Episode study · A1
Folge 53: Wie war dein Urlaub?
Back from two weeks away, someone describes the sea, beach photos, and a last hotel night before the train home.
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Episode summary
In this episode someone has just returned from a short holiday and is catching up on the phone. The trip lasted only two weeks, yet it already feels hard to believe it is over. Tonight there is still a hotel room, tomorrow one more appointment, and then the journey home by train. The vacation itself sounds wonderful: swimming was a given, the sea was fantastic, and the beach is already missed. Plenty of photos were taken of the mountains and the shore, and even of the hotel, though hotels are dismissed as all looking the same. Above all, the speaker insists there is no need to worry—the break was deeply relaxing. Listen for how past experiences such as swimming and photo-taking mix with near-future plans so you can retell a trip of your own in simple German.
Key vocabulary
der Urlaub
Meaning: vacation / holiday
Example: Mein letzter Urlaub war im Sommer.
das Hotel
Meaning: hotel
Example: Wir schlafen zwei Nächte in einem kleinen Hotel.
der Termin
Meaning: appointment
Example: Morgen habe ich einen wichtigen Termin.
der Zug
Meaning: train
Example: Ich fahre mit dem Zug nach Hause.
das Meer
Meaning: sea
Example: Das Meer ist heute sehr ruhig.
der Strand
Meaning: beach
Example: Am Strand lesen wir ein Buch.
die Berge
Meaning: mountains
Example: Von den Bergen sieht man das ganze Tal.
schwimmen
Meaning: to swim
Example: Im Urlaub schwimme ich jeden Tag.
entspannen
Meaning: to relax
Example: Am Wochenende will ich mich richtig entspannen.
vermissen
Meaning: to miss (someone/something)
Example: Ich vermisse den Strand schon jetzt.
Grammar & usage focus
Talking about a finished trip with the Perfekt
When Germans describe what they did on holiday, they often use the Perfekt: haben or sein plus a past participle. Activities such as swimming or taking photos usually take haben (ich habe Fotos gemacht), while motion toward a place can take sein (ich bin nach Hause gekommen). Time markers like nur zwei Wochen, heute Nacht, and morgen help you order the story from past to near future.
Examples
- Ich habe viele Fotos vom Strand gemacht.
- Morgen komme ich mit dem Zug nach Hause.
Comprehension check
How long was the vacation?
Show answer: Only two weeks.
Where does the speaker sleep tonight, and how will they get home?
Show answer: In a hotel tonight; home by train after tomorrow’s appointment.
What does the speaker say about the sea and swimming?
Show answer: They went swimming, and the sea was fantastic.
What kinds of photos did they take?
Show answer: Photos of the mountains, the beach, and also the hotel.
How does the speaker describe the holiday overall?
Show answer: It was great and very relaxing—no need to worry.
Tips for shadowing this episode
Practice a mini trip report: first say how long you were away, then name two activities (schwimmen, Fotos machen), then one feeling (großartig / entspannt). Notice vermissen for missing a place, not only a person. When someone asks Wieso willst du das wissen?, answer with a simple reason or change the subject politely.
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