C1 · 21 words
Emil learns to take criticism
A big customer has ended its contract with Emil's courier service, and the reasons in the email sting. Learn to take criticism without taking it personally - to reflect on yourself, to see a setback as a lesson and to ask for feedback that really helps.
Learn These 21 WordsDialogue
A short conversation with the words of this scenario. Tap "Translation" under a line to see what it means.
Role-play: pick a role. The other lines are read aloud, and yours stay hidden until you have said them yourself.
-
Emil
Kalle, unser größter Kunde hat gekündigt! „Unzuverlässig, chaotische Abrechnung“ - so eine Frechheit!
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Kalle, our biggest customer has cancelled! "Unreliable, chaotic invoicing" - what a cheek!
-
-
Emil
Na ja… die Abrechnung war vielleicht wirklich chaotisch. Aber das muss ich erst mal verkraften.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Well… maybe the invoicing really was chaotic. But I need to get over this first.
-
Kalle
Klar. Trotzdem: Bitte sie doch um ehrliches Feedback. Eine konstruktive Rückmeldung ist Gold wert.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Sure. Still, why not ask them for honest feedback? Constructive feedback is worth its weight in gold.
-
Emil
Damit ich noch mehr einstecken muss? Ich hinterfrage mich halt ungern.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
So that I have to take even more? I just don't like questioning myself.
-
Kalle
Selbstreflexion tut eben manchmal weh. Aber nur so findest du die Schwachstellen.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Self-reflection just hurts sometimes. But it's the only way to find the weak spots.
-
Emil
Ehrlich? Mich plagen gerade ziemliche Selbstzweifel.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Honestly? I'm having some serious self-doubt right now.
-
Kalle
Die sind Teil des Lernprozesses. Selbstkritisch ja, aber nicht zu streng mit dir.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
That's part of the learning process. Self-critical, yes, but don't be too hard on yourself.
-
-
Kalle
Siehst du, das ist Kritikfähigkeit. Und sei nicht nachtragend - vielleicht kommt der Kunde ja zurück.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
You see, that's being able to take criticism. And don't hold a grudge - maybe the customer will come back.
-
-
Words and Phrases
- die Selbstreflexion self-reflection
- der Rückschlag setback
- die Resilienz resilience
- das Feedback feedback
- die Kritikfähigkeit ability to take criticism
- die Schwachstelle weak point
- der Lernprozess learning process
- der Selbstzweifel self-doubt
- die Einsicht insight
- die Lektion lesson
- reflektieren to reflect on
- einstecken to take (criticism)
- hinterfragen to question
- verkraften to cope with
- selbstkritisch self-critical
- nachtragend resentful
- Lehrgeld zahlen to learn the hard way
- die Kritik review
- konstruktiv constructive
- die Rückmeldung feedback
- der Fehler mistake
Grammar in This Scenario
Learn these words with Otti
A few minutes a day; Otti brings each word back right before you would forget it.