Day 76: A Room in Exchange for Help
On a tram in Freiburg, Eberhard Maurer (A), a widower in his seventies, speaks to Stella (B), a student who has just ended a phone call about her search for a room.
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
Entschuldigen Sie, ich habe unfreiwillig mitgehört. Sie suchen ein Zimmer?
Excuse me, I couldn't help overhearing. You're looking for a room?
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B
Seit zwei Monaten, ja. Je länger ich suche, desto verzweifelter werde ich.
For two months now, yes. The longer I look, the more desperate I get.
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A
Was zahlt man denn heute in Freiburg für so ein Zimmer?
And what does a room like that cost in Freiburg these days?
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B
Meistens über 500 Euro. Statt zu lernen, renne ich abends von Besichtigung zu Besichtigung.
Usually over 500 euros. Instead of studying, I spend my evenings rushing from one viewing to the next.
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A
Seit meine Frau gestorben ist, wohne ich allein in einer Vierzimmerwohnung. Kennen Sie „Wohnen für Hilfe“?
Since my wife died, I've lived alone in a four-room flat. Have you heard of 'Wohnen für Hilfe', a room in return for help?
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B
Da wohnt man bei jemandem, ohne Miete zu zahlen, oder?
That's the one where you live with someone without paying rent, isn't it?
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A
Fast, man zahlt nur die Nebenkosten. Im Gegenzug bräuchte ich Hilfe beim Einkaufen und ab und zu eine Partie Schach.
Almost: you only pay the bills. In return I'd need help with the shopping, and a game of chess now and then.
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