NARRATOR: 'In Berlin many people live in huge block flats with no garden to run around in. But luckily it's also a very green city.'
'Thousands of families have their own piece of green space.'
'An allotment, which they can escape to all through the summer. For Jan and Sven der Schrebergarten is paradise. Both their families have an allotment. It's a real garden with its own little house where they sometimes stay at night.'
JAN: Das ist unser Garten und ich spiele meistens Fußball mit Sven und ich wollte euch mal mein Haus zeigen.
Das ist unser Wohnzimmer da schlafen wir meistens. Das ist unsere Küche und da ist unser Badezimmer.
SVEN: Habt ihr auch eine Dusche?
JAN: Nein, habt ihr eine?
SVEN: Ja, wir haben eine Dusche. Komm mit, dann zeige ich sie dir.
NARRATOR: 'Sven stays with his mother on the allotment from April through till October. They only go back to the city flat to do their washing.'
SVEN: Kuck! Das ist unser Haus.
JAN: Wo machst du eigentlich deine Hausaufgaben?
SVEN: Meine Hausaufgaben. Meine Hausaufgaben mache ich hier.
NARRATOR: 'Sven has all kinds of pets.'
SVEN: Das sind meine Meerschweinchen. Die heißen Cappuccino, Twicke, Eimi und Svenia. Das sind meine Fische.
JAN: Wie viele hast du eigentlich?
SVEN: Ich glaube es sind zwanzig Stück. Das sind meine Katzen. Matsche und Sissi.
CAT: Rrraaarrrrgghh
SVEN: Schhh, ahhhh! Und das ist mein Hund Gina.
JAN: Sag mal Sven, wo ist eigentlich deine Dusche?
SVEN: Die Dusche? Die ist hinter dem Haus. Und das ist die Dusche.
JAN: Habt ihr eigentlich auch warmes Wasser?
SVEN: Ja. Die Sonne macht den Schlauch warm und dann haben wir warmes Wasser.
NARRATOR: 'Back in Jan's garden there are new plants to be watered.'
SVEN: Habt ihr eigentlich auch Gemüse?
JAN: Ja, das ist Paprika. Da ist Salat. Sie sind die Erdbeeren. Und da haben wir Tomaten. Komm, wir pflanzen jetzt Salat noch ein, ja? Möchtest du gießen?
SVEN: Ja, ich gieße gerne.
NARRATOR: 'And as a reward for all that gardening. Jan's parents and grandparents are preparing a barbecue.'
SVEN: Sie grillen.
FATHER: Na, habt ihr Hunger?
JAN: Ja, jetzt habe ich Hunger.
SVEN: Ja, ich auch.
FATHER: Könnt ihr schon mal eine Wurst haben.
JAN: Dankeschön!
SVEN: Dankeschön.
JAN: Danke.
NARRATOR: 'Guten Appetit!'
An introduction to urban living in Berlin and clever use of green space.
Jan and Sven's families have allotments instead of gardens.
They take a tour of the small houses on the allotments and explain what they and their families do such as playing football, staying on the allotments overnight or for the whole summer, looking after pets, planting and looking after vegetables and having barbecues.
This clip comes from the BBC2 series, Being German.
Teacher Notes
- This video could be used to introduce words for animals, fruits and vegetables.
- You could write down words from the clip and ask the pupils to group them under the headlines 'Tier', 'Obst' and 'Gemüse'.
- Do the pupils know any other German words for animals? You could invite them to talk about their pets and give them the German words for them.
Curriculum Notes
This short film is relevant for teaching German at KS2 in England and Wales, KS2 in Northern Ireland and second level in Scotland.
More video clips on Living in Germany:
A tour of Berlin. video
A young German boy called Emil introduces his city - Berlin. He then shows where he likes to play football and takes a tour of various sights in the capital, including the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and the Reichstag.
People living in Germany from other countries. video
Selin, a young girl who was born in Germany but has Turkish parents, lives in Kreuzberg, the Turkish part of Berlin. She shows her family's flats and introduces her family during their evening meal.
The school day in Germany. video
An introduction to the school day in Germany including lessons, timings and breaktime activities. Two primary school pupils, Nikolas and Sara, take a tour of their school in South Berlin.
Cycling in Germany. video
The topic of cycling and its popularity in Germany and Berlin in particular is introduced. In year 4, students have to take a cycling proficiency test. They demonstrate how to check a bike is safe, before practising for and taking their test.
Football in Germany. video
Members of the Hertha Berlin youth football team talk about their ambitions for the future. They are training in preparation for a semi-final match and the names for the different positions are mentioned.
