Day 56 of 97

Day 56: The Jury's Verdict on the Bees

In the biology lab of a school in Gießen, fifteen-year-old Jasper (A) shows his biology teacher, Mr Weitzel (B), the jury's written feedback on his Jugend forscht project, in which he tested whether bees can recognise human faces.

How to study this lesson 3 steps
  1. Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
  2. Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a German word to see what it means.
  3. Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native German, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.

Dialogue

Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.

Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning

  1. A

    Herr Weitzel, ich hab die Rückmeldung der Jury zugeschickt bekommen. Die lässt an meiner Methode kein gutes Haar.

    Mr Weitzel, I've been sent the jury's feedback. It tears my method to shreds.

  2. B

    Zeig mal. „Originelle Fragestellung, methodisch nicht belastbar“: Das ist Jurydeutsch für „tolle Idee, schlecht bewiesen“.

    Let's see. 'Original research question, methodologically unsound': that's jury-speak for 'great idea, badly proven'.

  3. A

    Aber meine Bienen haben Ihr Foto in achtzig Prozent der Fälle wiedererkannt, auch ohne Zuckerwasser!

    But my bees recognised your photo eighty per cent of the time, even without sugar water!

  4. B

    Hier steht's: „Ein Volk, zwölf Tiere, ein einziges Gesicht mit Bart.“ Vielleicht haben deine Bienen also bloß meinen roten Bart erkannt.

    It says here: 'One colony, twelve bees, a single face with a beard.' So maybe your bees just recognised my red beard.

  5. A

    Der Bart gehört doch zum Gesicht! Ein ganzes Jahr Arbeit, und die Jury betreibt Haarspalterei, ausgerechnet bei Ihrem Bart?

    But the beard is part of the face! A whole year's work, and the jury is splitting hairs, over your beard of all things?

  6. B

    Umsonst war das nicht, die Idee wird ausdrücklich gelobt. Aber an deiner Stelle stünde ich nächstes Jahr wieder am Stand, mit drei Völkern.

    It wasn't for nothing: they expressly praise the idea. But in your shoes, I'd be back at a stand next year, with three colonies.

  7. A

    Drei? Meine Mutter duldet den einen Kasten im Garten nur, weil sie Honig mag.

    Three? My mum only puts up with the one hive in the garden because she likes honey.

  8. B

    Die kriegst du vom Imkerverein geliehen, samt Platz am Lehrbienenstand. Und es hülfe ungemein, mehr Gesichter zu testen, mit und ohne Bart.

    You'll get those on loan from the beekeepers' association, along with a spot at their teaching apiary. And it would help enormously to test more faces, with and without beards.

  9. A

    Jetzt klingen Sie schon wie die Jury. Und wer stellt sich freiwillig einer Jury mit Stacheln?

    Now you're starting to sound like the jury. And who's going to volunteer to face a jury with stings?

  10. B

    Das halbe Kollegium macht bestimmt mit. Und für die Kontrollbedingung rasiere ich mir den Bart ab, das wünscht sich meine Frau ohnehin seit Jahren.

    Half the staff will join in, I'm sure. And for the control condition I'll shave my beard off; my wife's been wanting me to for years anyway.

  11. A

    Dann überarbeite ich die Methode und melde mich wieder an. Arbeitstitel: „Erkennen Bienen ihren Biologielehrer auch rasiert?“

    Then I'll rework the method and enter again. Working title: 'Do Bees Recognise Their Biology Teacher Clean-Shaven?'

Your progress is saved in this browser only, with no sign-up. The course page and the menu show where you left off. Well done! Next up: Day 57: Interviewing the Skate Shop Owner 


If this free course has helped you in your German journey, please consider supporting the project. It's a one-person effort, and even small contributions help keep it running and free for everyone.