Choosing a Clear Online Listening Practice Resource | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a Clear Online Listening Practice Resource to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Kennst du eine nützliche Online-Ressource für Sprachübungen?

KENST doo EYE-nuh NUETZ-lih-khuh ON-line reh-SOR-suh fyoor SHPRAHK-yoo-boong-en? Do you know a useful online resource for language practice?

Diese Website hat kurze Hörübungen.

DEE-zuh VEB-syte hat KOORTS-uh HUR-yoo-boong-en. This site has short listening exercises.

Kann ich dort das Audio anhören?

kan ikh dort das OW-dee-oh AN-hur-en? Can I listen to the audio there?

Du kannst auf der Seite das Audio zu jeder Übung abspielen.

doo kanst owf dair ZY-tuh das OW-dee-oh tsoo YAY-dair YOO-boong AHP-shpee-len. You can play the audio for each exercise on the page.

Wie wähle ich das richtige Niveau?

vee VAY-luh ikh das RIKH-tih-guh nee-VOH? How do I choose the right level?

Wähle ein Niveau, bei dem die meisten Sätze klar wirken.

VAY-luh ayn nee-VOH, by dehm dee MY-sten ZET-suh klahr VEER-ken. Choose a level where most sentences feel clear.

Das klingt weniger stressig als schwierigere Übungen.

das klingt VAY-nih-gair SHTRES-ikh als SHVEE-rih-guh-ruh YOO-boong-en. That sounds less stressful than harder practice.

Das sollte dir helfen, Selbstvertrauen aufzubauen.

das SHOL-tuh deer HEL-fen, ZELPST-fair-TROW-en OWF-tsoo-bow-en. It should help you build confidence.

Word by Word

Kennst “Kennst” means “know” or “be familiar with” in the question “Kennst du eine nützliche Online-Ressource”. It is used when asking whether someone is familiar with a person, place, thing, or resource; the pattern “Kennst du …?” is useful for asking about something the other person may know.

du “du” refers to one person addressed informally, here the person being asked about an online resource. It appears in the question “Kennst du …?” and is used when speaking directly to someone with whom informal address is appropriate.

eine “eine” means “a” or “an” before the resource being asked about. It introduces the singular noun “Online-Ressource”; the pattern “eine …” is used to mention one unspecified thing.

nützliche “nützliche” describes the online resource as useful in “eine nützliche Online-Ressource”. It stands directly before the noun it describes, so this pattern can be reused when evaluating one unspecified resource.

Online-Ressource “Online-Ressource” means an online resource, here something useful for language practice. It is the object of “Kennst du” in “Kennst du eine nützliche Online-Ressource”; this word is useful for discussing websites or other digital learning materials.

für “für” means “for” and connects the resource with its intended purpose in “für Sprachübungen”. It commonly introduces the purpose or intended use of something, as in a resource for a particular activity.

Sprachübungen “Sprachübungen” means language exercises or language practice. In “für Sprachübungen”, it explains what the online resource is for; the pattern “für …” can identify the purpose of a resource.

Diese “Diese” means “this” and points to the particular website being discussed in “Diese Website”. It is placed before the noun and is useful when introducing or identifying a specific nearby or previously mentioned thing.

Website “Website” means website, the online place that contains the listening exercises. In “Diese Website hat …”, it is the thing being described; this pattern is useful for saying what a website contains or offers.

hat “hat” means “has” in “Diese Website hat kurze Hörübungen”. It states that the website contains or offers the exercises; the pattern “Website hat …” can describe material available on a site.

kurze “kurze” means “short” and describes the listening exercises in “kurze Hörübungen”. It appears before the plural noun it modifies and is useful for describing the length or duration of exercises.

Hörübungen “Hörübungen” means listening exercises, the short exercises available on the website. In “kurze Hörübungen”, it identifies the type of practice; this word is useful when discussing practice based on listening.

Kannst “Kannst” expresses “can” or “be able to” in the question “Kannst du …?” Here it asks whether the other person can play or listen to the audio; this question pattern is useful for asking about someone’s ability or whether something is possible.

ich “ich” means “I” and identifies the speaker as the person asking to listen to the audio. In “Kann ich dort …?”, it is used to ask whether the speaker may or can do something in a particular place.

dort “dort” means “there” and refers to the website or location just mentioned. In “Kann ich dort das Audio anhören?”, it locates the listening action; it is useful for referring back to a place already known from the conversation.

das “das” is the definite article meaning “the” before “Audio” in “das Audio”. It identifies the particular audio being discussed, and the pattern “das …” can refer to a specific item.

Audio “Audio” means the audio recording the speaker wants to listen to. In “das Audio anhören”, it is the object of the listening action; this expression is useful when referring to a particular recording.

anhören “anhören” means “listen to” and describes listening to the audio in “das Audio anhören”. It follows “Kann ich” as an infinitive; the pattern “etwas anhören” is used when listening to a particular recording or other sound.

auf “auf” means “on” in “auf der Seite” and identifies the page where the audio can be played. This preposition is useful for describing something located or available on a page, site, or surface.

der “der” is the article used in the phrase “auf der Seite”, meaning “on the page”. Together with “auf” and “Seite”, it identifies the particular page being discussed; this phrase is useful for locating online material.

Seite “Seite” means “page”, here the page on which each exercise’s audio can be played. In “auf der Seite”, it names the location of the audio; this word is useful for talking about a webpage or a page in a document.

zu “zu” means “for” in “das Audio zu jeder Übung” and links the audio with the exercise it belongs to. This pattern is useful for identifying material associated with a particular exercise or item.

jeder “jeder” means “each” or “every” in “zu jeder Übung”. It indicates that the statement applies separately to all the exercises; this word is useful when referring to items one by one within a group.

Übung “Übung” means “exercise” in “zu jeder Übung”. It identifies the individual exercise associated with the audio; the pattern “zu jeder Übung” is useful for describing material provided for each exercise.

abspielen “abspielen” means “play”, here referring to playing the audio for an exercise in “das Audio … abspielen”. It appears as an infinitive after “kannst”; this pattern is useful for explaining how to start audio or another media file.

Wie “Wie” means “how” and begins the question “Wie wähle ich das richtige Niveau?”. It asks about the method for making a choice; this question word is useful when asking how to do something.

wähle “wähle” means “choose” in “Wie wähle ich …?”. It describes the speaker’s action of selecting a level; the pattern “Wie wähle ich …?” is useful when asking how to select something.

richtige “richtige” means “right” or “correct” and describes the level the learner should select in “das richtige Niveau”. It appears before the noun and is useful when distinguishing the suitable option from other options.

Niveau “Niveau” means “level”, here the level of the listening practice. In “das richtige Niveau” and “ein Niveau”, it names what the learner needs to choose; this word is useful when discussing the difficulty of learning material.

ein “ein” means “a” or “one” in “Wähle ein Niveau”. It introduces one level without specifying which one; the pattern “Wähle ein …” is useful for giving a choice instruction.

bei “bei” contributes the meaning “at which” or “where” in “bei dem die meisten Sätze klar wirken”. It introduces the circumstances associated with choosing a level; this pattern is useful for describing the conditions under which something feels or appears a certain way.

dem “dem” refers back to “ein Niveau” in the phrase “bei dem die meisten Sätze klar wirken”. Together with “bei”, it introduces the level at which the sentences seem clear; this construction is useful for adding a description of a previously mentioned thing.

die “die” is the definite article in “die meisten Sätze” and identifies the sentences being considered. It introduces the specific group of sentences connected with the chosen level.

meisten “meisten” means “most” in “die meisten Sätze”. It indicates that the recommendation concerns the majority of the sentences, not necessarily every sentence; this pattern is useful when describing what happens with the largest part of a group.

Sätze “Sätze” means “sentences” and refers to the sentences in the listening practice. In “die meisten Sätze”, it is the group whose clarity is being evaluated; this word is useful when discussing language-learning material.

klar “klar” means “clear” in “klar wirken”. Here it describes how most of the sentences seem to the learner; it is useful for evaluating whether information or language material is easy to understand.

wirken “wirken” means “seem” or “appear” in “die meisten Sätze klar wirken”. It presents clarity as an impression or experience rather than as a fixed fact; this pattern is useful for describing how something appears to someone.

klingt “klingt” means “sounds” in “Das klingt weniger stressig”. It gives the speaker’s impression of the suggestion just made; the pattern “Das klingt …” is useful for reacting to an idea, plan, or description.

weniger “weniger” means “less” and reduces the degree of “stressig” in “weniger stressig”. It is used here to compare the suggested practice with more difficult exercises; this pattern is useful when saying that something has a lower degree of a quality.

stressig “stressig” means “stressful” in “weniger stressig”. It describes the emotional difficulty of the practice, not its academic level directly; it is useful for expressing how demanding or stressful an activity feels.

als “als” means “than” and introduces the second side of the comparison in “weniger stressig als schwierigere Übungen”. This pattern is useful when comparing the degree of a quality between two activities or things.

schwierigere “schwierigere” means “more difficult” or “harder” and describes the exercises used for comparison in “schwierigere Übungen”. It marks these exercises as more difficult than the practice being recommended; this pattern is useful for comparing two levels of difficulty.

Übungen “Übungen” means “exercises” and refers to the harder practice in “schwierigere Übungen”. It is the plural form used for more than one exercise; this word is useful when comparing different sets of practice material.

sollte “sollte” means “should” and expresses an expected helpful result in “Das sollte dir helfen”. It presents the result as a reasonable expectation rather than a guaranteed fact; this pattern is useful for making a suggestion about what something is expected to do.

dir “dir” refers to “you” as the person who receives the help in “Das sollte dir helfen”. It identifies who benefits from the action; this pattern is useful when saying that something helps a particular person.

helfen “helfen” means “help” in “Das sollte dir helfen”. It is followed here by the person receiving help and by the action that the help supports; the pattern “dir helfen” is useful for saying that something helps you.

Selbstvertrauen “Selbstvertrauen” means “confidence”, specifically the confidence the learner can develop through easier listening practice. In “Selbstvertrauen aufzubauen”, it is the thing being built up; this expression is useful when discussing gradual growth in confidence.

aufzubauen “aufzubauen” means “to build up” in “Selbstvertrauen aufzubauen”. It names the result that the practice should help the learner achieve; the pattern “helfen, Selbstvertrauen aufzubauen” is useful for describing an activity that supports the gradual development of confidence.

Grammar Points

weniger + Adjektiv

Die Übung wirkt weniger stressig.

dee YOO-boong veerkt VAY-nih-gair SHTRES-ikh.

The exercise seems less stressful.

weniger steht vor einem Adjektiv und bedeutet „less“. Das Adjektiv bleibt hier unverändert.

aufzubauen

Selbstvertrauen aufzubauen

ZELPST-fair-TROW-en OWF-tsoo-bow-en

to build confidence

Bei trennbaren Verben steht zu im Infinitiv zwischen Präfix und Verb: aufbauen → aufzubauen.

German Vocabulary

abspielen verb

AHP-shpee-len to play

anhören verb

AN-hur-en to listen to

Audio noun

OW-dee-oh audio

Hörübung noun

HUR-yoo-boong listening exercise Hörü̈bungen

kennen verb

KEN-en to know Kennst

kurz adj

KOORTS short kurze

nützlich adj

NUETZ-lihkh useful nützliche

Online-Ressource noun

ON-line reh-SOR-suh online resource

Seite noun

ZY-tuh page

Sprachübung noun

SHPRAHK-yoo-boong language exercise Sprachübungen

Übung noun

YOO-boong exercise

Website noun

VEB-syte website

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

This site has short listening exercises.

Show Answer

Diese Website hat kurze Hörübungen.

Can I listen to the audio there?

Show Answer

Kann ich dort das Audio anhören?

How do I choose the right level?

Show Answer

Wie wähle ich das richtige Niveau?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

useful

Show Answer

nützliche

audio

Show Answer

Audio

listening exercise

Show Answer

Hörü̈bungen

to listen to

Show Answer

anhören