Sekundar Founded 1962 a Magazine for Students Learning German

SEKUNDAR FOUNDED 1962 A MAGAZINE FOR STUDENTS LEARNING GERMAN

ISSUE NUMBER 9 März 2016

Knut tells us about trains in Germany

Last summer (Sommer) I came to Malta on holiday (Urlaub). As soon as I arrived at the airport I could only see cars (Autos), taxis (Taxis) and buses (Busse) so I asked a taxi driver where I could find the train station (Bahnhof). He looked at me in a puzzled way and his answer was: “Trains? In Malta? We don’t have any trains here!” I found that very strange but I quickly understood that Malta is so small that you don’t need trains here. In Germany trains (Züge) are one of the main means of public transport that interconnects many cities.

The “Deutsche Bahn” is the company (Firma) that operates the German railway network. There are two main types of trains: the regional and the intercity trains. The “Regionalbahn” (RB) and the “Regional Express” (RE) fall under the first category. The latter (RE) are regional trains that connect smaller with larger cities. The former type (RB) of regional trains make more frequent stops than the RE because they even stop at smaller stations. If you want to travel from one big city to another within another region, then the best option would be an InterCity train (IC). There is also the InterCity Express train (ICE). These are high-speed trains that connect key cities together. The latest addition to the Deutsche Bahn network is the ICE Sprinter which can reach speeds of up to 320km/hr. It connects Germany’s main cities like Munich (München) and Hamburg with no stops in between.

A train passenger (Fahrgast) can buy his ticket (Fahrkarte / Ticket) at the train station at the ticket counter (am Schalter) or from a ticket machine (Fahrkartenautomat). Buying the ticket online via www.bahn.de at the comfort of your home is also an option (Möglichkeit). You can buy a single ticket (Einzelfahrtkarte) or a two-way ticket (Rückfahrkarte). On the ticket one finds the most important information such as the time of departure (Abfahrt) and the time of arrival (Ankunft) at the destination (Ziel), the platform (Gleis) where you have to wait for your train and the price (Preis) of the trip (Reise).

At times you cannot reach your destination by taking just one train. You may have to change trains (umsteigen) or switch to another kind of train like the S-Bahn (suburban train). These are trains that operate within the big cities like Frankfurt. Always read the information on your tickets carefully and when at the train station pay close attention to the announcements (Durchsagen) made especially in case there is a delay (Verspätung) or a change in the platform.

For frequent railway travellers, it may be cheaper to buy a monthly or a yearly ticket. Many Germans and tourists travelling over the weekend can make use of the weekend ticket (Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket) to avoid having to buy a ticket every time they board a train.

Whenever you take the train make sure that you find aseat (Sitzplatz) in a second-class compartment unless you would have booked or paid for a first class ticket (erste Klasse) which is more expensive than a second class ticket (zweite Klasse). First class compartments are more comfortable (bequem) and usually quieter than the others. Train ticket inspectors (Schaffner) ensure that every passenger is travelling with a valid ticket. Failing to do so would result in what in German is called “Schwarzfahren” i.e. travelling without paying for the ticket. Anyone caught doing this has to pay a fine (Bußgeld) of at least 60 Euro and will be asked to leave the train at the next station.

If you’ve never been to Germany before and intend to visit for a holiday (which I really recommend!), I hope that you find this information useful when you use the trains.Have a safe trip! (Gute Fahrt!) Gymnastics in modern day Germany More than five million Germans belong to a SPORTS club and more than 20,000 clubs are members of the German Gymnastics Association (DTB). Every age group engages in sports – from young children to seniors. In addition to the basic SPORTS of apparatus and regular gymnastics, the variety of SPORTS offered by the DTB ranges from aerobics and fistball to trampoline and right on up to hiking. Initially, gymnastics was a purely male activity. Women were viewed as the weaker sex, and doctors and teachers saw health risks in female gymnastics. But as women’s role evolved around the turn of the 20th century, views changed with respect to female gymnastics. In 1897, approx. 3 percent of association members in Germany were women; in 2008, this rose to nearly 70 percent.

rhythmic gymnastics gymnastics floor exercises die rhythmische das Turnen das Bodenturnen Gymnastik

mat die Matte rings die Ringe

vault der Sprung

horse pommel horse das Pferd das Seitpferd

beam der Schwebebalken

Übung 1: Match picture with word (AM BAHNHOF) der Zug / das Gleis / der Schalter / die Fahrkarte / der Fahrplan / der Schaffner der Hauptbahnhof / der Fahrkartenautomat Übung 2: Dialog am Schalter (insert the appropriate words in text)

einfach / Restaurant / Fahrt / weniger / helfen / besuche / Stunden / Aufenthalt / Fahrkarte / Ermäβigung / dauert / ohne / Ihnen / fährt / Gleis / kommt.....an

Am Schalter: Guten Morgen! Wie kann ich Ihnen ______? Günther: Guten Morgen. Ich hätte gern eine ______nach Bonn. Am Schalter: ______oder hin und zurück? Wann möchten Sie fahren? Günther: Einfach, bitte. Ich möchte lieber gleich fahren. Ich ______meine Familie da. Am Schalter: Soll das erste oder zweite Klasse sein?

Günther: Zweite Klasse bitte. Wie lange ______denn die Fahrt? Am Schalter: Die ______von Berlin nach Bonn dauert sechs ______. Haben Sie eine BahnCard? Günther: Ja! Gibt es eine ______für Studenten? Wie viel kostet die Fahrkarte? Am Schalter: Aber sicher! Die Fahrkarte kostet 15€ ______mit BahnCard. Die Fahrkarte ______BahnCard kostet 27€. Günther: Und wann ______der Zug ab?

Am Schalter: Die Abfahrtszeit ist um 9 Uhr 45. Günther: Fährt der Zug pünktlich? Am Schalter: Selbstverständlich! Günther: Von welchem ______? Am Schalter: Von Gleis 7.

Günther: Wann ______der Zug in Bonn ______? Am Schalter: Die Ankunftszeit ist um 15 Uhr 45. Günther: Gibt es einen Speisewagen? Am Schalter: Aber natürlich!!!! Im dritten Wagen gibt es ein ______. Günther: Ich bedanke mich bei ______. Am Schalter: Ich wünsche Ihnen eine gute Fahrt und einen guten ______in Bonn.

Übung 3: Trennbare Verben abfahren 1. Herr Klaus fliegt nach Frankfurt. Am Sonntag______er wieder ______. (zurückkommen)

2. Am Wochenende fahren wir nach Köln. ______ihr auch ______? (mitfahren)

3. Um wie viel Uhr ______der Zug am Bahnhof ______? (ankommen) 4. Unsere Tante besucht uns. Ich ______sie vom Bahnhof fahren ab ______. (abholen)

5. Am Sonntag um 5 Uhr früh ______mein Zug nach Polen ______. (abfahren)

6. Die Bahn fährt nicht direkt....ich ______in Erfurt ______. (umsteigen)

7. Im Zug ______man das Fenster nicht ______. Der fährt zu schnell. (aufmachen)

8. Wir sind pünktlich angekommen. Der Zug war da und wir sind in den ersten Wagen ______. (einsteigen)

9. Wegen Reparatur ______unser Zug auf Gleis 8 ______. (anhalten)

10. ,,Der Zug hat das Ziel erreicht. Alle Passagiere ______bitte hier ______!!!!‘‘ (aussteigen)

Editor: Victor Sammut Contributors: Claudette Bonnici, Michela Bugeja, Mandy Camenzuli and Claire Scicluna Graphics: Sandra Abela Design: Kevin Azzopardi Printing: Best Print Co. Ltd GERMAN-MALTESE CIRCLE COMPETITION

LOS SEKUNDAR MAGAZINE FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN LEARNING GERMAN

The first 4 entries which will be drawn out by lot will receive the publication “GLOSSARJU” a German - Maltese / Maltese – German dictionary and learning aid

Test your vocabulary – Write the equivalent German word in the boxes provided and afterwards fill in the blanks at the bottom of the page to form the name of the German Railway Company

9 Floor exercises

6 12 Train ticket inspector

4 Gymnastics

1 Announcements

11 Train station

2 8 Change trains

7 Ticket

10 Mat

5 Train station platform

3 Train

______1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ___ 9 10 11 12

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FIT in Deutsch 1 (MQF Level 1) Written session: Saturday 18th June 2016 Oral session: Saturday 25th June 2016

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