Episode study · A1
Folge 29: Emmas Tag
Manja is sick, class starts at nine, and nobody’s free — until Nico agrees to babysit Emma.
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Episode summary
A colleague named Manja is ill, so someone must teach her classes tomorrow at nine. That creates a childcare problem: what happens to Emma? The group compares calendars. One person works from eight to twelve, then has volleyball practice from two to four after lunch. Nawin is at university from nine to five, so the whole day is blocked. Nina has a doctor’s appointment at eight and is at school from ten to three afterward. With no gap left, they almost cancel the lesson and call Manja. Then someone points out that Nico is available. Asked if he will look after Emma — babysitting — he answers gladly. The episode trains clock times and “from … to …” schedules under real pressure, not as a dry list of hours on a page.
Key vocabulary
die Kollegin
Meaning: female colleague
Example: Meine Kollegin ist krank und bleibt heute zu Hause.
krank
Meaning: sick / ill
Example: Wenn ich krank bin, sage ich den Kurs ab.
der Unterricht
Meaning: lesson / class
Example: Der Unterricht beginnt morgen um neun Uhr.
der Kurs
Meaning: course
Example: Der Kurs dauert von neun bis zwölf.
arbeiten
Meaning: to work
Example: Ich arbeite morgen von acht bis zwölf.
das Training
Meaning: practice / training
Example: Das Volleyballtraining ist von zwei bis vier.
die Uni
Meaning: university (colloquial)
Example: Er ist den ganzen Tag in der Uni.
der Termin
Meaning: appointment
Example: Sie hat um acht einen Termin beim Arzt.
absagen
Meaning: to cancel
Example: Ohne Lösung müssen wir den Unterricht absagen.
aufpassen
Meaning: to look after / watch over
Example: Kannst du morgen auf das Kind aufpassen?
von … bis …
Meaning: from … until …
Example: Das Training geht von zwei bis vier Uhr.
Grammar & usage focus
Time spans with von … bis …
To say how long something lasts, German often uses von + start time + bis + end time: von acht bis zwölf, von zwei bis vier. You can also say den ganzen Tag when the span covers everything. Questions use Wann …? for a point in time and the same von–bis pattern in answers. This episode stacks several people’s schedules so you hear the pattern under stress — perfect for drilling aloud with your own tomorrow.
Examples
- Ich arbeite von acht bis zwölf und habe danach Training.
- Die Uni geht von neun bis fünf — also den ganzen Tag.
Comprehension check
Why does someone need to teach Manja’s classes?
Show answer: Manja is sick.
When does the course start, and why is that a problem?
Show answer: At nine — it conflicts with looking after Emma and others’ schedules.
What is Nawin’s university schedule tomorrow?
Show answer: From nine to five — the whole day.
What does Nina have at eight, and where is she afterward?
Show answer: A doctor’s appointment at eight, then school from ten to three.
Who ends up babysitting Emma?
Show answer: Nico — he agrees gladly.
Tips for shadowing this episode
Draw a quick timeline for each person before you rewatch: start time, end time, activity. Speak every von–bis line once with the video paused. Practice the polite ask „Passt du morgen auf Emma auf?“ so the separable verb aufpassen feels natural in a request.
Video © Deutsche Welle (Nicos Weg on YouTube). Echo Deutsch is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Deutsche Welle.