Shadowing Practice: How to talk about train stations in German | German Podcast for Real Conversation | learn german - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hello and welcome to German Vibes Podcast.
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It's great to see you again.
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Today we have a new topic for you.
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A very practical topic and in This happens often in everyday life.
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Today, we're going to talk about the train station.
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Exactly, today we're talking about trains, tickets, and railway tracks.
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The schedules and, of course, the situations that might arise can discover the train station.
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You may travel by train every day.
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You may sometimes travel by train to another city.
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Or perhaps you are currently in Germany and You need to use a German train station for the first time.
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And when you attend a Because it's a large train station, it can be a little stressful.
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be. There are people everywhere.
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The trains come and go.
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There are a lot of advertisements.
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And sometimes, we no longer know where we are.
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Do I really have to go?
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Yes, especially if you only have five minutes.
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has. Suddenly, you see ten tracks and you think: Why are there so many clues here?
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Exactly, and then you quickly flee from a Follow the trail to the other one.
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And in the end, you realize, oh no, I I'm on the wrong track.
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It's really unpleasant.
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But don't worry, we're going to learn lots of words today.
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and phrases that may be useful to you at the train station.
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And we're not just talking about words.
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We're having a real conversation.
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This will allow you to hear how to pronounce these words.
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used in a normal situation.
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So Lukas, imagine, we are just at the train station.
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You wish to travel by train.
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What should I do first?
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I'll look at the schedule first.
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I want to know what time my train leaves.
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Alright. Where can I find the schedule?
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The station is equipped with large electronic screens.
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It usually includes the departure time and destination.
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and the track.
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Exactly. For example, it says: Train to Berlin, departure at 10:30, platform 5.
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I then know that my train leaves at 10 o'clock.
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It's 8 PM and I need to get to platform 5.
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Very easy. But sometimes there's a problem.
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What kind of problem is this?
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The train is late.
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Ah, it's a classic, of course.
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The screen could then display: "The train..." 10 minutes late.
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Or 20 minutes or… Or an hour.
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So you might be wondering: why am I really here?
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Did you arrive at the station so early?
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I know that feeling.
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But it's better to be too early than too late.
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You're right.
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Generally, I prefer to arrive 20 minutes early.
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Train station.
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I will then have enough time to check my route.
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find. Me too, because if you arrive too late, The stress begins.
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You may still have a ticket to buy, You need to find the piece and listen to it at the same time.
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Please note… And suddenly, you can't understand a single word.
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Exactly. We simply say to ourselves, "Please slow down." But at the train station, you hear a lot of important words.
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For example, the station, the train, the railway line, the ticket, the schedule, the departure, the arrival and the delay.
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And we won't just be using those words today.
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Listen once.
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We will use them in various situations.
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This will allow you to learn them more easily.
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Okay Mia, let's begin our little journey.
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We are at the station now, we have our We have our bags, our tickets… Wait a minute, where's my ticket?
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What? Have you lost a ticket?
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No, no. Wait.
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It must be somewhere around here.
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Lukas, you just said that you You will always be at the station 20 minutes early.
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Yes, but I didn't say that I I am well organized.
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That's an important difference.
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Ah, there it is.
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My ticket was in my Jacket pocket.
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Naturally. Then we can finally go to the platform.
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Wait, which track are we on?
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Platform 7.
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Platform 7?
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Let's go! Wait, first we need to check if the train is punctual.
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Good idea. Let's examine the advertisement.
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Our train therefore departs at 11:10.
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Destination Munich.
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Platform 7.
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And… And? And the train is 10 minutes late.
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Naturally. Our adventure begins with a delay.
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But no problem.
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We have enough time.
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All that remains is for us to find our way back.
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ALL RIGHT. And also, platform 7.
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Where is platform 7?
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Future. Do you see the sign?
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Oh yes. Tracks 5 through 8 are indicated.
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Exactly. We need to stretch along this line.
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So come on!
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But slowly.
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I don't want to lose my ticket again.
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Very good idea.
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And maybe we'll find a cafe along the way.
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I knew it. You can really make a connection between any subject and coffee.
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What more can be said?
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Sometimes, you also need a coffee at the train station.
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All right. But first, we find our trail.
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ALL RIGHT. We will then continue.
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Perhaps something interesting will happen along the way.
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So, Lukas. We need to go to platform 7 now.
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Let's go! Wait a minute.
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I'd like to take another look at the advertisement.
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For what? We know that our train to Munich conduits.
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Yes, but I want to be sure.
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Sometimes the route changes.
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That's correct.
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Our train to Munich therefore departs at 11 o'clock.
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8 p.m. And we need to go to platform 7.
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Perfect. So we still have some time.
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I see an ATM over there.
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Perhaps we can briefly explain how to achieve this.
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buy a ticket.
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Good idea. If you don't have a ticket, you often Buy a ticket from the vending machine.
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First you choose the destination, for example Munich.
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Next, you select the connection.
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Then you pay for the ticket.
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And then you get the ticket.
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Very easy. Yes.
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But sometimes, the machine is a little complicated.
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That's correct.
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Especially if everything is in German.
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So you're wondering: what does this word mean?
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Therefore, it is important to know certain words.
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For example, the train ticket or the ticket.
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These two words are heard in everyday life.
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Exactly. And if you need help, you can ask someone.
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questions. For example, excuse me, can you help me please?
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Or, where is number 7?
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That's a very useful phrase.
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Yes. And if you don't know when the train is coming...
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When will the train arrive?
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In Munich? Or, what time does the train to Munich leave?
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Alright. Oh, look, there's our track.
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Finally. And I can see our train too.
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We should then slowly make our way towards the train.
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Yes. But first, I'd like to know where it is Our car?
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Lukas, it seems like we always have a new problem.
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Carefree. We still have a few minutes left.
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Next, we will examine our ticket.
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Perhaps our vehicle's registration number is displayed there.
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Ah, there it is.
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Car 6. Perfect.
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Next, we look for car number 6.
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And this time, I won't lose my ticket.
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I hope so. Very well, here is our train.
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All we have to do now is find our car.
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Car number 4 is parked here.
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But we need car number 6.
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We therefore need to go a little further.
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No problem.
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I have our tickets.
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Alright. And I have the bags.
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We will then be perfectly prepared.
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That's what you're saying now.
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Wait until we're on the train.
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For what? You might still forget something.
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I? Never. ALL RIGHT.
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It's car number 6.
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Finally. Let's go in.
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Wait a minute.
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We must first check if our seats are available.
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are. TRUE. My ticket indicates carriage 6, seat 12.
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And my ticket indicates seat 13.
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Then we sit right next to each other.
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Perfect. I am sitting by the window.
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Naturally. You always want to sit by the window.
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Yes. I like looking out the window.
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You will see many towns, houses and landscapes along the way.
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I prefer to sit on the aisle side.
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Then I'll be able to get up more easily.
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That suits you.
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You can't sit still for long.
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It's possible.
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Alright. We found our seats.
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Our bags are here too.
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Now we can sit down.
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Finally, we can relax a little.
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Moment. Do you have your phone?
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Yes. For what?
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I want to take a picture of the train station.
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Naturally. A photo is essential.
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We could perhaps also take a photo on the train.
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TO DO. Gladly.
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But first, I'd like to know how long it takes.
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The route? My ticket indicates approximately three hours.
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Three hours?
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Next, we need something to eat.
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I have a sandwich with me.
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What? You had a sandwich and you didn't tell me anything.
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said? You didn't ask me for that.
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That's not fair.
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Carefree. I have enough for both of us.
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Alright. The journey can then begin.
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Yes. But listen.
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The train is about to leave.
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So we are ready.
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Bags? There.
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Tickets? There.
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Mobile phone?
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There. Sandwich?
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There. Perfect.
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We can now begin.
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The train is leaving now.
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We are finally seated.
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Yes. The journey can begin.
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I find train journeys very pleasant.
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You can look out the window.
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You can listen to music.
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Or simply, get some sleep.
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I like to read a book on the train.
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The journey is then much more pleasant.
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I can't always read on the train.
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Sometimes, when the train is going fast, I feel A bit bad.
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So, look out the window.
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Me too. Oh, look.
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We are currently passing by a small train station.
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TRUE. Our train may stop there again later.
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Maybe. But I have another question.
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What happens if someone misses their connecting flight?
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That can happen, of course.
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For example, if the first train is late.
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So you have a problem.
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Yes. But you can find out more at the train station.
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For example, my train was late and I I missed my connecting flight.
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This is a very important sentence.
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Or you can ask when the next one leaves.
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Form? And from which platform does the next train depart?
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far? Exactly.
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These phrases are particularly useful when you want to doesn't know.
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I remember a trip where I almost missed my train once.
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Almost? What happened?
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I was at the train station and I thought I had We have plenty of time.
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Then I suddenly looked at the clock.
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My train should leave in five minutes.
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And what did you do?
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I ran very fast towards the dock.
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And? Did you take the train?
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Yes. But I was completely out of breath.
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I believe you.
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When I entered, I couldn't stop thinking: I will never arrive at the station that late again.
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That's a good rule.
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It's better to arrive a little earlier.
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Exactly. Oh, our train is slowing down.
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We will probably arrive at the next station soon.
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Next, we should slowly begin packing our belongings.
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Yes. Where is my backpack?
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Next to your seat.
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Ah, that's right.
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I've been looking for it all this time.
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Lukas, you really should take better care of your things.
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attention. I'm working on it.
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I hope so. All we can do now is wait for the announcement.
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hear. Perhaps the voice will tell you which platform to use.
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We're arriving.
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And then we can go out.
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Exactly. But our journey is not quite over yet.
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We are almost at our destination.
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I found the trip quite pleasant.
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Yes. And we even ate our sandwiches.
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That was probably the most important part for you.
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the journey.
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Naturally. A long train journey without food is difficult.
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Oh, I think we're almost there.
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Yes. Take a look at the advertisement.
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That's where our station is located.
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Next, we need to gather our belongings.
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My backpack is already with me.
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And your bag?
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Here. Everything is there.
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Alright. Then we can leave immediately.
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I think there are always things like that in train stations.
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many people.
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Some go up, others go down.
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Some people are waiting for someone.
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Yes. And some quickly find their way back.
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Or they might travel with a large suitcase the train station.
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I know that feeling.
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Especially if the suitcase is very heavy.
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So you might be wondering: why do I have so many?
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Did you bring anything with you?
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Exactly. Sometimes you need a lot of things when you travel.
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a lot. But something pleasant can also happen at the train station.
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You can pick someone up hitchhiking.
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Or saying goodbye to someone.
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For example, you might be waiting for a friend.
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You look at the notice board and wait the arrival of the train.
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And when the train finally arrives, we look the person on the platform.
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It's always a special moment.
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Yes. Especially if you haven't seen someone in a long time.
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has. Or when you meet a friend for the first time in a new station.
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You can then say, "I'll wait at the entrance." Or maybe I'm on the platform.
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Very practical.
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You could also ask: where are you?
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And the other person replies: I am at Lane 3.
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This makes reunions easier.
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Our train has now stopped.
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We have arrived.
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Then we go outside.
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Wait. Do you really have everything?
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Yes. Ticket, mobile phone, backpack.
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Moment. What is?
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My sandwich.
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Did you forget your sandwich?
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He is still in the seat.
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So get it quickly.
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Recorded. GOOD.
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Now we can really go out.
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And even outdoors, we must always Find the exit.
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Exactly. There are often several exits in the station.
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For example, the exit.
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Or a taxi. Bus.
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And sometimes in the center.
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That's very useful.
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When you arrive in a new city, you should You should always pay attention to the signs.
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And if you don't know what to do next, you can All you have to do is ask.
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For example, "Excuse me, where is the exit?" Or how can I get to the center?
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Exactly. You don't need to use complicated sentences.
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Simplicity and clarity are often preferable.
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We agree on that.
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And now ? I believe we have found the solution.
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Yes, then we will go.
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But before we continue, we're going to do something special.
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What? We now speak as if we were at an oral exam.
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Ah, now things are getting serious.
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No fear. You just need to bring up the subject at the train station.
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talk. ALL RIGHT.
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That's what we're going to talk about now.
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Alright. You will then be able to show what you know about the You know the subject.
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So Lukas, imagine, we are now during an oral exam.
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The examiner asks you what you know about A topic of conversation at the train station?
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What would you say?
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I would say that a train station is an important place.
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It's a place for travel.
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At the station you can take the train to travel to other cities or countries.
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There are different railway lines, trains, ticket vending machines and Scoreboards.
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If I want to travel by train, I look I first looked at the schedule.
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I want to know what time my train leaves and which platform is he departing from?
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Next, I buy a ticket or I check my Ticket.
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I think it's important to arrive at the station early.
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That's because sometimes you have to find the trail.
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Furthermore, a train can be delayed.
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You might then have to wait longer or take a Take another train.
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Alright. I would talk about my experiences at the train station.
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Sometimes I find a train station interesting, but It's also a little stressful.
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Many people quickly achieve their goal.
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Take the train.
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Some people have just arrived, others are waiting.
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on their family or friends.
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When I travel, I usually have a suitcase.
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and a bag with it.
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Therefore, I would like to find my route in advance and to have enough time.
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I also think it's important to see the advertisements and Read the signs.
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If I don't understand something, I can ask someone.
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questions. For example, excuse me, could you tell me, Where is platform 5?
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Or, what time does the next train to Berlin leave?
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Exactly. You don't need to pronounce complicated sentences.
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It is important that the other person understands what We hope so.
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And I believe you can find many things at the station.
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can learn important words.
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For example, the train station, the railway line, the train, the ticket, the schedule, the departure, the arrival and the delay.
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Knowing these words makes you feel Much safer.
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It is easier to understand the content of advertisements.
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stands upright.
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And it's easier to ask for help.
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I also think we shouldn't be afraid.
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You should do this if you don't understand a word.
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You can simply ask the question again.
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For example, could you repeat that, please?
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Or, could you speak more slowly, please?
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These are very useful phrases.
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Exactly. And here is our final part.
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As always, Alex is waiting for you.
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Today, he explains 20 important words from our Conversation.
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Okay Alex, it's your turn!
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Hello everyone!
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Today, we are going to learn a group of important words for A topic of conversation at the train station.
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I explain each word slowly.
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You will then receive a simple example.
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And of course you can repeat the word.
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The train station is a place where trains arriving and departing.
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For example, I am at the train station.
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Train station.
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Again. Train station.
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Alright. The train. A train travels on rails and transports people from one place to another.
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For example, the train goes to Munich.
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Form. Again.
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Form. Alright.
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The track. A track is the place where where a train stops and starts again.
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For example, our train departs from platform 7.
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Track. Again.
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Track. Alright.
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A ticket is a ticket for a train journey.
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For example, I need a ticket to Berlin.
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Ticket. Again.
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Ticket. Alright.
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The ATM. An ATM is a machine located at where you can buy a ticket.
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For example, I buy my ticket from the vending machine.
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ATM. Again.
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ATM. Alright.
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The timetable: A timetable indicates the departure times of the trains.
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and arrive.
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For example, I look at the schedule.
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Calendar. Again.
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Calendar. Alright.
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The departure is the moment when when a train departs.
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For example, the departure is at 10:00.
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Departure. Again.
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Departure. Alright.
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Arrival is the moment when where a train arrives at a place.
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For example, the arrival is scheduled for noon.
414
Arrival. Again.
415
Arrival. Alright.
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Delay: A delay means that a train arrives later.
417
comes or leaves later.
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For example, the train is 10 minutes late.
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Delay. Again.
420
Delay. Alright.
421
Embarquer means to board a train.
422
or the bus.
423
For example, we need to go in now.
424
Get in. Again.
425
Get in. Alright.
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To get off means to take a train or The bus is leaving.
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For example, we get off at the next station.
428
Exit. Again.
429
Exit. Alright.
430
The platform is the area located at the entrance to the station.
431
station where people board the train wait.
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For example, I'm waiting on the platform.
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Platform. Again.
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Platform. Alright.
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The exit is the path or The door through which one leaves a place.
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For example, where is the exit?
437
Exit. Again.
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Exit. Alright.
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The announcement displays important information about For example, the destination and departure time of a train.
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For example, I watch the advertisement.
441
Advertisement.
442
Again. Advertisement.
443
Alright. A seat is the place where one sits.
444
where you can sit on the train.
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For example, my seat is near the window.
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Seat. Again.
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Seat. Alright.
448
A suitcase is a bag that particularly useful when travelling.
449
For example, my suitcase is very heavy.
450
Suitcase. Again.
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Suitcase. Alright.
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The backpack. A backpack is a bag that One of them is carrying it on his back.
453
For example, my backpack is next to my seat.
454
Backpack. Again.
455
Backpack. Alright.
456
To wait means to be still.
457
remains in place until something happens or someone arrives.
458
For example, I'm waiting for the train.
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Wait. Again.
460
Wait. Alright.
461
Departure means that a train leaves a station.
462
leaves. For example, the train leaves at 9 a.m.
463
far. Leave.
464
Again. Leave.
465
Alright. To arrive means to reach a place.
466
For example, we arrive at noon.
467
Arrive. Again.
468
Arrive. Alright.
469
Here are our 20 keywords on the subject.
470
At the train station.
471
Now try to incorporate some of these words into sentences yourself.
472
to use. For example, I buy a ticket.
473
The train departs from platform 3.
474
I'm waiting on the platform.
475
The train is late.
476
Very well done.
477
The more you hear these words and yourself The more you use them, the easier it will be to remember them.
478
And that concludes our discussion for today.
479
Episode received.
480
Thank you so much for joining us again today on GermanVibes!
481
Podcast included.
482
We hope you learned many new words today.
483
You learned some things about this subject at the train station.
484
And we hope you're feeling a little better now.
485
You will be safer if you ever find yourself in a train station.
486
are in Germany.
487
Remember, you don't need to speak perfect German.
488
It is important that you try to speak and so that it's understandable for you.
489
If you enjoyed this episode, feel free to leave a comment.
490
Like the video and subscribe to the GermanVibes podcast.
491
Feel free to write to us in the comments.
492
Have you ever travelled by train?
493
And what word from today's episode was New to you?
494
Thank you for listening.
495
Thank you for staying with us until the end.
496
stayed. We wish you much success in your German learning.
497
Stay motivated and practice a little each day.
498
We'll talk about that again in the next episode.
499
Until then!
500
Goodbye, see you next time for the GermanVibes podcast.
501
Goodbye, see you next time for the GermanVibes podcast.
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Navigating Train Stations: A Real-Life English Practice Scenario
Imagine you’re in a busy train station, rushing to catch a train. The screens flash departure times, people hurry past, and you need to ask for help—or just understand the announcements. The video’s dialogue captures this exact situation, making it perfect for english speaking practice. By following the conversation between the hosts, you’ll learn how to talk about schedules, delays, and platforms in a natural, everyday way. It’s like having a front-row seat to a real interaction, which is key for mastering practical language skills.
Useful Chunks & Collocations to Memorize
- "Look at the schedule" – A simple phrase for checking departure times, essential for any traveler.
- "Train to [destination]" – How to specify where your train is going, like "train to Berlin."
- "Platform 5" – The common way to refer to tracks (no need for fancy words here!).
- "The train is late" – A classic problem, and a must-know phrase for managing delays.
- "Departure time" – The specific time your train leaves, a key term for planning your trip.
These chunks aren’t just words—they’re building blocks for real conversations. Practice saying them out loud to get comfortable with their rhythm.
Your Shadowing Challenge: Speak Like a Local
Ready to put this into action? Try the shadowing technique with the video. Here’s how: Play a short clip (5-10 seconds), pause it, and repeat the words immediately, mimicking the tone, speed, and intonation. Focus on phrases like "Where can I find the schedule?" or "The train is 10 minutes late." This is how shadowspeaks work—you’re "shadowing" the speaker to train your mouth and ears to natural English. Do this for 5 minutes a day, and you’ll notice your confidence growing. It’s a fun, effective way to learn english with youtube and turn passive listening into active speaking practice.
Next time you’re at a train station—real or imaginary—you’ll be ready to handle the chaos with clear, confident English. Let the conversation guide you, and keep shadowing to make these phrases your own!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is equipped · are indicated · can be said |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | haven't seen · has now stopped · have arrived |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might arise · may travel · may sometimes travel |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should I do · should then slowly · should leave |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.