01B2
The wrong change
Das falsche Wechselgeld
The kiosk shorted your change and swears it's right. Get it back.
Practise02B1
Stopped on the street
Auf der Straße angesprochen
A stranger asks for directions — then just won't stop talking.
Practise03B1
Someone's in your seat
Der besetzte Sitzplatz
Your reserved seat on the ICE is taken — and they're playing dumb.
Practise04B2
Ticket inspection
Die Fahrkartenkontrolle
Inspectors board — and something's off with your ticket. Talk your way through.
Practise05B2
The noisy neighbour
Der laute Nachbar
Midnight, thumping music next door. You knock. They invite you in.
Practise06B1
Haggling at the flea market
Auf dem Flohmarkt handeln
You want the old lamp. Not at that price. Talk them down.
Practise07C1
The doorstep pitch
An der Haustür
A slick salesperson at your door who will not take a hint. Say no — and mean it.
Practise08B2
The little accident
Der kleine Unfall
A bike bump at the crossing. Nobody's hurt — but the other person is furious.
Practise09B2
The complaint
Die Reklamation
Wrong dish, long wait, dismissive waiter. Complain firmly, get it fixed.
Practise10B2
The apartment viewing
Die Wohnungsbesichtigung
View a flat, grill the landlord, sell yourself as the tenant.
Practise11B2
The job interview
Das Vorstellungsgespräch
Field the classic questions, talk up your strengths, ask smart ones back.
Practise12C1
Claiming a delay refund
Verspätung reklamieren
Your ICE was two hours late. You're owed money. The clerk stonewalls.
Practise13B1
At the bakery
Beim Bäcker
Order, ask what's fresh, handle the small talk at the counter.
Practise14B1
At the doctor's
Beim Arzt
Describe symptoms, understand the advice, ask the awkward follow-ups.
Practise15B1
Small talk at the party
Smalltalk auf der Party
Meet a stranger, keep it flowing, find the common ground.
Practise16B2
The registration office
Das Bürgeramt
German bureaucracy, live. Register your address, survive the paperwork.
Practise17C1
Defend your opinion
Die Diskussion
Take a stance, argue it, hold your ground against real pushback.
Practise18A1
Ordering at the café
Im Café
Order a drink and some cake — but your first choice is sold out.
Practise19A1
First day of class
Der erste Kurstag
Meet your new neighbour in German class — names, countries, first sentences.
Practise20A2
Lost in the supermarket
Die Suche im Supermarkt
You can't find what you need — and the shelf that should have it is empty.
Practise21A2
At the hairdresser
Beim Friseur
Explain the haircut you want — before the scissors decide for you.
Practise22C2
The salary negotiation
Die Gehaltsverhandlung
Argue your raise against a boss who has read every negotiation book twice.
Practise23C2
The delicate feedback
Das heikle Feedback
Tell a proud colleague his work has real problems — without losing him.
Practise24A1
At the ticket counter
Am Fahrkartenschalter
Buy a ticket to Köln — but it's cash only and you have to change trains.
Practise25A1
Checking in at the hotel
An der Hotelrezeption
You have a reservation — but the receptionist can't find your name.
Practise26A1
At the market stall
Am Marktstand
Buy tomatoes and apples — but the tomatoes are sold out today.
Practise27A2
A return without a receipt
Umtausch ohne Kassenbon
The sweater's the wrong size — but you've lost the receipt. Talk your way to an exchange.
Practise28A2
Booking a doctor's appointment
Termin in der Arztpraxis
Phone the practice for an appointment — but nothing's free for weeks. Negotiate a slot.
Practise29A2
Sending a parcel
Ein Paket verschicken
Post a parcel — but it's too heavy and the express price shocks you. Pick an option.
Practise30A2
Getting a phone plan
Ein Handyvertrag
You just want a cheap SIM — the salesperson keeps pushing the premium plan.
Practise31B1
Opening a bank account
Ein Konto eröffnen
Open an account as a newcomer — but you're missing a document. Find a way forward.
Practise32B1
Cancelling the contract
Den Vertrag kündigen
You want to cancel your gym contract — the retention agent throws offer after offer at you.
Practise33B1
The rental bike
Das Leihfahrrad
You return the bike — and the owner insists there's a new scratch you have to pay for.
Practise34B1
At the lost and found
Das Fundbüro
Report your lost bag — but you'll have to describe it precisely and prove it's yours.
Practise35B2
The wrong bill
Die falsche Rechnung
Your phone bill is 40 euros too high — and the hotline agent insists everything's correct.
Practise36B2
The time-off request
Der Urlaubsantrag
You need a week off — right in the middle of the busiest month. Your boss says no.
Practise37B2
The bad room
Das schlechte Zimmer
You booked a quiet double — you got a stuffy box over the kitchen. Get it fixed.
Practise38B2
Back at the garage
Zurück in der Werkstatt
The noise you paid to fix is still there — and the mechanic says it's your driving.
Practise39B2
At the immigration office
Bei der Ausländerbehörde
You're here to sort your residence permit — but a document is missing and 'that's another desk'.
Practise40C1
The leadership interview
Das Führungsgespräch
A leadership role is on the line. Now describe a conflict you handled — and a real weakness.
Practise41C1
The impromptu toast
Die spontane Rede
Someone hands you the mic mid-party: 'Say a few words!' No notes. Be warm and funny.
Practise42C1
The delicate family talk
Das heikle Familiengespräch
You need to tell a parent about a big decision they won't like. Brace for the emotional pushback.
Practise43C2
The mediation
Die Vermittlung
Two colleagues are at war. You're in the middle — and the stubborn one won't budge.
Practise44C2
Breaking bad news
Die schlechte Nachricht
The project's slipping and you have to tell your biggest client. Own it — keep their trust.
Practise45C2
The deal negotiation
Die Vertragsverhandlung
A shrewd partner wants your terms softened. Hold your value — and still close the deal.
Practise46C2
The interview
Das Interview
A persistent journalist keeps circling the one thing you won't confirm. Stay on message.
Practise47A1
At the ice cream parlour
In der Eisdiele
One scoop or two? Order ice cream for the whole family on a hot day.
Practise48A2
At the pharmacy
In der Apotheke
A nasty cold and no prescription — get something that actually helps.
Practise49A2
Splitting the bill
Getrennt bezahlen
Three friends, one bill, an impatient waiter — sort out who had what.
Practise50A2
Calling in sick
Sich krankmelden
You're ill and need to phone your boss before the shift starts.
Practise51A2
Picking up the parcel
Das Paket abholen
There's a parcel waiting for you — if the name and ID line up.
Practise52A2
Shopping for clothes
Im Kleidergeschäft
The jeans don't fit — get another size and some honest advice.
Practise53B1
Calling out the plumber
Der Klempner muss kommen
Water under the sink — book an emergency plumber and pin down the timing.
Practise54B1
The heating's broken
Die Heizung ist kaputt
No heat in January — get the property manager to actually do something.
Practise55B1
At the optician's
Beim Optiker
Your eyes have changed — get a test and pick frames that suit you.
Practise56B1
At the vet's
Beim Tierarzt
Your cat's been off her food for days — describe it and decide on treatment.
Practise57B2
The utility bill statement
Die Nebenkostenabrechnung
A €600 back-payment lands in your mailbox — question every line of it.
Practise58B2
The flat-share interview
Das WG-Casting
Prospective flatmates, one free room, lots of questions — win them over.
Practise59B2
The outage hotline
Die Störungs-Hotline
No internet for two days, a scripted agent, a menu maze — get a real fix.
Practise60B2
The parent-teacher talk
Das Elterngespräch
Your kid's grades are slipping — work out a plan with the teacher.
Practise61C1
The broadcasting fee dispute
Der Rundfunkbeitrag
A demand for back-fees you thought you'd deregistered — argue your case.
Practise62C1
At the tax advisor's
Beim Steuerberater
First tax return as a freelancer — figure out what you can actually deduct.
Practise63C2
The town-hall meeting
Die Bürgerversammlung
A new road would run past your street — take the mic and sway the room.
Practise64A1
At the meat counter
An der Fleischtheke
Order cold cuts by the gram while a queue builds behind you.
Practise65A1
Reserving a table
Einen Tisch reservieren
Call up and book a table for tonight — name, time, party size.
Practise66A1
At the bus stop
An der Bushaltestelle
Not sure it's the right bus? Ask the friendly old man beside you.
Practise67A2
At the dentist's
Beim Zahnarzt
A toothache that won't quit — describe it before she reaches for the drill.
Practise68A2
Returning deposit bottles
Pfandflaschen zurückbringen
The bottle machine keeps spitting one back — sort out your deposit.
Practise69B1
Signing up at the gym
Im Fitnessstudio anmelden
The sales guy wants you on the premium plan. Keep it flexible.
Practise70B1
Borrowing from a neighbour
Beim Nachbarn etwas leihen
Late-night doorbell: you need his drill and a little goodwill.
Practise71B1
Registering bulky-waste pickup
Sperrmüll anmelden
Old sofa, dead wardrobe — book the city to haul it away, by the book.
Practise72B1
Buying secondhand
Der Gebrauchtkauf
He swears the used bike is mint. Inspect it before you hand over cash.
Practise73B1
The bike into the shop
Das Fahrrad in die Werkstatt
Sticky gears, a rubbing brake — get it fixed today if you can.
Practise74B2
The quote
Der Kostenvoranschlag
A painter eyeballs your living room and starts rounding up. Pin him down in writing.
Practise75B2
The apartment handover
Die Wohnungsübergabe
Moving out — your landlord finds 'damage' everywhere. Protect your deposit.
Practise76B2
Reporting water damage
Einen Wasserschaden melden
A burst pipe flooded your living room — report it and learn what proof they need.
Practise77B2
Contesting the parking fine
Widerspruch gegen das Knöllchen
You had a valid ticket — now argue your way out of the fine, officially.
Practise78C1
The rent reduction
Die Mietminderung
Three weeks of no heating and creeping mould — and the landlord keeps stalling.
Practise79C1
The overtime clash
Der Überstunden-Konflikt
Your boss assumes you'll work the weekend again. Draw the line without torching the job.
Practise80C2
Escalating the complaint
Die Beschwerde eskalieren
Third failed repair, nobody's accountable — take it to the manager and get a real fix.
Practise81A1
At the late-night shop
Am Späti
Grab a cold beer after the Kneipe closes — and get pulled into the owner's chit-chat.
Practise82A1
At the student cafeteria
In der Mensa
Lunch rush at the uni canteen — pick a dish, dodge the meat, and pay with your card.
Practise83A2
At the Christmas market
Auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt
Glühwein in the cold — order a mug, sort out the cup deposit, and get it back.
Practise84A2
At the recycling centre
Auf dem Wertstoffhof
Old shelf, dead toaster, tin of paint — figure out which skip takes what, and what costs extra.
Practise85A2
At the beer garden
Im Biergarten
Sunny bench, no free tables — ask to share, order a Maß, and learn the self-service rules.
Practise86A2
The mail forwarding order
Der Nachsendeauftrag
You've moved — set up mail forwarding at the post office so nothing gets lost.
Practise87B1
The first driving lesson
Die erste Fahrstunde
Behind the wheel with your instructor — adjust everything, calm your nerves, pull away.
Practise88B1
At the vehicle registration office
Bei der Zulassungsstelle
Register the used car you just bought — right papers, plates, and fees.
Practise89B1
The daycare spot
Der Kita-Platz
Chase a nursery place for your kid — waitlist, hours, and whether you'll get in at all.
Practise90B1
Reporting the theft
Die Anzeige bei der Polizei
Your bike's gone — file a police report with all the details for the insurance.
Practise91B1
The carpool ride
Die Mitfahrgelegenheit
Meet your driver, sort the meeting point and cash, then keep the small talk going for 300 km.
Practise92B1
At the health insurer
Bei der Krankenkasse
Sign up with a statutory health fund — get your card, cover the family, ask what's included.
Practise93B2
The cleaning-rota row
Der Putzplan-Streit
Your flatmate keeps skipping his chores — raise it before it blows up the flat-share.
Practise94B2
At the job centre
Bei der Agentur für Arbeit
Register as unemployed — sort out your benefit claim, deadlines, and what they expect of you.
Practise95C1
The disciplinary meeting
Das Personalgespräch
HR calls you in over a formal warning — hear them out, push back on the facts, protect yourself.
Practise96C2
Contesting the official decision
Der Widerspruch beim Amt
A wrong ruling landed in your letterbox — argue the law and procedure face-to-face and get it overturned.
Practise97A1
At the open-air pool
An der Freibadkasse
A hot day, a queue, and a ticket to buy — keep it simple.
Practise98A1
At the cinema box office
An der Kinokasse
Two tickets, the right showtime, and seats you can live with.
Practise99A2
Paying at the petrol station
An der Tankstellenkasse
Which pump, a coffee, and how does the car wash even work?
Practise100A2
At the florist
Im Blumenladen
A gift bouquet — but you have no idea which flowers. Ask for help.
Practise101A2
Returning library books
Bücher zurückgeben
The books are overdue. Face the fine, renew one, grab another.
Practise102A2
The Deutschlandticket
Das Deutschlandticket
Nationwide travel for a flat fee — but where's the catch? Ask.
Practise103B1
Locked out
Ausgesperrt
Key inside, locksmith on the phone — and his price is outrageous.
Practise104B1
This isn't what I ordered
Das Essen stimmt nicht
Wrong dish, and it's cold. The waiter tries to wave it away.
Practise105B1
Checking in at the campsite
Ankunft am Campingplatz
No reservation, late afternoon — talk your way onto a pitch.
Practise106B1
Signing up at the adult-ed centre
Anmeldung an der Volkshochschule
A course caught your eye — times, price, level, and is it full?
Practise107B2
Getting your deposit back
Die Kaution zurückfordern
Your ex-landlord kept half the deposit for 'damage'. Fight it.
Practise108B2
Applying for an allotment garden
Beim Kleingartenverein
A plot of your own — if you can stomach the club's iron rules.
Practise109B2
The cancelled flight
Der Flug ist gestrichen
Rebooked to tomorrow, brushed off — claim what you're owed.
Practise110B2
The test drive
Die Probefahrt
You just want to test drive — the salesman wants you to sign today.
Practise111C1
Requesting parental leave
Elternzeit beantragen
Six months off is your right — your boss would rather you didn't.
Practise112C1
Asking for a promotion
Nach der Beförderung fragen
Years of good work — now make the case for the next step.
Practise113C2
The purchase contract at the notary
Beim Notar: der Kaufvertrag
Buying a flat — don't sign a clause you don't fully understand.
Practise114A1
Asking for directions
Nach dem Weg fragen
New in town, no station in sight — just stop a stranger and ask.
Practise115A1
Wrong number
Falsch verbunden
You wanted a pizza — instead a stranger picks up. Sort it out politely.
Practise116A2
The luggage locker
Das Gepäckschließfach
A few hours' layover — stash the suitcase instead of dragging it around.
Practise117A2
Ordering the cake
Die Torte bestellen
A birthday cake to order — flavour, message on top, and mind the nut allergy.
Practise118A2
Applying for a passport
Den Reisepass beantragen
Passport expired, flight in three weeks — can they do it in time?
Practise119A2
Booking a package holiday
Die Pauschalreise buchen
A week by the sea, everything from one desk — flight, hotel, board.
Practise120B1
The cracked screen
Das Display ist kaputt
Dropped phone, spider-web screen — will the photos survive the fix?
Practise121B1
At the launderette
Im Waschsalon
First time at the launderette, baffled by the machines — a regular helps out.
Practise122B1
The electrician's visit
Der Elektriker kommt
The fuse keeps tripping — describe it precisely enough to get it fixed.
Practise123B1
Missing the connection
Den Anschluss verpasst
Your ICE is late and the connection's gone — sort out the rest with the conductor.
Practise124B1
The roadworthiness test
Zur Hauptuntersuchung
An old car, a strict inspector — will it get the sticker or a list of defects?
Practise125B2
Registering the marriage
Die Hochzeit anmelden
Papers, a date, the shared name — get the wedding officially on the books.
Practise126B2
The wine tasting
Die Weinprobe
Rieslings on the Mosel — talk grapes, acidity and what pairs with fish.
Practise127B2
Reporting the claim
Den Schaden melden
Rear-ended at a light — report it by phone and protect your no-claims bonus.
Practise128C1
The rent increase
Die Mieterhöhung
A 15% hike lands in your inbox — challenge it with the rent index in hand.
Practise129C1
After the rejection
Nach der Absage
You didn't get the job — call back for honest feedback without sounding bitter.
Practise130C2
The termination agreement
Der Aufhebungsvertrag
They want you out 'amicably' — negotiate severance, reference and don't sign today.
Practise131A1
At the snack stand
Beim Imbiss
Order a döner exactly how you want it — and dodge the sauce you can't stand.
Practise132A2
At the drinks market
Im Getränkemarkt
Buy crates of water, wrangle the deposit, and get a hand carrying them out.
Practise133A2
Blocking your card
Die Karte sperren lassen
Your wallet's gone — call the bank and block the card before someone empties it.
Practise134A2
Sending a registered letter
Ein Einschreiben aufgeben
Send an important letter registered — and get proof it actually arrives.
Practise135A2
At the museum ticket desk
An der Museumskasse
Get in cheaper with a student discount and catch the next guided tour.
Practise136A2
Joining a sports club
Beim Sportverein anmelden
Sign up at a German Verein — trial session, membership fee, and all.
Practise137B1
At the ski rental
Im Skiverleih
Kit yourself out for the slopes — right ski length, boots that fit, and insurance.
Practise138B1
At the blood donation
Bei der Blutspende
First-time donor — get through the health screening and the doctor's questions.
Practise139B1
The parcel at customs
Das Paket beim Zollamt
Your parcel from abroad is stuck at customs — prove its value and pay the duty.
Practise140B1
Applying for child benefit
Kindergeld beantragen
Sort out child benefit at the Familienkasse — the forms, the tax ID, the wait.
Practise141B1
The language tandem
Das Sprachtandem
Meet a tandem partner and agree how you'll actually swap languages.
Practise142B1
A night in the mountain hut
Übernachtung auf der Berghütte
Book a bunk in an Alpine hut, ask about tomorrow's trail, and mind the hut rules.
Practise143B2
The flat viewing
Die Wohnungsbesichtigung
Twenty applicants, one flat — charm the landlord and stand out fast.
Practise144B2
At the car rental counter
Am Mietwagenschalter
Pick up a rental — turn down the upsells you don't need, catch the ones you do.
Practise145B2
The speeding notice
Der Anhörungsbogen
Caught on a speed camera — call about the notice without incriminating yourself.
Practise146C1
A query at the tax office
Rückfrage beim Finanzamt
Your tax assessment looks wrong — query it and lodge an objection in time.
Practise147C2
A complaint to the ombudsman
Beschwerde beim Ombudsmann
Your insurer denied a valid claim — escalate to the ombudsman and make the case.
Practise