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Learning Strategy:

1. Start with the color-coded version: Focus on each sentence individually. Listen to the audio and use the colors to internalize the differences in word order. This will also help you better connect the phrases with their translations.

2. Once you’re comfortable with this version: Move on to the next version and listen to the story until you can understand the German audio without reading the text.

3. Grammar Explanation: Explore the grammar used in the story to deepen your knowledge and reinforce language skills.

1. Color-Coded Translation + Audio

Die 10-Cent-Lektion

Die 10-Cent-Lektion
The 10-Cent Lesson

Ich habe letztens meiner Freundin einen Liebesbrief geschrieben.

I recently wrote a love letter to my girlfriend.

Richtig altmodisch, mit Briefpapier und einem Kugelschreiber.

Really old-fashioned, with letter paper and a ballpoint pen.

Dann habe ich den Brief mit der Post geschickt.

Then I sent the letter by mail.

Zwei Tage später fand ich denselben Brief in meinem Briefkasten.

Two days later, I found the same letter in my mailbox.

Auf dem Brief stand: “Zurück an Absender – Unzureichendes Porto.”

On the letter, it said: “Return to sender – Insufficient postage.”

Ich hatte 10 Cent zu wenig Porto aufgeklebt.

I had put 10 cents too little postage on it.

Was ist das? Wegen 10 Cent?

What is this? Because of 10 cents?

Nun dann, dachte ich.

Well then, I thought.

Ich habe den Brief herausgenommen und ihn in einen neuen Umschlag gesteckt.

I took the letter out and put it in a new envelope.

Auf diesen Umschlag habe ich gar keine Briefmarke geklebt.

On this envelope, I didn’t put any stamp at all.

Mal sehen, was passiert, dachte ich.

Let’s see what happens, I thought.

Aber dieses Mal habe ich meinen Namen als Empfänger auf die Vorderseite und den Namen meiner Freundin als Absender auf die Rückseite geschrieben. 😃

But this time, I wrote my name as the recipient on the front and my girlfriend’s name as the sender on the back.

…

The story continues, but first, try to repeat the sentences above until you understand them well. Then, test yourself by moving on to the next version.

2. With Translation + Audio

Die 10-Cent-Lektion

Die 10-Cent-Lektion
The 10-Cent Lesson

Ich habe letztens meiner Freundin einen Liebesbrief geschrieben.
I recently wrote a love letter to my girlfriend.

Richtig altmodisch, mit Briefpapier und einem Kugelschreiber.
Really old-fashioned, with letter paper and a ballpoint pen.

Dann habe ich den Brief mit der Post geschickt.
Then I sent the letter by mail.

Zwei Tage später fand ich denselben Brief in meinem Briefkasten.
Two days later, I found the same letter in my mailbox.

Auf dem Brief stand: “Zurück an Absender – Unzureichendes Porto.”
On the letter, it said: “Return to sender – Insufficient postage.”

Ich hatte 10 Cent(s)* zu wenig Porto aufgeklebt.
I had put 10 cents too little postage on it.

Was ist das? Wegen 10 Cent? 
What is this? Because of 10 cents?

Nun dann, dachte ich.
Well then, I thought.

Ich habe den Brief herausgenommen und ihn in einen neuen Umschlag gesteckt.
I took the letter out and put it in a new envelope.

Auf diesen Umschlag habe ich gar keine Briefmarke geklebt.
On this envelope, I didn’t put any stamp at all.

Mal sehen, was passiert, dachte ich.
Let’s see what happens, I thought.

Aber dieses Mal habe ich meinen Namen als Empfänger auf die Vorderseite und den Namen meiner Freundin als Absender auf die Rückseite geschrieben.
But this time, I wrote my name as the recipient on the front and my girlfriend’s name as the sender on the back.

Was soll ich sagen: Meine* Freundin war sehr glücklich, als sie den Brief bekommen hat.
What can I say: My girlfriend was very happy when she received the letter.

Sie war nur etwas über den Aufdruck verwundert: “Zurück an Absender – Unzureichendes Porto.” 😃
She was just a bit puzzled by the label: “Return to sender – Insufficient postage.”

Anmerkung: Nicht nachmachen*. Das ist nicht erlaubt.
Note: Don’t try this. This is not allowed.

Wirklich, Leute, nicht nachmachen* – es funktioniert sowieso nicht. 
Really, guys, don’t try this – it doesn’t work anyway.

___

* I explain why the word ending of ‘mein‘ changes below in the Grammar Spotlight. 

* Note: In German, both “10 Cent” and “10 Cents” can be used for the plural. However, the “s” is typically not pronounced when speaking. 

* nachmachen = imitate 

Grammar Spotlight

Possessive Pronouns in Different Cases

Possessive pronouns, like mein (my), dein (your), etc., show ownership.

But have you also noticed that in German we don’t just say “mein“?

Instead, we use different endings: mein, meiner, meinen, meinem, etc. Their endings change depending on the case (Nominative, Accusative, Dative, Genitive) and the gender of the noun they describe.

Cases are one of the hardest grammar topics in German.

That’s why it would be crazy for me to try to explain everything about this topic all at once—or for you to try to learn it all at once.

For this reason, I will occasionally point them out in the stories and provide explanations in the Grammar Spotlight below, so you can understand what influences the word endings.

Don’t try to memorize the table—just take a look at the endings and see how they change across the 3 cases used in this story. 😊

How ‘mein’ Changes in the Example Sentences and Why

Ich habe letztens meiner Freundin einen Liebesbrief geschrieben. 

“Freundin” is a feminine noun (die Freundin).

Wem habe ich einen Brief geschrieben? → meiner Freundin.
To whom did I write a letter? → to my girlfriend.

You use “whem” to ask for the dative case.
Feminine noun + dative = meiner (see table).

…

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