WACE German Second Language flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Listening: halb acht

In German time telling, 'halb acht' means 7:30, not 8:30. The half hour refers to the half hour before the stated hour. This is a common trap in listening tasks.

Listening: Viertel vor/nach

'Viertel nach' means quarter past; 'Viertel vor' means quarter to. For example, 'Viertel vor neun' is 8:45. Listen carefully to the preposition to determine the correct time.

Listening: numbers 13-19 vs tens

Numbers ending in -zehn (dreizehn, vierzehn) are 13-19; numbers ending in -zig (dreißig, vierzig) are 20-90. Note 'dreißig' is spelled with ß, not 'dreizig'.

Listening: Sie vs du

'Sie' (capitalised) is formal address; 'du' is informal. Listening for this distinction helps identify the relationship between speakers and answer questions about formality or audience.

Listening: discourse markers

Markers like 'zuerst', 'dann', 'danach', 'zum Schluss' signal sequence; 'aber', 'jedoch' signal contrast; 'deshalb', 'darum' signal consequence. They guide understanding of text structure.

Listening: self-correction cues

Speakers may correct themselves using 'eigentlich', 'ach nein', 'ich meine'. The final corrected statement is usually the intended answer, so listen to the end of the utterance.

Listening: negation words

Negation can be expressed by 'nicht', 'kein', 'nie', 'niemand', 'nichts'. Missing a negation can reverse the meaning of an answer, so listen for these words.

Reading: false friend 'bekommen'

'Bekommen' means 'to receive' or 'to get', not 'to become'. The German for 'to become' is 'werden'. This is a frequent false friend in reading texts.

Reading: false friend 'Gift'

'Gift' (der Gift) means 'poison', not 'gift'. The German word for 'gift' is 'Geschenk'. Recognising this false friend prevents misinterpretation of texts.

Reading: compound nouns

In German compounds, the last element determines gender and basic meaning: 'Haustür' (die Tür) = front door. Break long words into parts to deduce meaning.

Reading: text types

Common text types include 'Anzeige' (advertisement), 'Bericht' (report), 'Leserbrief' (letter to the editor), 'Speisekarte' (menu). Layout and vocabulary help identify the type and purpose.

Reading: inference questions

Inference questions require reading between the lines: the answer is implied, not stated directly. Look for tone, adjectives, and context clues to determine the author's meaning.

Reading: separable verbs

Separable verbs split in main clauses: 'aufstehen' → 'ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf'. Recognising the prefix at the end of the clause helps decode the meaning of the verb.

Reading: scanning for synonyms

Questions often paraphrase the text. Locate the key word in the question, then find a synonym or equivalent phrase in the text to identify the relevant section.

Reading: register clues

Formal texts use 'Sie', titles, and passive voice; informal texts use 'du', contractions, and colloquialisms. Register helps identify audience and purpose.

Writing: formal letter opening

A formal German letter or email begins 'Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren' (unknown recipient) or 'Sehr geehrte Frau …' / 'Sehr geehrter Herr …' (known name), followed by a comma and lowercase start.

Writing: formal closing

Formal closings include 'Mit freundlichen Grüßen' (standard) or 'Hochachtungsvoll' (very formal). The closing is followed by a comma and the signature on the next line.

Writing: informal opening and closing

Informal letters/emails begin 'Liebe/Lieber …' and close with 'Viele Grüße', 'Liebe Grüße', or 'Bis bald'. Use 'du' forms throughout.

Writing: subordinate clause word order

In subordinate clauses introduced by 'weil', 'dass', 'obwohl', 'wenn', the conjugated verb goes to the end: 'Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.'

Writing: infinitive constructions

Constructions like 'um … zu' (in order to), 'ohne … zu' (without doing), and 'statt … zu' (instead of doing) add complexity. The infinitive goes at the end of the clause.

Writing: connectives

Connectives such as 'zuerst', 'außerdem', 'jedoch', 'deshalb', 'zum Beispiel', 'zusammenfassend' organise ideas and improve coherence, which is rewarded in marking.

Writing: time-manner-place

German adverbial order is time, manner, place: 'Ich fahre morgen mit dem Bus nach Berlin.' This order is typical and expected in accurate writing.

Writing: covering content points

Each bullet point in the task must be addressed to achieve full communication marks. Plan which structure and vocabulary will express each point before writing.

Writing: checking case endings

German cases (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive) affect articles and adjective endings. Check that articles and adjectives agree with the noun's gender, number, and case.

Speaking: asking for clarification

Useful phrases: 'Könnten Sie das bitte wiederholen?', 'Wie bitte?', 'Was bedeutet das?'. These maintain interaction when you do not understand something.

Speaking: fillers

Natural fillers like 'also', 'na ja', 'eigentlich', 'sozusagen' give thinking time and make speech sound more fluent. Use them sparingly and appropriately.

Speaking: ich-Laut and ach-Laut

The German 'ch' has two sounds: the ich-Laut (soft, after front vowels, e.g., 'ich', 'Milch') and the ach-Laut (harsh, after back vowels, e.g., 'ach', 'Buch').

Speaking: diphthong pronunciation

'ei' is pronounced /ai/ (wie 'mein'), 'ie' is /iː/ (wie 'Liebe'), 'eu/äu' is /ɔʏ/ (wie 'neu'). These are common pronunciation pitfalls.

Speaking: final devoicing

Final 'b', 'd', 'g' are devoiced: 'gab' sounds like /gaːp/, 'Kind' like /kɪnt/, 'Tag' like /taːk/. This affects listening and pronunciation.

Speaking: presentation signposting

Use phrases like 'Zunächst möchte ich …', 'Im Folgenden …', 'Abschließend …' to structure a presentation. Signposting helps the examiner follow your argument.

Speaking: extending answers

Avoid one-word answers; extend with reasons ('weil …'), examples ('zum Beispiel …'), and opinions ('Ich finde, dass …'). This demonstrates range and fluency.

Speaking: word stress

Native German words usually stress the first syllable (e.g., 'ARbeit'); many loanwords stress the final syllable (e.g., 'UniversiTÄT'). Correct stress improves intelligibility.