tenses and moods:
- Präsens (Present): ich empfange, du empfängst, er empfängt
- Perfekt (Present Perfect): ich habe empfangen
- Konjunktiv II (subjunctive mood, polite requests): ich könnte (I could)
Example modal verb phrase: Könnten Sie mir bitte das Paket schicken? (Could you please send me the package?).
Mini Story Summary
The included story "Von der Post zur E-Mail" demonstrates real-life usage of these verbs and vocabulary, such as receiving a package at the post office and responding to emails efficiently, showcasing the interplay between postal mail and digital communication.
Notes on Differences Between English and German Email & Postal Communication
In German, polite requests often use the Konjunktiv II mood, such as "Könnten Sie..." instead of the simpler English "Can you...?" Also, spelling out email addresses includes saying "Punkt" for dot and letters are often pronounced individually, which is important to ensure clarity. The German language distinguishes between formal and informal address more clearly; for example, "Sie" versus "du" in dialogues affects verb conjugation and politeness level.
Useful Phrases for Everyday Use
- „Guten Tag, ich möchte einen Brief nach Berlin schicken.“ (Good day, I would like to send a letter to Berlin.)
- „Wie groß ist der Brief?“ (How big is the letter?)
- „Kannst du mir die aktuellen Zahlen schicken?“ (Can you send me the current numbers?)
- „Entschuldigung, wie ist Ihre E-Mail-Adresse?“ (Excuse me, what is your email address?)
- „Danke schön, hier ist Ihr Beleg.“ (Thank you, here is your receipt.)
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