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.
Learn These 23 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.
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Frau Hilde
Ach, der Dienstag im Mehrgenerationenhaus ist mir heilig. Und Sie helfen heute wieder den Senioren mit dem Handy?
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Oh, Tuesday at the multigenerational house is sacred to me. And are you helping the older residents with their phones again today?
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Student
Und ich lerne dafür von ihrer Lebenserfahrung. Der Austausch ist ganz und gar gegenseitig.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
And in return I learn from her life experience. The exchange goes both ways entirely.
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Student
Leider kein Einzelfall: Einsamkeit trifft im Alter viele.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Sadly, that's not an isolated case: loneliness affects many people in old age.
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Frau Hilde
Eben. Aber hier leben vier Generationen unter einem Dach, und irgendwer klopft immer an. Das ist gelebte Nachbarschaftshilfe.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Exactly. But here four generations live under one roof, and someone always knocks on the door. That's neighbourly help in practice.
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Frau Hilde
Fast richtig! Aber im Ernst: Jede generationenübergreifende Begegnung hier bereichert mich.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
Almost right! But seriously: every encounter across the generations here enriches me.
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Student
Diese Wertschätzung spüren die Bewohner. Der Zusammenhalt hier ist wirklich besonders.
Your line. Say it in German, then check it.
Translation
The residents can feel that appreciation. The sense of togetherness here is really special.
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Words and Phrases
- das Mehrgenerationenhaus multigenerational house
- der Austausch exchange
- die Einsamkeit loneliness
- die Nachbarschaftshilfe neighbourly help
- die Begegnung encounter
- der Zusammenhalt cohesion
- die Lebenserfahrung life experience
- der Senior senior citizen
- die Seniorin senior citizen
- die Wertschätzung appreciation
- der Bewohner resident
- bereichern to enrich
- vereinsamen to become lonely
- überwinden to overcome
- generationenübergreifend intergenerational
- gegenseitig mutual
- rüstig sprightly
- aufgeschlossen open-minded
- unter einem Dach leben to live under one roof
- die Generation generation
- die Gemeinschaft community
- einsam lonely
- der Nachbar neighbour
Grammar in This Scenario
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