As a Tourist in the City
Als Tourist in der Stadt
- Common activities during a city trip.
- Asking information at the tourist office.
- Know practical survival phrases as a tourist to navigate in the city.
- Comparison of adverbs
This A2 lesson helps you navigate city life in German, teaching key phrases like Sehenswürdigkeiten (sights), Stadtplan (city map), and Orientierung (orientation). Practice asking nach dem Weg (for directions) and recommendations at a Touristenbüro or Café.
Vocabulary (11) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Die Stadt besichtigen
To visit the city
2
Ein Souvenir kaufen
To buy a souvenir
3
Empfehlen
To recommend
4
Die Information
The information
5
Die Auskunft
The information
Übung 2: Conversation exercise
Anleitung:
- Beschreiben Sie, was dieser Tourist in Kopenhagen auf den Bildern macht. (Describe what this tourist in Copenhagen is doing in the pictures.)
- Was könnte die Person in einer der Situationen sagen? (What could the person say in any of the situations?)
- Verschickst du noch Postkarten aus deinem Urlaub? An wen verschickst du sie? (Do you still send postcards from your holidays? To whom do you send them?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Die Frau nimmt ein Taxi. The woman takes a taxi. |
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Ich habe die Wegbeschreibung auf der Karte nachgeschlagen. I looked up the directions on the map. |
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Können Sie mir sagen, wie ich zum Denkmal komme? Can you tell me how to get to the monument? |
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Haben Sie einen Studentenrabatt? Do you have a student discount? |
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Ich benutze mein Handy, um zum Museum zu navigieren. I use my phone to navigate to the museum. |
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Können Sie ein Foto von mir machen? Can you take a picture of me? |
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Ich muss eine Postkarte an meine Familie schicken. I have to send a postcard to my family. |
| ... |
Exercise 3: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 4: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Können Sie mir eine gute Sehenswürdigkeit _________?
(Can you recommend a good sight to me _________?)2. Ich habe dem Besucher das Schloss ________.
(I have ________ the castle to the visitor.)3. Um sich in der Stadt zu orientieren, ________ ich oft einen Stadtplan.
(To get oriented in the city, ________ I often use a city map.)4. Gestern habe ich mich _______ in der Altstadt orientiert.
(Yesterday I oriented myself _______ in the old town.)Exercise 5: As a Tourist in the City
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Empfehlen - To recommend
Prasens
- ich empfehle
- du empfiehlst
- er/sie/es empfiehlt
- wir empfehlen
- ihr empfiehlt
- sie/Sie empfehlen
Empfehlen - To recommend
Perfekt
- ich habe empfohlen
- du hast empfohlen
- er/sie/es hat empfohlen
- wir haben empfohlen
- ihr habt empfohlen
- sie/Sie haben empfohlen
Sich orientieren - To orient oneself
Prasens
- ich orientiere mich
- du orientierst dich
- er/sie/es orientiert sich
- wir orientieren uns
- ihr orientiert euch
- sie/Sie orientieren sich
Können - Can
Prasens
- ich kann
- du kannst
- er/sie/es kann
- wir können
- ihr könnt
- sie/Sie können
Exercise 6: Steigerung von Adverbien
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Comparison of adverbs
Show translation Show answersoft, lieber, schnell, am liebsten, öfter, viel, am häufigsten, schneller, gern
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!
Empfehlen to recommend Share Copied!
Präsens
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) empfehle | I recommend |
| (du) empfiehlst | You recommend |
| (er/sie/es) empfiehlt | he recommends/she recommends/it recommends |
| (wir) empfehlen | we recommend |
| (ihr) empfehlt | you recommend |
| (sie) empfehlen | they recommend |
Empfehlen to recommend Share Copied!
Perfekt
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) habe empfohlen | I have recommended |
| (du) hast empfohlen | You have recommended |
| (er/sie/es) hat empfohlen | He/she/it has recommended |
| (wir) haben empfohlen | we have recommended |
| (ihr) habt empfohlen | you have recommended |
| (sie) haben empfohlen | they have recommended |
Sich orientieren to orientate oneself Share Copied!
Präsens
| German | English |
|---|---|
| (ich) orientiere mich | I orientate myself |
| (du) orientierst dich | You orientate yourself |
| (er/sie/es) orientiert sich | he/she/it orientates oneself |
| (wir) orientieren uns | we orientate ourselves |
| (ihr) orientiert euch | you orientate yourselves |
| (sie) orientieren sich | they orientate themselves |
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As a Tourist in the City – Lesson Overview
This A2-level lesson is designed to help you navigate common situations as a tourist in a German-speaking city. You'll learn how to ask for information at the tourist office, order food and drinks in a café, and request directions to important places like the train station. The lesson focuses on essential vocabulary, polite expressions, and helpful verb conjugations in everyday contexts.
Key Dialogue Themes
- Tourist Office Inquiries: Asking about popular sightseeing spots like der Dom (the cathedral), das Stadtmuseum (the city museum), and park visiting hours.
- Café Recommendations: How to inquire about today's special dishes, order sugar-free options, and understand simple food-related vocabulary like Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) and Kürbissuppe (pumpkin soup).
- Directions to the Train Station: Polite ways to ask for and understand walking directions, recognizing signs, and estimating travel time by foot.
Practical Vocabulary and Expressions
Throughout this lesson, you'll encounter useful words and phrases like:
- empfehlen – to recommend
- öffnen – to open (used when talking about opening hours)
- orientieren – to orient oneself
- Spezialität – specialty
- Wegbeschreibung – directions
These terms are valuable for everyday interactions in German cities, helping you communicate clearly and politely.
Verb Conjugation Highlights
Mastering verb forms is crucial for meaningful conversations. This lesson covers verbs like empfehlen (to recommend) and sich orientieren (to find one's way) in present and perfect tenses with examples such as:
- Ich empfehle dir, zuerst die Altstadt zu besichtigen. (I recommend you visit the old town first.)
- Heute habe ich mich schnell im Zentrum der Stadt orientiert. (Today I quickly found my way in the city center.)
Short Story for Contextual Learning
A practical mini-story illustrates how these verbs and phrases come together during a city visit. It encourages you to engage with the language through meaningful context, enhancing retention and understanding.
Differences Between English and German in Tourist Interactions
German often uses reflexive verbs when talking about finding one's way, like sich orientieren, literally "to orient oneself," whereas English usually just says "to find directions" or "navigate." Also, asking politely is very important in German, commonly starting requests with phrases like können Sie mir bitte... (can you please...). The word order in questions can differ, so familiarizing yourself with how to form polite requests will improve your interactions.
Useful phrases include:
- Können Sie mir bitte sagen...? – Can you please tell me...?
- Gibt es auch... – Is there also...
- Wie komme ich zum... – How do I get to...
By mastering these expressions and structures, you'll gain confidence in engaging with locals and making your city visits more enjoyable.
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