Day 54 of 129

Day 54: Can't Sleep Before Chemistry

Late at night in Aachen, on the eve of a chemistry test, Finja (A), fifteen, comes into the kitchen, where her mother Miriam (B) is still up.

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

    Mama, du bist ja noch wach. Ich wälze mich seit zwei Stunden im Bett hin und her.

    Mum, you're still up. I've been tossing and turning in bed for two hours.

  2. B

    Wegen des Chemietests morgen? Du hast doch die ganze Woche gepaukt.

    Because of tomorrow's chemistry test? But you've been swotting all week.

  3. A

    Das ist es ja: Vor Mathearbeiten bin ich völlig entspannt, aber bei Chemie habe ich jedes Mal Angst vor einem Blackout.

    That's just it: before maths tests I'm completely relaxed, but with chemistry I'm scared every single time that my mind will go blank.

  4. B

    Probier doch die Atemübung: Du beruhigst dich, indem du vier Sekunden ein- und acht Sekunden ausatmest.

    Try the breathing exercise: you calm yourself down by breathing in for four seconds and out for eight.

  5. A

    Hab ich alles schon probiert. Das Handy ist seit zehn ausgeschaltet, und meine Sorgen sind alle aufgeschrieben.

    Tried all that already. My phone's been off since ten, and my worries are all written down.

  6. B

    Dann weiß ich auch nicht weiter, Schatz. Wenn du vor jedem Chemietest so grübelst, sollten wir uns Hilfe holen.

    Then I'm out of ideas too, sweetheart. If you brood like this before every chemistry test, we should get some help.

  7. A

    Ist schon erledigt: Der Termin bei der Schulpsychologin ist für Dienstag vereinbart. Ich wollte es dir erst hinterher erzählen.

    Already done: the appointment with the school psychologist is booked for Tuesday. I wasn't going to tell you until afterwards.

  8. B

    Da bist du mir ja einen Schritt voraus. Eine heiße Milch mit Honig trinken wir trotzdem zusammen.

    Well, you're one step ahead of me. But we're still having a hot milk with honey together.

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