Choosing a Review Method with a Study Partner | Learn German in English

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a Review Method with a Study Partner to practice German conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Ich möchte die heutige Lektion wiederholen.

Ikh MERKH-tuh dee HOY-tih-guh lek-tsee-OHN VEE-der-HOH-len. I want to review today's lesson.

Aber ich bin mir nicht sicher, wo ich anfangen soll.

AH-ber ikh bihn meer nikht ZIKH-er, voh ikh AHN-fahng-en zohl. But I am not sure where to start.

Fang mit den Notizen an, die direkt mit echten Situationen zu tun haben.

FAHNG mit den noh-TEE-tsen ahn, dee dee-REKT mit EHKH-ten zee-too-ah-TSYOH-nen tsoo toon HAH-ben. Start with the notes that connect directly to real situations.

Normalerweise lese ich alles noch einmal, aber das dauert zu lange.

Nor-ma-LAIR-vy-zuh LAY-zuh ikh AHL-les nokh EYN-mahl, AH-ber dahs DOW-ert tsoo LAHNG-uh. I usually reread everything, but that takes too much time.

Wähle die Teile aus, die du in einem kurzen Gespräch verwenden kannst.

VAY-luh dee TIE-luh ows, dee doo in EYN-em KOORTS-en guh-SHPRAYKH fer-VEN-den kahnst. Choose the parts you can use in a short conversation.

Wir könnten Beispielsätze schreiben, bevor wir das Sprechen üben.

Veer KURN-ten BYE-shpeel-ZEHT-suh SHRYE-ben, buh-FAIR veer dahs SHPREKH-en OO-ben. We could write example sentences before we practice speaking.

Wenn du die Beispielsätze laut sagst, siehst du, ob du die Wendungen in einem Gespräch verwenden kannst.

Ven doo dee BYE-shpeel-ZEHT-suh lowt zahkst, zeest doo, op doo dee VEN-doong-en in EYN-em guh-SHPRAYKH fer-VEN-den kahnst. Saying the example sentences aloud will show whether you can use the phrases in conversation.

Das klingt nützlicher, als die ganze Seite noch einmal abzuschreiben.

Dahs klinkt NUUTS-lihk-er, ahls dee GAHN-tsuh ZYE-tuh nokh EYN-mahl AHHP-shrye-ben. That sounds more useful than copying the whole page again.

Es zeigt auch, welche Punkte klar sind und welche mehr Übung brauchen.

Ehs tsaygt owkh, VEL-khuh POONK-tuh klahr zint oont VEL-khuh mehr OO-boong BROW-khen. It also shows which points are clear and which ones need more practice.

Lass uns jeweils ein paar nützliche Wendungen auswählen und sie nach dem Unterricht testen.

Lahss oons yay-VYLS eye-nen PAHR NUUTS-lih-khuh VEN-doong-en OWS-vay-len oont zee nahkh daym OON-ter-rikht TEHS-ten. Let's each choose a few useful phrases and test them after class.

Eine kurze Routine lässt sich leichter wiederholen als ein langer Wiederholungsplan.

EYE-nuh KOORTS-uh roo-TEE-nuh lehst zikh LYKHT-er VEE-der-HOH-len ahls EYN LAHNG-er VEE-der-HOH-loongs-plahn. A short routine will be easier to repeat than a long review plan.

Word by Word

Ich “Ich” means “I” here and identifies the speaker as the person who wants to review the lesson. It is used as the subject before a verb, as in “Ich möchte ...”. Use “Ich” when talking about your own plans, opinions, or actions.

möchte “möchte” expresses a polite or less direct wish: the speaker would like to review the lesson. It is used with an infinitive, here “wiederholen”, which comes at the end of the clause. Use “Ich möchte ...” to state what you would like to do.

die In “die heutige Lektion”, “die” means “the” and introduces the specific lesson being reviewed. It is placed before the noun phrase “heutige Lektion”. Use “die” with a feminine noun such as “Lektion” when referring to a particular item.

heutige “heutige” means “today’s” and describes the lesson as belonging to today. It appears directly before “Lektion” in “die heutige Lektion”. Use “heutige” before a noun when identifying something connected with today.

Lektion “Lektion” means “lesson” here, specifically the lesson that the speaker wants to review. It appears in the noun phrase “die heutige Lektion”. Use “Lektion” when referring to a lesson as a unit of study.

wiederholen “wiederholen” means to review or repeat, and here it describes going through the lesson again. It is the infinitive used after “möchte” in “Ich möchte die heutige Lektion wiederholen”. Use “wiederholen” with something that is being repeated or reviewed, such as a lesson or phrase.

Aber “Aber” means “but” and introduces a difficulty that contrasts with the wish to review the lesson. It comes at the beginning of the sentence “Aber ich bin mir nicht sicher ...”. Use “aber” to connect an idea with an opposing or limiting point.

bin “bin” means “am” in “ich bin mir nicht sicher”, where the speaker describes their own state of certainty. It is used with “ich” and the expression “sich sicher sein”. Use “Ich bin ...” to describe your current state or situation.

mir “mir” means “to me” in the expression “ich bin mir nicht sicher”, which means that the speaker is not certain. It belongs to this expression rather than independently meaning “sure”. Use “Ich bin mir sicher” or “Ich bin mir nicht sicher” when expressing certainty or uncertainty.

nicht “nicht” negates the expression “ich bin mir sicher”, so “ich bin mir nicht sicher” means “I am not sure”. It is placed before “sicher” in this sentence. Use “nicht” before the part of a clause that you want to negate.

sicher “sicher” means “sure” here and describes certainty about where to begin. In “ich bin mir nicht sicher”, it forms an expression with “sein” and “mir”. Use “sicher sein” when saying that you are certain about something.

wo “wo” means “where” and introduces the place or point at which the speaker should begin. In “wo ich anfangen soll”, it starts an embedded question. Use “wo” to ask or describe where an action takes place or begins.

anfangen “anfangen” means “to start” or “to begin” here. In “wo ich anfangen soll”, it describes the action the speaker is unsure about. Use “anfangen” with an activity or task that is beginning, such as reviewing a lesson.

soll “soll” expresses what the speaker is supposed to do or should do in “wo ich anfangen soll”. It appears with the infinitive “anfangen” in the embedded clause. Use “soll” with an infinitive when referring to an expected or recommended action.

Fang “Fang” is the command form used to tell one person to start. It begins the separable verb “anfangen”; the matching particle “an” appears later in the sentence. Use “Fang ... an” when directly telling someone to begin something.

mit “mit” means “with” and introduces the notes that should be the starting point: “mit den Notizen”. It is used before the noun phrase describing what to start with. Use “mit” in “mit etwas anfangen” when saying what to begin with.

den In “mit den Notizen”, “den” means “the” and refers to the specific notes being recommended. It appears directly before the plural noun “Notizen”. Use “den” in this kind of phrase when referring to particular plural items after “mit”.

Notizen “Notizen” means “notes”, specifically the notes connected with real situations. It appears after “mit” in “Fang mit den Notizen an”. Use “Notizen” when referring to written study points or reminders.

an “an” is the separable part of “anfangen” in the command “Fang mit den Notizen an”. It moves to the end of the main clause while “Fang” stays at the beginning. Use this particle in the pattern “Fang mit ... an” to tell someone what to start with.

direkt “direkt” means “directly” and describes the connection between the notes and real situations. It appears before “mit echten Situationen zu tun haben”. Use “direkt mit ... zu tun haben” to describe a clear or immediate connection.

echten “echten” means “real” or “authentic” and describes the situations connected with the notes. It appears before the plural noun “Situationen”. Use “echten Situationen” when referring to situations that occur in actual life rather than only in an exercise.

Situationen “Situationen” means “situations” and names the real-life contexts connected with the notes. It appears in “mit echten Situationen zu tun haben”. Use “Situationen” when discussing the circumstances in which a phrase or action can be used.

zu tun haben “zu tun haben” means “to have to do with” and expresses a connection, as in the notes having a direct connection with real situations. In this construction, “zu” marks the infinitive “tun”, while “haben” completes the expression. Use “etwas mit etwas zu tun haben” when explaining what something is related to.

Normalerweise “Normalerweise” means “usually” or “normally” and introduces the speaker’s customary way of reviewing. It appears at the beginning of “Normalerweise lese ich alles noch einmal”. Use it at the start of a sentence to describe a usual habit or routine.

lese “lese” means “read” here and describes the speaker’s usual action of reading everything again. It appears with “ich” in “ich lese alles noch einmal”. Use “ich lese ...” when describing what you read or reread.

alles “alles” means “everything” and refers to the complete lesson material the speaker normally rereads. It is the object of “lese” in “lese ich alles noch einmal”. Use “alles” when referring to all items or all of some material without naming each one.

noch “noch” contributes the meaning “again” or “still” in “noch einmal”, which means “once more”. Here it helps describe repeating the reading. Use “noch einmal” when asking or saying that something should happen again.

einmal “einmal” means “once” in the expression “noch einmal”, which means “again” or “one more time”. It is used together with “noch” here rather than referring to a separate single event. Use “noch einmal” for a repeat action, such as reading or explaining something again.

das In “aber das dauert zu lange”, “das” refers back to rereading everything and means “that”. It functions as the subject of “dauert”. Use “das” to refer back to an action or situation just mentioned.

dauert “dauert” means “takes time” here, describing how long the rereading requires. In “das dauert zu lange”, the subject “das” is the activity being evaluated. Use “Das dauert ...” to comment on the amount of time an activity requires.

zu In “zu lange”, “zu” means “too” and shows that the amount of time is excessive. It appears directly before “lange”. Use “zu” before an adjective or adverb when something exceeds a suitable or intended amount.

lange “lange” means “long” in the time expression “zu lange”, meaning “too long”. It describes the duration of the rereading. Use “zu lange” when an activity takes more time than is practical or acceptable.

Wähle “Wähle” is a command telling one person to choose. In this sentence it tells the learner to select only the parts that can be used in conversation. Use “Wähle ... aus” when directly telling someone to select something.

Teile “Teile” means “parts” and refers to selected sections of the lesson material. It appears as the object of the separable verb “auswählen” in “Wähle die Teile aus”. Use “Teile” when referring to sections of a larger text, lesson, or object.

aus “aus” is the separable part of “auswählen” in the command “Wähle die Teile aus”. It moves to the end of the main clause. Use “auswählen” or the command pattern “Wähle ... aus” when selecting particular items.

du “du” means “you” when addressing one person informally. Here it is the subject of “kannst” in the relative clause describing which parts can be used. Use “du” with a person you address in an informal one-to-one conversation.

in “in” means “in” and introduces the conversation in which the phrases can be used: “in einem kurzen Gespräch”. It appears before the dative phrase “einem kurzen Gespräch”. Use “in” with an activity or setting where an action takes place.

einem In “in einem kurzen Gespräch”, “einem” means “a” or “one” and introduces one unspecified conversation. It appears after “in” in this setting expression. Use “einem” in similar “in einem ...” phrases when referring to one unspecified setting.

kurzen “kurzen” means “short” and describes the conversation in which the selected parts can be used. It appears before “Gespräch” in “einem kurzen Gespräch”. Use “kurzen” before a noun when describing a conversation or activity of limited duration.

Gespräch “Gespräch” means “conversation” and refers to a spoken exchange in which the learner can use the selected phrases. It appears in “in einem kurzen Gespräch”. Use “Gespräch” when discussing a conversation or discussion.

verwenden “verwenden” means “use” here and refers to using selected parts in a conversation. It is the infinitive after “kannst” in “die du in einem kurzen Gespräch verwenden kannst”. Use “verwenden” with a phrase, word, method, or object that is put to practical use.

kannst “kannst” means “can” and expresses the learner’s ability to use the selected parts. It appears with the infinitive “verwenden” in the relative clause. Use “du kannst ...” to say what one person is able or permitted to do.

Wir “Wir” means “we” and refers to the two classmates proposing a joint study activity. It is the subject of “könnten”. Use “wir” when including yourself and at least one other person in a plan or suggestion.

könnten “könnten” means “could” and presents a possible or gentle suggestion: the classmates could write example sentences. It is followed by the infinitive “schreiben”. Use “Wir könnten ...” to suggest a possible activity together.

Beispielsätze “Beispielsätze” means “example sentences” and refers to sentences created to demonstrate the useful phrases. It is the object of “schreiben” in “Beispielsätze schreiben”. Use “Beispielsätze” when making sentences that show how a word or phrase works.

schreiben “schreiben” means “write” and describes creating the example sentences before speaking practice. It is the infinitive after “könnten”. Use “schreiben” with something written, such as “Beispielsätze schreiben” for writing example sentences.

bevor “bevor” means “before” and introduces the activity that happens later: speaking practice. It connects “Beispielsätze schreiben” with “das Sprechen üben”. Use “bevor” to put one action before another in time.

Sprechen “Sprechen” means “speaking” here and names the skill being practiced. In “das Sprechen üben”, it is treated as the activity itself and appears after “das”. Use “Sprechen üben” when practicing spoken language.

üben “üben” means “practice” and describes deliberately training the speaking skill. It appears in “das Sprechen üben”. Use “üben” with a language skill, phrase, or activity that you want to improve through repetition.

Wenn “Wenn” means “if” or “when” and introduces the condition of saying the example sentences aloud. It begins the clause “Wenn du die Beispielsätze laut sagst”. Use “wenn” to connect an action with a condition or recurring situation.

laut “laut” means “aloud” here and describes saying the example sentences so that they can be heard. It appears before “sagst” in “die Beispielsätze laut sagst”. Use “laut sagen” when asking someone to say something audibly rather than silently.

sagst “sagst” means “say” and describes the learner saying the example sentences aloud. It appears with “du” in the “Wenn” clause. Use “du sagst ...” when describing what one person says or says aloud.

siehst “siehst” means “see” here, with the broader meaning of recognizing the result of the speaking test. It appears in “siehst du, ob ...”. Use “du siehst, ob ...” when an action makes it possible to determine whether something is true or possible.

ob “ob” means “whether” and introduces the question of whether the learner can use the phrases in conversation. It begins the embedded clause “ob du die Wendungen ... verwenden kannst”. Use “ob” for an indirect yes-or-no question.

Wendungen “Wendungen” means “phrases” or “expressions” and refers to the useful language items being practiced. It is the object of “verwenden” in “die Wendungen ... verwenden”. Use “Wendungen” when referring to established or reusable expressions rather than isolated words.

klingt “klingt” means “sounds” in “Das klingt nützlicher”, where the speaker evaluates the proposed method. It is used with an adjective or comparative describing how something seems. Use “Das klingt ...” to give an impression or reaction to an idea.

nützlicher “nützlicher” means “more useful” and compares the proposed method with copying the whole page. It appears after “klingt” in “Das klingt nützlicher”. Use a form like “klingt nützlicher als ...” when saying that one option seems more useful than another.

als “als” means “than” and introduces the comparison with copying the whole page. It appears after the comparative “nützlicher”. Use “als” after a comparative when identifying the option used for comparison.

ganze “ganze” means “whole” or “entire” and emphasizes that the complete page would be copied. It appears before “Seite” in “die ganze Seite”. Use “die ganze ...” when referring to something in its entirety.

Seite “Seite” means “page” and refers to the complete page that the speaker does not want to copy again. It appears in “die ganze Seite noch einmal abzuschreiben”. Use “Seite” for a page in a book, worksheet, or set of notes.

abzuschreiben “abzuschreiben” means “to copy out” or “to rewrite” and refers to copying the entire page again. It is an infinitive with “zu” after the comparison “nützlicher, als ...”. Use “etwas abschreiben” when reproducing written material, and use “abzuschreiben” after a structure that requires a “zu” infinitive.

Es In “Es zeigt auch ...”, “Es” means “it” and refers to the speaking-and-example-sentence method just discussed. It is the subject of “zeigt”. Use “es” to refer back to an idea, action, or situation rather than repeating the whole description.

zeigt “zeigt” means “shows” and describes what the method reveals about the learner’s clear and unclear points. It appears with “Es” in “Es zeigt auch ...”. Use “zeigt, welche ...” when explaining what something reveals or makes visible.

auch “auch” means “also” and adds another benefit of the method. It appears before “zeigt” in “Es zeigt auch, welche Punkte ...”. Use “auch” to add information to something already mentioned.

welche “welche” means “which” and introduces the points that are clear or need more practice. It appears in the paired structure “welche Punkte klar sind und welche mehr Übung brauchen”. Use “welche” to identify particular items from a group.

Punkte “Punkte” means “points” and refers to individual aspects of the lesson or language that can be clear or require practice. It appears after “welche”. Use “Punkte” when discussing separate topics or aspects of a lesson.

klar “klar” means “clear” and describes points that the learner already understands. It appears with “sind” in “welche Punkte klar sind”. Use “klar sein” to say that an idea, explanation, or language point is understandable.

sind “sind” means “are” and links “Punkte” with the description “klar”. It appears in the clause “welche Punkte klar sind”. Use “sind” when describing plural items with an adjective or other complement.

mehr “mehr” means “more” and indicates that additional practice is needed. In “mehr Übung brauchen”, it modifies the amount of practice rather than naming a specific number. Use “mehr” with a noun when saying that a greater amount is needed.

Übung “Übung” means “practice” and refers to the practice still needed for some points. It appears in “mehr Übung brauchen”. Use “Übung brauchen” when saying that a skill or topic needs additional training.

brauchen “brauchen” means “need” and describes what the unclear points require. It appears with the plural subject “welche” referring to “Punkte”. Use “etwas brauchen” when saying that a person or topic requires something.

Lass “Lass” is a command form used here to make a suggestion involving both speakers: “Lass uns ...” means “Let’s ...”. It is followed by “uns” and an infinitive. Use “Lass uns ...” to propose a shared action informally.

uns “uns” means “us” in “Lass uns ...” and identifies the people who should carry out the proposed action. It appears directly after “Lass”. Use “Lass uns” followed by an infinitive when inviting someone to do something together.

jeweils “jeweils” means “each” or “respectively” and shows that both classmates should choose their own few useful phrases. It appears before “ein paar nützliche Wendungen”. Use “jeweils” when assigning a similar action or amount separately to each person or item.

ein In “ein paar nützliche Wendungen”, “ein” is part of the quantity expression meaning “a few”. It appears directly before “paar”. Use “ein paar” before a plural noun when referring to a small, unspecified number of things.

paar “paar” means “few” in the expression “ein paar nützliche Wendungen”. It indicates a small number without specifying exactly how many. Use “ein paar” with a plural noun for a small selection of items.

nützliche “nützliche” means “useful” and describes the phrases selected for practical speaking practice. It appears before “Wendungen” in “ein paar nützliche Wendungen”. Use “nützliche” before a noun when identifying something that has practical value.

auswählen “auswählen” means “choose” or “select” and describes deliberately picking a few phrases. It is the infinitive after “Lass uns” in “Lass uns ... auswählen”. Use “auswählen” with the items being selected, such as useful phrases or lesson points.

und “und” means “and” and links the two actions in the proposal: choosing phrases and testing them. It appears between “auswählen” and “sie ... testen”. Use “und” to join actions, people, or ideas that belong together.

sie “sie” means “them” here and refers back to the useful phrases that the speakers choose. It is the object of “testen”. Use “sie” to refer to previously mentioned plural items without repeating the noun.

nach “nach” means “after” in “nach dem Unterricht” and places the testing after class. It appears before the noun phrase “dem Unterricht”. Use “nach” with an event or activity to say that something happens afterward.

Unterricht “Unterricht” means “class” or “instruction” and refers to the lesson period after which the phrases will be tested. It appears in the time expression “nach dem Unterricht”. Use “Unterricht” when talking about a class or teaching session.

testen “testen” means “test” and describes trying the selected phrases after class to see how well they work in use. It is the second infinitive after “Lass uns”. Use “testen” with a method, phrase, or skill when checking it in practice.

Eine “Eine” means “a” or “one” and introduces the feminine noun “Routine”. It begins the sentence describing the recommended review routine. Use “eine” before a singular feminine noun when referring to one unspecified item.

kurze “kurze” means “short” and describes a routine that does not require a long review session. It appears before “Routine” in “Eine kurze Routine”. Use “kurze” before a noun when emphasizing limited duration or scope.

Routine “Routine” means “routine” and refers to the regular review method proposed by the speakers. It is the subject of “lässt sich leichter wiederholen”. Use “Routine” for a repeatable sequence of actions, such as a study routine.

lässt “lässt” contributes the meaning “allows” in the construction “lässt sich leichter wiederholen”, which means that the routine can be repeated more easily. It combines with “sich” and the infinitive “wiederholen”. Use “etwas lässt sich ...” to describe how easily something can be done.

sich “sich” is part of “lässt sich leichter wiederholen”, where it makes the routine the thing that can be repeated. Together with “lässt” and “wiederholen”, the construction describes possibility or ease rather than a separate action by itself. Use “etwas lässt sich ...” with an infinitive to describe how an action can be carried out.

leichter “leichter” means “more easily” and compares the repeatability of the short routine with that of a long review plan. It appears in “lässt sich leichter wiederholen”. Use “leichter ... als ...” when saying that one action is easier than another.

langer “langer” means “long” and describes the review plan used as the comparison point. It appears before “Wiederholungsplan” in “ein langer Wiederholungsplan”. Use “langer” before a noun when describing something that has greater duration or scope.

Wiederholungsplan “Wiederholungsplan” means “review plan” and refers to a plan for organizing review activities. It is compared with the shorter routine in the final sentence. Use “Wiederholungsplan” when discussing a structured plan for reviewing learning material.

Grammar Points

ob + Nebensatz: Das Verb steht am Ende

Zeigt, ob die Wendung nützlich klingt.

TSAYGT, op dee VEN-doong NUUTS-likh klinkt.

Show whether the expression sounds useful.

Nach „ob“ steht das konjugierte Verb am Ende des Nebensatzes: „nützlich klingt“.

Trennbares Verb: auswählen → Wähle ... aus

Wähle jeweils einen Teil aus.

VAY-luh yay-VYLS EYE-nen TYLE ows.

Choose one part each.

Bei „auswählen“ steht „aus“ im Hauptsatz am Satzende: „Wähle ... aus“.

German Vocabulary

anfangen verb

AHN-fahng-en to start

auswählen verb

OWS-vay-len to choose; to select Wähle ... aus

dauern verb

DOW-ern to take time; to last dauert

direkt adv

dee-REKT directly

Lektion noun

lek-tsee-OHN lesson

noch einmal phrase

nokh EYN-mahl again; once more

normalerweise adv

nor-ma-LAIR-vy-zuh usually; normally

Notiz noun

noh-TEETS note Notizen

sicher sein phrase

ZIKH-er zyne to be sure bin mir nicht sicher

Situation noun

zee-too-ah-TSYOHN situation Situationen

wiederholen verb

VEE-der-HOH-len to review; to repeat

zu tun haben phrase

tsoo toon HAH-ben to have to do with

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I want to review today's lesson.

Show Answer

Ich möchte die heutige Lektion wiederholen.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

note

Show Answer

Notizen

situation

Show Answer

Situationen

directly

Show Answer

direkt

to start

Show Answer

anfangen