Lektionsüberblick

So far, you have learned how to talk about where you live now and where you will live in the future. You have also learned to describe your current and future living situation. Now, you will take that knowledge to plan for and find a place to live when you go to a German-speaking country to study, work, do an internship, or for another exciting adventure. After this lesson, you will be able to 1) talk about a typical city, 2) talk about the location of your current place of living and your next one, 3) write a list of specifications for a new place to live, 4) read apartment listings to identify a place with your specifications, and 5) plan a tour of your chosen apartment(s).

1) Die typische Stadt

There is much to see and do in the downtown area of a city (die Innenstadt). Many German towns also have an old town (die Altstadt). Here are some other places you might see. The first list is full of cognates (words that are similar in both English and German).

Now for words that might require a little more practice…

Let’s practice!

2) Die Wohnungslage

Do you live across the street from a supermarket? Do you live nearby a university? You’ll need to know some new words to express these types of relationships. Look at the sentences and pictures below. Then practice. Be sure to click through to each question.

Barbara sagt: “Ich wohne einem Restaurant gegenüber.”

Anja und Dirk sagen: “Wir wohnen in der Nähe von der Uni.”

Karl sagt: “Ich wohne neben dem Bach.”

Now think about your future living space. Will it be near a lake? Near the university? Close to lots of restaurants? Let’s take each of the living situations above and turn them into future descriptions of where you will live. You’ve got this! You already know the structure to make this transition.

Let’s practice!

3) Die Wohnungssuche

Die Jagd geht los! The hunt is on – for a new apartment! What features are important to you? Using your experience with German and what you know about cognates, what German words below do you recognize? See how well you can complete the activity using your existing knowledge.

The first set of words and phrases has to do with the apartment size, location in building, and amenities.

4) Die Suche nach einem Zimmer oder einer Wohnung

Read die Anzeige and complete the activity. You might notice a new form of “you” in this ad (=ihr). It’s the form used when addressing more than one person in a casual way.

Zwischenmiete – Neukölln 22 Quadratmeter Zimmer in netter, multikulti WG mit großem Wohnzimmer Hallo, das Zimmer is ungefahr 22qm groß mit Doppelbett, Schreibtisch, Schrank, einige[n] andere[n] Möbeln. Ihr könnt ohne Problem zur zwei[t] das Zimmer mieten. Die Wohnung ist eine 4[-Zimmer-]WG, mit 35qm Wohnzimmer und Badezimmer, Gästetoiletten, und groß Gang. Die Miete ist 400 Euros für eineinhalb Monat[e], einschließlich Strom. Meine Mitbewohner sind Christoph und Aurélie …

Before we read some more apartment ads, let’s look at some relevant definitions and abbreviations.

Now let’s look at some ads for rental apartments in Zürich. When you’re done, look at the profiles below and choose the right apartment for each person.

5) Eine Wohnungsbesichtigung

Es ist typisch viele Fragen über eine neue Wohnung zu haben! Listen to the phone conversation between Markus Erdmann und Karin Möller. Pay special attention to the questions that she asks about the listing. What arrangements do they make at the end? Answer the questions that follow.

Before you go: Check out this short video about the history of Lichtenstein.

Transcript: Wohnungsbesichtigung

• Wohnungsbesichtigung text adapted from Willkommen: Deutsch für alle Copyright © 2020 by Claudia Kost and Crystal Sawatzky is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International License.