Day 180: The January Swim in Schwerin
On the shore of Lake Schwerin in January, Tjark (A) is about to try winter swimming for the first time with his friend Alva (B), who swims there every week with her group.
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
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A
Alva, ich glaube, ich halte heute lieber nur die Handtücher. Bei drei Grad ist das doch Körperverletzung!
Alva, I think I'd rather just hold the towels today. At three degrees, this is practically grievous bodily harm!
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B
Du stehst noch in Schuhen am Ufer und tust so, als ob du gleich erfrieren würdest!
You're still standing on the shore with your shoes on, acting as if you're about to freeze to death!
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A
Na gut, aber nur dir zuliebe. Was muss ich beachten, bevor ich reingehe?
All right, but only for your sake. What do I need to watch out for before I go in?
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B
Erst atmest du ein paar Mal ruhig durch. Sobald du drin bist, atmest du langsam aus und zählst bis dreißig.
First you take a few calm breaths. As soon as you're in, you breathe out slowly and count to thirty.
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A
Nur dreißig Sekunden? Die da hinten plaudern, als säßen sie in der Badewanne.
Only thirty seconds? That lot over there are chatting as if they were sitting in the bath.
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B
Die machen das seit Jahren. Und dein Handtuch kriegst du erst, nachdem du bis zum Hals eingetaucht bist.
They've been doing it for years. And you're not getting your towel until you've gone in up to your neck.
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