Day 16: An Electrician on the Tram
On a tram in Karlsruhe, Dieter Wagner (A), a retired master electrician, notices the young woman next to him, Jana (B), with a tool bag and work trousers.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- 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.
- 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
-
A
Verzeihung, ist das die Werkzeugtasche Ihres Freundes?
Excuse me, is that your boyfriend's tool bag?
-
B
Nein, meine eigene. Ich bin im zweiten Lehrjahr, im Betrieb meines Onkels.
No, it's my own. I'm in the second year of my apprenticeship, at my uncle's firm.
-
A
Nichts für ungut, aber zu meiner Zeit gab es keine einzige Elektrikerin.
No offence, but in my day there wasn't a single woman electrician.
-
B
In meiner Klasse sind wir immerhin drei. Während die anderen frühstücken, verlege ich schon Kabel.
There are three of us in my class, at least. While the others are having breakfast, I'm already laying cables.
-
A
Alle Achtung. Glauben Sie einem alten Meister: In der Prüfung zählt sorgfältige Arbeit mehr als Tempo.
Hats off to you. Take it from an old master electrician: in the exam, careful work counts for more than speed.
-
B
Das sagt mein Onkel auch. Er hat bei einem Herrn Wagner gelernt.
My uncle says that too. He trained under a Mr Wagner.
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 17: Forty Viewings and a Spare Room
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.