diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6bf6986 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitignore @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +/.idea/php.xml +/.idea/vcs.xml diff --git a/NOTES.md b/NOTES.md index 55316a1..42d4f03 100644 --- a/NOTES.md +++ b/NOTES.md @@ -29,3 +29,4 @@ Priority order: - Ground all lessons in real-life contexts: cn-mobility work, Heitersheim community, children's school - Interleave listening + reading + writing practice, not just grammar drills - Space repetition of weak-spot patterns across lessons +- Vocabulary scope: everyday German life, NOT just tech. Priority contexts: Zahnarzt, Kinderarzt, Friseur, Zahnreinigung, restaurant reservations, Ölwechsel, TÜV — the admin and social interactions of living in Germany diff --git a/learning-records/0001-starting-point.md b/learning-records/0001-starting-point.md index 98a2517..bbeacb6 100644 --- a/learning-records/0001-starting-point.md +++ b/learning-records/0001-starting-point.md @@ -1,7 +1,13 @@ # Starting Point: B1.2, English Native, Living in Germany -The user enters at B1.2 (Goethe Institut), living and working in Heitersheim, Germany, with a German-speaking workplace and children in German schools. They have a detailed self-assessment of their writing errors from prior practice sessions, giving an unusually clear view of the starting floor. +The user enters at B1.2 (Goethe Institut), living and working in Heitersheim, Germany, with a German-speaking workplace +and children in German schools. They have a detailed self-assessment of their writing errors from prior practice +sessions, giving an unusually clear view of the starting floor. -**Evidence:** Self-provided weak-spots document covering V2 word order, verb conjugation (ich habe/hat), noun gender, adjective endings, possessive pronouns, prepositions, compound nouns, Partizip II, du/Sie register, subordinate clause word order, and several meaning-level distinctions. +**Evidence:** Self-provided weak-spots document covering V2 word order, verb conjugation (ich habe/hat), noun gender, +adjective endings, possessive pronouns, prepositions, compound nouns, Partizip II, du/Sie register, subordinate clause +word order, and several meaning-level distinctions. -**Implications:** Skip remedial B1 content. First lessons should drill V2 word order (highest-error, highest-leverage), grounded in real-life contexts (work emails, community, family). Goethe class covers systematic grammar — complement with authentic listening and productive writing practice. +**Implications:** Skip remedial B1 content. First lessons should drill V2 word order (highest-error, highest-leverage), +grounded in real-life contexts (work emails, community, family). Goethe class covers systematic grammar — complement +with authentic listening and productive writing practice. diff --git a/learning-records/0002-noun-gender-overload.md b/learning-records/0002-noun-gender-overload.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..261d160 --- /dev/null +++ b/learning-records/0002-noun-gender-overload.md @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +# Noun Gender: 4/10 — Needs Study Time + +Scored 4/10 on the lesson 2 noun gender drill. Lesson covered ~30 daily life nouns across doctor/dentist, Friseur, +restaurant, car/TÜV, and general admin contexts, with a quiz mixing nominative and accusative case — appropriate for +B1.2 level. + +The low score reflects that the material is genuinely new and needs consolidation through study, not a problem with the +lesson design. The user confirmed this explicitly. + +**Implications:** Revisit lesson 2 after studying the noun cards and reference sheet. Expect improvement on the next +attempt once the material has had time to sink in. diff --git a/lessons/0001-v2-word-order.html b/lessons/0001-v2-word-order.html index fdcd491..0a18567 100644 --- a/lessons/0001-v2-word-order.html +++ b/lessons/0001-v2-word-order.html @@ -153,24 +153,24 @@ const questions = [ }, { prefix: "Nach der Schule", - suffix: "die Kinder oft Hunger.", - correct: "haben", + suffix: "oft Hunger.", + correct: "haben die Kinder", distractor: "die Kinder haben", - feedback: "When the subject would immediately follow the verb anyway, the result is: Nach der Schule haben die Kinder … — subject slides one slot to the right." + feedback: "Nach der Schule is fronted → verb must come second, subject after: Nach der Schule haben die Kinder oft Hunger." }, { prefix: "Letzte Woche", - suffix: "wir das Deployment abgeschlossen.", - correct: "haben", + suffix: "das Deployment abgeschlossen.", + correct: "haben wir", distractor: "wir haben", - feedback: "Letzte Woche fronted → verb second: Letzte Woche haben wir …" + feedback: "Letzte Woche fronted → verb second: Letzte Woche haben wir das Deployment abgeschlossen." }, { prefix: "Deshalb", - suffix: "ich dir eine kurze Nachricht.", + suffix: "dir eine kurze Nachricht.", correct: "schreibe ich", distractor: "ich schreibe", - feedback: "Deshalb (reason connector) triggers inversion: Deshalb schreibe ich …" + feedback: "Deshalb (reason connector) triggers inversion: Deshalb schreibe ich dir eine kurze Nachricht." } ]; @@ -180,9 +180,12 @@ let answered = 0; let correct = 0; const total = questions.length; +// Pre-determined option order: ensures correct answer appears in both positions across the quiz +// true = correct first, false = distractor first +const correctFirst = [true, false, false, true, false, true, false, true]; + questions.forEach((q, i) => { - // Shuffle options - const opts = Math.random() > 0.5 + const opts = correctFirst[i] ? [q.correct, q.distractor] : [q.distractor, q.correct]; diff --git a/lessons/0002-noun-gender-daily-life.html b/lessons/0002-noun-gender-daily-life.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c2854d --- /dev/null +++ b/lessons/0002-noun-gender-daily-life.html @@ -0,0 +1,363 @@ + + + + + + Lesson 2 — Noun Gender: Daily Life in Germany + + + + +
+ +

Lesson 2 of your German course

+

Noun Gender: The Words You Use Every Week

+

B1.2 · Vocabulary · ~20 minutes

+ +

Why gender keeps tripping you up

+ +

+ German has three genders — der (masculine), die (feminine), das (neuter) — and they affect every adjective, pronoun, and article you attach to a noun. There is no shortcut that covers everything, but there are reliable suffix patterns that handle a large chunk of everyday vocabulary. +

+ +

Suffix shortcuts worth memorising

+ +

Always die — these suffixes never deviate:

+
+ -ung + -heit + -keit + -schaft + -tion + -in (person) +
+

So: die Reservierung, die Reinigung, die Überweisund, die Gesundheit, die Friseurin.

+ +

Usually der

+
+ -er (profession/agent) + -arzt (compound) + -wechsel +
+

So: der Mechaniker, der Zahnarzt, der Kinderarzt, der Ölwechsel.

+ +

Always das

+
+ -chen + -lein + -ment + -um +
+

So: das Restaurant, das Wartezimmer (neuter because Zimmer is always das).

+ +

The nouns you actually need

+ +
+
Doctor & Dentist
+
+
der Zahnarzt
dentist
+
der Kinderarzt
paediatrician
+
der Hausarzt
GP / family doctor
+
der Termin
appointment
+
die Überweisung
referral
+
die Zahnreinigung
teeth cleaning
+
das Wartezimmer
waiting room
+
das Rezept
prescription
+
die Krankenkasse
health insurance
+
die Krankenversicherungskarte
health insurance card
+
+
+ +
+
Hairdresser
+
+
der Friseur
hairdresser (m)
+
die Friseurin
hairdresser (f)
+
der Haarschnitt
haircut
+
die Länge
length
+
die Spitzen
ends (of hair) — plural
+
+
+ +
+
Restaurant
+
+
das Restaurant
restaurant
+
die Reservierung
reservation
+
der Tisch
table
+
die Speisekarte
menu
+
die Rechnung
bill
+
das Trinkgeld
tip (gratuity)
+
+
+ +
+
Car & TÜV
+
+
der TÜV
vehicle inspection
+
der Ölwechsel
oil change
+
die Werkstatt
garage / workshop
+
der Reifenwechsel
tyre change
+
die Inspektion
service / inspection
+
der Kostenvoranschlag
cost estimate / quote
+
+
+ +
+
General admin
+
+
die Quittung
receipt
+
die Rechnung
invoice / bill
+
das Formular
form
+
die Unterschrift
signature
+
der Ausweis
ID / card
+
+
+ +
+ +

Drill — pick the right article

+ +

Ten questions. The sentence gives you context; choose der, die, or das.

+ +
+ +
+ — +
+ +
+ +

Useful phrases for these situations

+ + + + + + + + + +
SituationWhat to say
Making an appointmentIch würde gerne einen Termin vereinbaren.
At the hairdresserNur die Spitzen bitte, ungefähr zwei Zentimeter.
Restaurant reservationIch möchte einen Tisch für zwei Personen reservieren.
At the garageKönnen Sie mir einen Kostenvoranschlag machen?
Asking for the billDie Rechnung bitte. or Können wir zahlen?
Dental referralBrauche ich dafür eine Überweisung?
+ +

Primary source for this lesson

+ +

+ DW Top-Thema publishes weekly audio articles at B1 level with full transcripts. Each episode introduces 10–15 words in context — far more memorable than a list. Aim for one episode per day this week. +

+ +
+ Ask your teacher: When you're out this week — at the Zahnarzt, the Werkstatt, anywhere — notice the nouns you hear and aren't sure about. Bring them back here and ask. Real-world vocabulary sticks faster than anything in a lesson. +
+ +
+ Related: + Daily Life Nouns Reference · + Lesson 1: V2 Word Order +
+ +
+ + + + + diff --git a/reference/daily-life-nouns.html b/reference/daily-life-nouns.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dae20bd --- /dev/null +++ b/reference/daily-life-nouns.html @@ -0,0 +1,117 @@ + + + + + + Reference — Daily Life Nouns + + + + +
+ +

Reference Sheet · Print-friendly

+

Daily Life Nouns — Gender Reference

+ +

Suffix rules (reliable shortcuts)

+ +
+
+
die
+ -ung • -heit • -keit • -schaft • -tion • -in +
Reservierung, Reinigung, Überweisung, Rechnung, Friseurin
+
+
+
der
+ -er (profession) • -arzt • -wechsel +
Mechaniker, Zahnarzt, Ölwechsel, Reifenwechsel
+
+
+
das
+ -chen • -lein •-ment • -um • Zimmer +
Restaurant, Wartezimmer, Formular
+
+
+ +

Doctor & Dentist

+ + + + + + + + + + + + +
NounEnglishPlural
der Zahnarztdentistdie Zahnärzte
der Kinderarztpaediatriciandie Kinderärzte
der HausarztGP / family doctordie Hausärzte
der Terminappointmentdie Termine
die Überweisungreferraldie Überweisungen
die Zahnreinigungteeth cleaningdie Zahnreinigungen
das Wartezimmerwaiting roomdie Wartezimmer
das Rezeptprescriptiondie Rezepte
die Krankenkassehealth insurancedie Krankenkassen
die Krankenversicherungskartehealth insurance carddie Krankenversicherungskarten
+ +

Hairdresser

+ + + + + + + +
NounEnglish
der Friseurhairdresser (m)
die Friseurinhairdresser (f)
der Haarschnitthaircut
die Längelength
die Spitzen (pl.)ends (of hair)
+ +

Restaurant

+ + + + + + + + +
NounEnglish
das Restaurantrestaurant
die Reservierungreservation
der Tischtable
die Speisekartemenu
die Rechnungbill
das Trinkgeldtip (gratuity)
+ +

Car & TÜV

+ + + + + + + + +
NounEnglish
der TÜVvehicle inspection
der Ölwechseloil change
die Werkstattgarage / workshop
der Reifenwechseltyre change
die Inspektionservice / inspection
der Kostenvoranschlagcost estimate / quote
+ +

General admin

+ + + + + + +
NounEnglish
die Quittungreceipt
das Formularform
die Unterschriftsignature
der AusweisID / card
+ +

+ ← Back to Lesson 2 +

+ +
+ +