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Frau Hilde brings the generations together

C1 · 23 words

Frau Hilde brings the generations together

Every Tuesday Frau Hilde visits her old friend in a multi-generation house in Hellersdorf and reads to the children there, while students help the older residents with their phones. Learn to talk about living together across generations - exchange, community, mutual help - and about how loneliness can end with a knock at the door.

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Dialogue

A short conversation with the words of this scenario. Tap "Translation" under a line to see what it means.

  1. Student

    Translation

    Hello, Frau Hilde! The children are already waiting for you.

  2. Frau Hilde

    Translation

    Oh, Tuesday at the multigenerational house is sacred to me. And are you helping the older residents with their phones again today?

  3. Student

    Ja, und eine Seniorin ist erstaunlich aufgeschlossen - schneller als so mancher Kommilitone.

    Translation

    Yes, and one older lady is amazingly open-minded - quicker than many a fellow student.

  4. Frau Hilde

    Das wundert mich nicht. Rüstig sind wir Alten oft noch, nur das Tablet ist uns ein Rätsel.

    Translation

    That doesn't surprise me. We old folk are often still sprightly - it's just the tablet that's a mystery to us.

  5. Student

    Und ich lerne dafür von ihrer Lebenserfahrung. Der Austausch ist ganz und gar gegenseitig.

    Translation

    And in return I learn from her life experience. The exchange goes both ways entirely.

  6. Frau Hilde

    So soll es sein. Ohne diese Nachbarn wäre die Freundin, die ich hier besuche, beinahe vereinsamt.

    Translation

    That's how it should be. Without these neighbours, the friend I visit here would almost have become lonely.

  7. Student

    Leider kein Einzelfall: Einsamkeit trifft im Alter viele.

    Translation

    Sadly, that's not an isolated case: loneliness affects many people in old age.

  8. Frau Hilde

    Translation

    Exactly. But here four generations live under one roof, and someone always knocks on the door. That's neighbourly help in practice.

  9. Student

    Und ganz nebenbei überwinden alle ihre Scheu. Die Kinder dachten anfangs, Sie seien so alt wie die Dinosaurier.

    Translation

    And along the way everyone gets over their shyness. At first the children thought you were as old as the dinosaurs.

  10. Frau Hilde

    Translation

    Almost right! But seriously: every encounter across the generations here enriches me.

  11. Student

    Diese Wertschätzung spüren die Bewohner. Der Zusammenhalt hier ist wirklich besonders.

    Translation

    The residents can feel that appreciation. The sense of togetherness here is really special.

  12. Frau Hilde

    Dann will ich unsere kleine Gemeinschaft nicht länger warten lassen. Wo ist denn das Märchenbuch?

    Translation

    Then I mustn't keep our little community waiting any longer. Now where's the book of fairy tales?

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