Lerntipps!

Here is a summary of the Lerntipps presented throughout the e-textbook: 

• Always learn questions and answers together.
• Memorizing responses helps you with small talk in a second language.
• Always memorize the noun and the corresponding definite article.
• Practice! Practice! Practice!
  • you can use digital flashcards in Quizlet, make paper flashcards, use post-it notes around the house, etc.
  • you can use colour to help with memorization, for example:
    • der Bleistift / die Lampe / das Buch
  • you can group words into categories as your vocabulary expands and have lists for each category
  • go back to the grammatical gender presentation in Einheit 1.10 and learn how common word endings often are associated with a certain gender, for example:
    • Many singular nouns ending in -e are feminine (die Farbe, die Lampe).
    • Many singular nouns ending in -er are masculine (der Computer, der Kugelschreiber).
    • all singular nouns ending in -chen are neuter (das Mädchen, das Kaninchen).
• Learn these verb combinations (Golf spielen, einen Blog schreiben) together just like you would learn das Buch or die Lampe. You can use similar tips to memorize these verbs that you learned in 2.2 to memorize nouns and their gender. 
• Use the answer provided to help you determine the question word. What is the focus in the response? A time or day, a place, a name, etc?
• If the response starts with a “Ja” or “Nein” then you need to ask a yes/no style question. No question word will be used. 
• Read first, then listen or watch! Always read over the questions associated with a listening activity or video.
• You always want to know what you are listening for.
• Always read the title, instructions and look at any pictures provided. They often provide clues and maybe even answer a question for you!