Choosing an Online Language Course | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing an Online Language Course to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich möchte einen Online-Sprachkurs auswählen.

ikh MURHY-tuh EYE-nen ON-line-SHPRAHK-koors OWS-vay-len I want to choose an online language course.

Vergleiche den Zeitplan, die Bewertungen und den Unterrichtsstil.

fer-GLY-khuh dayn TSYTE-plahn, dee buh-VAIR-toong-en oont dayn OON-ter-rikht-sht eel Compare the schedule, reviews, and teaching style.

Dieser Kurs ist kürzer, hat aber weniger Lektionen.

DEE-zer KOORS ist KUER-tsur, haht AH-ber VAY-nee-ger lek-tsee-OHN-en This course is shorter but has fewer lessons.

Der andere wirkt anfängerfreundlicher.

dair AHN-duh-ruh virkht AHN-feng-er-FROYNT-li-kher The other one looks more beginner-friendly.

Ich kann nur am Wochenende lernen.

ikh kahn noor ahm VOH-khen-END-uh LAYR-nen I can only study on weekends.

Dann wähle den Kurs mit Unterricht am Wochenende.

dahn VAY-luh dayn KOORS mit OON-ter-rikht ahm VOH-khen-END-uh Then choose the course with weekend classes.

Die Bewertungen sagen, dass der Lehrer verständlich erklärt.

dee buh-VAIR-toong-en ZAH-gen dahss dayr LAY-rer fer-SHTENT-likh air-KLAIRT The reviews say the teacher explains clearly.

Das ist wichtiger als ein kürzerer Kurs.

dahss ist VIKH-ti-ger ahls ayn KUER-tsur KOORS That matters more than a shorter course.

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means “I” and identifies the speaker in “Ich möchte einen Online-Sprachkurs auswählen.” It is useful when stating your own wish, ability, or preference.

möchte “möchte” expresses a polite wish or intention in “Ich möchte einen Online-Sprachkurs auswählen.” It is commonly followed by an infinitive, as in “möchte ... auswählen,” when saying what you would like to do.

einen “einen” means “a” in “einen Online-Sprachkurs” and introduces the course being chosen. This form is reused before the object in “einen Online-Sprachkurs auswählen.”

Online-Sprachkurs “Online-Sprachkurs” means “online language course” and names the course the speaker wants to choose. The compound is useful in the pattern “einen Online-Sprachkurs auswählen” when discussing course selection.

auswählen “auswählen” means “to choose” in “Ich möchte einen Online-Sprachkurs auswählen.” It follows “möchte” here and can be reused with an object such as “einen Online-Sprachkurs” when selecting one option.

Vergleiche “Vergleiche” tells one person to compare the listed course features in “Vergleiche den Zeitplan, die Bewertungen und den Unterrichtsstil.” It is useful for giving a direct suggestion or instruction during a decision.

den “den” means “the” in “den Zeitplan” and introduces the specific schedule being compared. It can be reused in the phrase “den Zeitplan vergleichen” when evaluating a course.

Zeitplan “Zeitplan” means “schedule” in “den Zeitplan” and refers to when the course takes place. It is useful when comparing course times, together with “den Zeitplan” as the thing being considered.

die “die” means “the” in “die Bewertungen” and introduces the specific reviews being considered. It is reused with a plural group of reviews in “die Bewertungen” when comparing courses.

Bewertungen “Bewertungen” means “reviews” or “ratings” in “die Bewertungen.” Here they provide information about the course and later say something about the teacher; they are useful when assessing an option before choosing it.

und “und” means “and” and connects the three comparison points in “den Zeitplan, die Bewertungen und den Unterrichtsstil.” It is useful for joining several related items in one list.

Unterrichtsstil “Unterrichtsstil” means “teaching style” and refers to how the course is taught. It is useful in the comparison “den Zeitplan, die Bewertungen und den Unterrichtsstil” when evaluating a language course.

Dieser “Dieser” means “this” and points to the course currently being discussed in “Dieser Kurs ist kürzer.” It is useful when distinguishing one specific option from another.

Kurs “Kurs” means “course” in “Dieser Kurs” and refers to one of the online language courses under consideration. It can be reused when describing a course’s length, lessons, or weekend instruction.

ist “ist” means “is” and links the course to its description in “Dieser Kurs ist kürzer.” It is also used in “Das ist wichtiger als ein kürzerer Kurs” to state the importance of one consideration.

kürzer “kürzer” means “shorter” in “Dieser Kurs ist kürzer” and compares the length of this course with another course. It is useful when weighing course duration against other features.

hat “hat” means “has” in “hat aber weniger Lektionen” and states how many lessons the course contains. It is useful for describing what a course includes.

aber “aber” means “but” and marks a contrast in “Dieser Kurs ist kürzer, hat aber weniger Lektionen.” It is useful when one advantage is followed by a limitation or differing fact.

weniger “weniger” means “fewer” in “weniger Lektionen” and indicates a smaller number of lessons. It is useful when comparing the quantity of lessons included in two courses.

Lektionen “Lektionen” means “lessons” in “weniger Lektionen” and refers to the individual learning units in the course. It is useful when describing how much teaching material a course contains.

Der “Der” means “the” in “Der andere” and introduces the other course being compared. It helps identify the alternative after “Dieser Kurs” has been mentioned.

andere “andere” means “other” in “Der andere” and points to the alternative course. It is useful when contrasting one option with another during a choice.

wirkt “wirkt” means “seems” or “appears” in “wirkt anfängerfreundlicher” and presents an impression about the course. It is useful when giving an assessment based on how something appears.

anfängerfreundlicher “anfängerfreundlicher” means “more beginner-friendly” in “Der andere wirkt anfängerfreundlicher.” It compares how suitable the two courses seem for beginners and is useful when discussing course accessibility.

kann “kann” means “can” in “Ich kann nur am Wochenende lernen” and expresses the speaker’s available possibility for studying. It is useful for stating what someone is able or available to do.

nur “nur” means “only” and limits the speaker’s study time to the weekend in “Ich kann nur am Wochenende lernen.” It is useful when setting a restriction or stating that no other time is available.

am “am” means “on the” in the time expression “am Wochenende.” It is useful for specifying when an activity takes place, as in “am Wochenende lernen.”

Wochenende “Wochenende” means “weekend” in “am Wochenende” and identifies the time when the speaker can study. The phrase “am Wochenende” is useful for describing weekend availability.

lernen “lernen” means “study” or “learn” in “am Wochenende lernen.” It follows “kann” here and is useful for naming the learning activity someone plans or is able to do.

Dann “Dann” means “then” in “Dann wähle den Kurs mit Unterricht am Wochenende.” It connects the speaker’s time restriction with the resulting recommendation.

wähle “wähle” means “choose” in “wähle den Kurs mit Unterricht am Wochenende” and tells the listener which action to take. It is useful when recommending a choice that fits a stated requirement.

mit “mit” means “with” in “mit Unterricht am Wochenende” and identifies a feature included with the course. It is useful for selecting an option based on what it offers.

Unterricht “Unterricht” means “classes” or “instruction” in “Unterricht am Wochenende.” Here it refers to the course sessions, and the phrase is useful when specifying a course’s teaching schedule.

sagen “sagen” means “say” in “Die Bewertungen sagen, dass der Lehrer verständlich erklärt.” It introduces information reported by the reviews and is useful when attributing an opinion or statement to a source.

dass “dass” means “that” and introduces the information reported in “dass der Lehrer verständlich erklärt.” It is useful for connecting a statement such as “Die Bewertungen sagen” with the content of that statement.

Lehrer “Lehrer” means “teacher” in “der Lehrer verständlich erklärt” and identifies the person giving the explanations. It is useful when discussing what an instructor does in a course.

verständlich “verständlich” means “clearly” or “in an understandable way” in “verständlich erklärt.” It describes how the teacher explains and is useful when evaluating whether instruction is easy to follow.

erklärt “erklärt” means “explains” in “der Lehrer verständlich erklärt” and describes the teacher’s action. The phrase is useful when reporting how an instructor presents information.

Das “Das” means “that” in “Das ist wichtiger als ein kürzerer Kurs” and refers back to the point just made about understandable explanations. It is useful for evaluating or commenting on something already mentioned.

wichtiger “wichtiger” means “more important” in “Das ist wichtiger als ein kürzerer Kurs.” It is used to rank one consideration above another when making a decision.

als “als” means “than” and introduces the comparison in “wichtiger als ein kürzerer Kurs.” It is useful when stating that one feature or priority has greater importance than another.

Grammar Points

Adjektivkomparativ: Adjektiv + -er

kürzer, aber wichtiger

KUER-tsur, AH-ber VIKH-ti-ger

shorter, but more important

German often forms the comparative by adding -er to the adjective.

mehr/weniger + Nomen

mehr Unterricht, aber weniger Lektionen

mair OON-ter-rikht, AH-ber VAY-nee-ger lek-tsee-OHN-en

more classes, but fewer lessons

mehr and weniger express a greater or smaller amount before a noun.

German Vocabulary

andere adj

AHN-duh-ruh other

Der andere wirkt anfängerfreundlicher.

auswählen verb

OWS-vay-len to choose

Ich möchte einen Online-Sprachkurs auswählen.

Bewertung noun

buh-VAIR-toong review Bewertungen

Vergleiche den Zeitplan, die Bewertungen und den Unterrichtsstil.

Kurs noun

KOORS course

Dieser Kurs ist kürzer, hat aber weniger Lektionen.

kurz adj

KOORTS short kürzer

Dieser Kurs ist kürzer, hat aber weniger Lektionen.

Lektion noun

lek-tsee-OHN lesson Lektionen

Dieser Kurs ist kürzer, hat aber weniger Lektionen.

Online-Sprachkurs noun

ON-line-SHPRAHK-koors online language course

Ich möchte einen Online-Sprachkurs auswählen.

Unterrichtsstil noun

OON-ter-rikht-sht eel teaching style

Vergleiche den Zeitplan, die Bewertungen und den Unterrichtsstil.

vergleichen verb

fer-GLY-khen to compare Vergleiche

Vergleiche den Zeitplan, die Bewertungen und den Unterrichtsstil.

wenig det

VAY-nikh few; little weniger

Dieser Kurs ist kürzer, hat aber weniger Lektionen.

wirken verb

VIRK-en to seem; to appear wirkt

Der andere wirkt anfängerfreundlicher.

Zeitplan noun

TSYTE-plahn schedule

Vergleiche den Zeitplan, die Bewertungen und den Unterrichtsstil.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I want to choose an online language course.

Show Answer

Ich möchte einen Online-Sprachkurs auswählen.

The other one looks more beginner-friendly.

Show Answer

Der andere wirkt anfängerfreundlicher.

I can only study on weekends.

Show Answer

Ich kann nur am Wochenende lernen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

lesson

Show Answer

Lektionen

review

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Bewertungen

schedule

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Zeitplan

to choose

Show Answer

auswählen