Lektionsüberblick

The last few lessons have focused on the natural environment and our position in it. Now we will shift to the human environment: our communities. In this lesson, we will review a wide array of words used to talk about ourselves and others. Talking about your identify and the identity of others can be empowering, intimidating, easy, and hard. As with all of the content in the Deutsch im Alltag series, this lesson is not a deposition. You never need to disclose any personal information about yourself. We have chosen to include potentially uncomfortable content for two reasons: 1) We want to provide the language necessary for those who want to be able to talk about themselves and others in this way and, more importantly, 2) surveys of young people across German-speaking Europe repeatedly show that these topics are ranked number one.

In the end of this lesson, you will be able to talk about 1) yourself and your friends, 2) the kinds of people you are friends with and would like to meet, and 3) flirting and dating.

1) Wer bin ich? Wer bist du?

There are countless components that make up our identity, and over the last two years, you have learned how to talk about several of these components. During your first year of German, we learned to talk about our Herkunft in ways like this:

Let’s review.

We also learned how to talk about our Eigenschaften. How many do you remember? Write down the ones you remember before clicking through the presentation.

(If that was not enough of a review, you can always return to the lessons on Eigenschaften in Deutsch im Alltag I.)

It is human nature to want to label or categorize things. As we saw above, we do that when describing our nationality, heritage, and personality. This also holds true for how we choose to label (or not label) other parts of our identity. Here are some ways we might self-identify or how others might self-identify. (As always, you are not required to talk about anything you do not want to talk about.)

Let’s practice putting all of these elements together with the following activity.

2) Wen ich mag…

Who are the people you like to be around or what type of person do you prefer to spend your time with? What values are important to you? Sometimes we attract those that are similar to us, while other times we prefer those that have different beliefs or traits.

Let’s practice.

Südtirol im Blickpunkt

In Südtirol ist das Essen eine Mischung aus italienischer und österreichischer Küche. Besonders bekannt ist der Südtiroler Speck, ein geräucherter Schinken mit viel Geschmack. Auch Knödel sind sehr beliebt und werden oft mit Fleisch oder Gemüse serviert. Man trinkt gern dazu Apfelsaft oder Wein aus der Region.

In South Tyrol, the cuisine is a blend of Italian and Austrian traditions. South Tyrolean Speck—a smoked ham with a lot of flavor—is particularly renowned. Dumplings are also very popular and are often served with meat or vegetables. Many people enjoy these dishes with apple juice or wine from the region.

3) Der Vibe muss stimmen

In German-speaking countries, dating and flirting can look a little different from what you may be used to. People often value honesty, respect, and clear communication. In this section, you will learn useful vocabulary and phrases for talking to someone you like, explaining your relationship to another, and how to say dating is not your priority. Even if dating is not your thing, these expressions can help you in everyday conversations and social situations.

Let’s practice.