Episode study · A1
Folge 17: Ich war schon in Berlin
At Nawin’s gathering, souvenirs spark talk of Cologne Cathedral, Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, and cities already visited.
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Episode summary
Guests arrive at Nawin’s place with warm greetings, thanks for the invitation, and a round of Prost. Someone holds up a souvenir from Cologne—the Cologne Cathedral—and asks whether the others have ever been to Cologne or know the city. Nico has not, so the questions widen: has he never been to Germany, or to Austria, or to Switzerland? Presents on the table have come from Cologne, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Heidelberg, and Berlin, which turns the chat into a small geography lesson. One guest has already been to Hamburg and Cologne, has never been to Heidelberg, and will travel to Munich next week. Another souvenir is the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Nico does not know Berlin yet, but Nina and Sebastian do—they have even stood at the Gate. When Nico stays quiet, the group asks if everything is okay and gently steers everyone into a game instead.
Key vocabulary
die Einladung
Meaning: invitation
Example: Danke für die Einladung zum Abendessen.
die Sehenswürdigkeit
Meaning: sightseeing attraction / landmark
Example: Der Dom ist eine bekannte Sehenswürdigkeit.
der Dom
Meaning: cathedral
Example: Wir besuchen morgen den Dom.
die Stadt
Meaning: city
Example: Kennst du die Stadt schon gut?
das Geschenk
Meaning: present / gift
Example: Das Geschenk kommt aus Hamburg.
schon mal
Meaning: already / ever (before)
Example: Warst du schon mal in Österreich?
noch nie
Meaning: never (yet)
Example: In Heidelberg war ich noch nie.
das Tor
Meaning: gate
Example: Am Brandenburger Tor sind viele Touristen.
kennen
Meaning: to know (be familiar with)
Example: Kennst du Berlin?
nächste Woche
Meaning: next week
Example: Nächste Woche fahre ich nach München.
Grammar & usage focus
Talking about past travel with war / waren
For simple travel experience at A1, German often uses war / waren (was / were) rather than a long perfect form. Warst du schon mal in Köln? asks if someone has ever been there. Positive answers sound like Ich war schon mal in Hamburg. Negatives use noch nie: In Heidelberg war ich noch nie. Plans for the future use the present with a time phrase: Nächste Woche fahre ich nach München.
Examples
- Ich war schon mal in Berlin, aber noch nie in Wien.
- Warst du schon mal in der Schweiz?
Comprehension check
Which Cologne landmark is shown?
Show answer: Cologne Cathedral (der Kölner Dom).
Which cities are the presents from?
Show answer: Cologne, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Heidelberg, and Berlin.
Where has one guest already been, and where next?
Show answer: Already Hamburg and Cologne; next week Munich; never Heidelberg.
What Berlin landmark is mentioned?
Show answer: The Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor).
Who has already been to Berlin in the group?
Show answer: Nina and Sebastian (they were even at the Brandenburg Gate).
Tips for shadowing this episode
Pair schon mal with noch nie—they are the yes/no backbone of travel small talk. Practice city names with in: in Berlin, in Köln, in der Schweiz (note the article with Switzerland). When someone goes quiet in a group, Alles gut? is a kind, everyday check-in.
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