Die Mauer — The Wall · German lesson 135

Read and listen to the dialogue.
Make sure you follow the meaning and the story.
Study the vocabulary — read every word and phrase aloud. How to pronounce →
Work through the grammar and learn this lesson's key points.
Go back to the dialogue and read along with it for 15–20 minutes.
Do the role-play: practice for smoothness, and match the tone.
Do the exercises.
Read the culture point.
Optional: create your own dialogue.

0 of 9 done

Hover a line for its translation; hover a word for its meaning. Tap 🔊 to hear it.

Show meaning

Frau Schulz

Hier an der Gedenkstätte in der Bernauer Straße verlief die Mauer direkt vor den Haustüren, die Häuser gehörten zum Osten, der Bürgersteig davor schon zum Westen. Im August einundsechzig sind Menschen auf der Flucht aus diesen Fenstern gesprungen, bevor die Fenster zugemauert wurden. Ich war damals fünf Jahre alt und erinnere mich an fast nichts, nur daran, dass meine Mutter tagelang geweint hat.

Here at the memorial on Bernauer Straße, the Wall ran right in front of the front doors: the buildings belonged to the East, the sidewalk in front of them already to the West. In August sixty-one, people trying to escape jumped from these windows before the windows were bricked up. I was five years old then and remember almost nothing, only that my mother cried for days.

Alex

Warum hat sie geweint, hatte Ihre Familie Verwandte auf der anderen Seite? Ich habe den Wachturm dort drüben und den alten Todesstreifen gesehen, aber ich kann mir kaum vorstellen, wie es ist, wenn über Nacht eine Grenze durch die eigene Stadt gezogen wird. Was wäre passiert, wenn Ihre Familie an diesem Wochenende zufällig im Westen gewesen wäre?

Why did she cry; did your family have relatives on the other side? I've seen the watchtower over there and the old death strip, but I can hardly imagine what it's like when a border is drawn through your own city overnight. What would have happened if your family had happened to be in the West that weekend?

1How to study this lesson▸

2Dialogue▸

3Vocabulary▸

4Exercises▸

5Generate your own dialog▸

6Culture▸

The Berlin Wall