German language Game: Wie komme ich?
German Quick Language Game: "Wie komme ich ...?" (How do I get [to a place]?)
You'll learn and practice combining this expression with masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns - by playing a short and fun online language learning game.
Vocabulary in German Language Game
- der Bahnhof - the train station
- der Marktplatz - the Market Square
- das Schloss - the castle
- das Hotel - the hotel
- die S-Bahn - the rapid train
- die Straße - the street
- Wie komme ich ...? - How do I get (to) ...?
- zum Bahnhof - to the train station
- zum Marktplatz - to the Market Square
- zum Schloss - to the castle
- zum Hotel - to the hotel
- zur S-Bahn - to the rapid train
- zur Sophienstraße - to Sophien Street
Note that "zum" is a contraction of the more emphatic "zu dem". (Both mean "to the", and go with either masculine or neuter nouns).
The word "zur" is a contraction of the more emphatic "zu der". (Both mean "to the", and go with feminine nouns).
For example:
- zum Bahnhof = a contraction of "zu dem Bahnhof" [der Bahnhof]
- zum Schloss = a contraction of "zu dem Schloss" [das Schloss]
- zur S-Bahn = a contraction of "zu der S-Bahn" [die S-Bahn]
This may seem complicated because the preposition "zu" takes the "dative case".
But don't even think about that.
Just practice the phrase so that it goes into your ear and brain. You'll then use the correct form automatically.
That's what young kids learning their language do. Believe me, they've never heard about the "dative case".
If you like our games, please SHARE us with your friends.
More Than a German Language Game
And don't forget: You can practice German online for FREE with our 36-Scene German 1 Story: "Michael in Deutschland" and our 72-Scene German 2 Mystery Story Sequel: "Blüten in Berlin?".
(And - if you already know that "Blüten" means blossom in German - you'll learn that Blüten has still another meaning...). Just login HERE.
And, if you have any language questions - don't hesitate to contact us!
Italian Language Game: Offro io
Italian Language Game: "Offro io" - It's on me. Listen, learn and practice 13 basic Italian words and phrases in the context of a brief mini-story.
With our games and courses, mid- to high beginners can build their vocabulary and sharpen their pronunciation.
In this mini-story, Marco and his cousin Valeria are sitting in a café in Pisa. They order coffee and a special Italian dessert.
This episode also comes up in our Italian 1 course which is a series of mini-stories. There you can learn 750 basic words and phrases. (Play the course for FREE by registering HERE.)
Whenever you can, say the words and phrases OUT LOUD to practice your pronunciation.
Note: In Italian, the words for "I, you, we" etc. are often dropped, except when they are needed for emphasis or clarity.
Words in Italian Mini-Story Language Game
- fanno - they make [fare]
- i loro acquisti - their purchases
- più tardi - later
- si siedono - they sit down [sedersi]
- ad un caffè - at a café
- offro io - it's on me
- cosa prendi? - what are you having? (fam.)
- la crema - the custard
- sembra delizioso - it seems delicious
- e da bere? - and to drink?
- io prendo - I'm having
- cameriere - waiter
- sì, prego - yes please (i.e. what can I get you?)
When you learn words in context, you'll remember them better.
For more easy games see also our post: 5 Easy Italian Language Games.
Or you can find ALL of them - over 60 by now - on the Italian Quick Language Games page.
If you like our Italian games, please SHARE them with your friends.
More Than an Italian Language Game
And don't forget: You can practice Italian online for FREE with our 36-Scene Italian 1 Travel-Story: "Marco in Italia".
In it you learn and practice all the words, phrases and sentences you also hear in the podcasts. Just login HERE.
And, if you have any language questions - don't hesitate to contact us!
Italian Language Game: Vieni con me?
Italian Language Game: "Vieni con me?" - Are you coming with me? With this quick game you learn and practice 18 everyday Italian words and phrases as part of a brief story.
Our games and courses are for mid- to high beginners.
In the mini-story, Marco and his cousin Valeria go to Borgo Stretto, a famous shopping street in Pisa.
This episode is also in our Italian 1 course, which is made up of a series of mini-stories. The full course teaches you 750 basic words and phrases. (Play the course for FREE by registering HERE.)
Say the words and phrases OUT LOUD to match your pronunciation to that of the native speaker. This will improve your spoken Italian and your listening comprehension skills.
Note: In Italian, the words for "I, you, we" etc. are often dropped, except when they are needed for emphasis or clarity.
Words in Italian Mini-Story Language Game
- vieni - you come (fam.) [venire]
- con me - with me
- dove? - where?
- devo - I have to [dovere]
- comprare - to buy
- qualcosa - something
- Borgo Stretto - shopping street in Pisa
- cosa è? - what is it?
- la strada - the street
- i migliori negozi - the best shops
- della città - of the city
- forte - cool
- vengo - I come [venire]
- con te - with you (fam.)
- hai bisogno (di) - you need (fam.)
- anche tu - you too, you also (fam.)
- ho bisogno (di) - I need
- una guida turistica - a tourist guide
Learning words in the context of a mini-story will help you remember them.
At this stage, don't worry about grammar rules. In time, you'll begin to notice language patterns that are typical for Italian. You'll build on those when you listen and read Italian more frequently.
For more easy games see also our post: 5 Easy Italian Language Games.
Or you can find ALL of them - over 60 by now - on the Italian Quick Language Games page.
If you like our Italian games, please SHARE them with your friends.
More Than an Italian Language Game
And don't forget: You can practice Italian online for FREE with our 36-Scene Italian 1 Travel-Story: "Marco in Italia".
In it you learn and practice all the words, phrases and sentences you also hear in the podcasts. Just login HERE.
And, if you have any language questions - don't hesitate to contact us!
German Language Game: Keine Schule
German Language Game: "Keine Schule" (No school).
Learn and practice 16 basic German words and phrases in the context of a mini-story.
Our games are for Mid to High Beginners who are ready to go to the next level.
The context: On a Saturday, Michael and his cousin Julia are walking through the old part of Frankfurt where Julia shows him the famous "Römerberg".
This brief episode is also in our German 1 course, a series of mini-stories about Michael's travels in Germany. In the course, you learn and practice 750 basic everyday words.
(To play the full course for FREE just register HERE.)
As you play, say the words, phrases and sentences OUT LOUD.
It's a good way to improve your conversational German and practice your pronunciation.
Words in German Mini-Story Language Game
- der nächste Tag - the next day
- der Samstag - the Saturday
- sie hat - she has [haben]
- die Schule - the school
- keine Schule - no school
- sie will - she wants [wollen]
- zeigen - to show
- sie gehen - they walk, go [gehen]
- über den Römerberg - across the Römerberg
- er heißt - his/its (m) name is
- der Marktplatz - the market square
- das Gebäude - the building
- dort drüben - over there
- das Rathaus - the city hall
- wirklich - really
- schön - beautiful
When you learn new words in the context of a simple story, you'll remember them better.
And, writing out words by hand and saying them out loud helps you learn the spelling along with the meaning and the pronunciation.
If you like our games, please SHARE us with your friends.
More Than a German Language Game
Don't forget: You can practice German online for FREE with our 36-Scene German 1 Story: "Michael in Deutschland" and our 72-Scene German 2 Mystery Story Sequel: "Blüten in Berlin?"
(The literal meaning of "Blüten," is blossoms in German. But the German word Blüten has another meaning that may surprise you.)
Just login HERE.
And, if you have any language questions - don't hesitate to contact us!
German Language Game: Eine gute Idee
German Language Game: "Eine gute Idee" (A good idea).
Play this mini-story to learn and practice 18 basic German words and phrases in context.
Our games are for Mid to High Beginners.
The setting: The home of Michael's aunt and uncle in Frankfurt.
Michael asks his uncle about family photos and explains why he wants them.
This brief episode is also part of German 1. The course is a series of mini-stories about Michael's travels in Germany. In the course, you learn and practice 750 words.
(You can play the full course for FREE by registering HERE.)
As you play, try to say the words, phrases and sentences ALOUD.
That way you'll improve your conversational German and sharpen your pronunciation.
Words in German Mini-Story Language Game
- das Mittagessen - the lunch
- beim Mittagessen - at lunch
- er fragt - he asks [fragen]
- der Onkel - the uncle
- du hast - you have (familiar) [haben]
- die Bilder - the pictures [das Bild, n]
- die Großeltern - the grandparents
- von deinen Großeltern - of your grandparents
- warum? - why?
- ich möchte - I'd like [mögen]
- die Geschichte - die Geschichte
- unsere Familiengeschichte - our family story
- die Idee - the idea
- eine gute Idee - a good idea
- das Fotoalbum - the photo album
- alt - old
- unser altes Fotoalbum - our old photo album
- der Großvater - the grandfather
Grammar Tips: Don't focus on grammar, just learn to become aware of typical language patterns.
As you continue to read and listen to German, such patterns will become more and more familiar.
Word order in yes-no questions:
- Du hast Bilder. - You have pictures.
- Hast du Bilder? - Do you have pictures?
Note: you invert subject and verb.
Bei - meaning "at":
- das Mittagessen - the lunch
- beim Mittagessen - at lunch [beim = bei dem]
Compound words:
- die Familie + die Geschichte = die Familiengeschichte (the family story)
- das Foto + das Album = das Fotoalbum (the photo album)
- der Mittag + das Essen = das Mittagessen (the lunch)
- groß + der Vater = der Großvater (the grandfather)
Note: the last part of a compound word determines the gender.
To best remember new words at this level is to learn them in chunks (phrases) and in the context of a simple story.
Writing them out is a good way to learn the spelling as well as the meaning.
And always say the words and phrases out loud.
If you like our games, please SHARE us with your friends.
More Than a German Language Game
Don't forget: You can practice German online for FREE with our 36-Scene German 1 Story: "Michael in Deutschland" and our 72-Scene German 2 Mystery Story Sequel: "Blüten in Berlin?"
(The literal meaning of "Blüten," is blossoms in German. But the German word Blüten has another meaning that may surprise you.) Just login HERE.
And, if you have any language questions - don't hesitate to contact us!