Abschlussprojekt: Selbstständig auf Deutsch
Chapter Overview and Objectives
Chapter 20 is the capstone of Volume II. It does not introduce a new grammar system. Instead, it asks you to bring together everything you have built since Chapter 1 — housing, relationships, travel, work, health, shopping, media, narration, advice, spatial description, procedures, opinions, comparison, culture, and rules — into one linked, realistic scenario. You will read, listen, speak, and write your way through a single ongoing situation: helping a friend named Lukas settle into a new city, sort out a housing problem, plan an outing, and navigate a scheduling conflict, while also reflecting on your own progress across the volume. This chapter measures reliable everyday independence at the B1 level, not new or hidden B2 material.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Integrate case, article, and adjective-ending control across varied everyday noun phrases.
- Narrate a connected past experience using the present perfect and simple past of high-frequency verbs.
- Use two-way prepositions, subordinate clauses, and separable verbs accurately within longer stretches of discourse.
- State and support an opinion, make a comparison, and give advice within a single extended interaction.
- Contrast modal verbs to explain a rule, recognize a passive-voice sentence, and use a conditional wenn-clause.
- Read and write multiple everyday genres — a message, a notice, a short narrative, and a recommendation — within one linked project.
- Mediate information between German and English responsibly for a specific practical purpose.
- Reflect on your own progress across Volume II and identify what to prioritize going into Volume III.
Opening Scenario
Sophie's friend Lukas has just moved to the same city for a new job. Over the next few days, Sophie helps him get settled: he needs to find an apartment, he wants to know the neighborhood, he has a mix-up with his gym membership similar to one Sophie once had, he wants to hear about Sophie's trip to Paul's regional festival, and he needs advice about a scheduling conflict between a work commitment and a friend's invitation. Sophie also reflects on how much easier these situations feel now compared to when she herself was newly arrived at the start of the volume.
- Review the Volume II Systems Review to reconnect with the systems you will need.
- Work through the model exchange, in which Sophie and Lukas discuss his first week.
- Complete the listening, reading, speaking, and writing tasks, which build toward the capstone performance task: a linked, multi-genre project combining practical, narrative, explanatory, and opinion tasks.
Volume II Systems Review
Before beginning the capstone tasks, reconnect with the major systems developed across this volume. Nothing here is new; this is a consolidated view of what you have already practiced.
Case, Article, and Noun Phrase
- Nominative, accusative, and dative in everyday frames (Ch. 1–10)
- Adjective endings after definite and indefinite articles (Ch. 6, 8, 17)
- Comparative and superlative forms (Ch. 4, 17)
Verb Position and Tense
- Present perfect and simple past narration (Ch. 6, 11)
- Separable and inseparable prefix verbs across brackets (Ch. 4, 9)
- Modal verb bracket and contrast (Ch. 7, 19)
Clause Combining
- Subordinate clauses with weil, dass, wenn (Ch. 9, 16, 19)
- Two-way prepositions and contracted forms (Ch. 2, 4, 13)
- Konjunktiv II formulas and infinitive clauses with zu (Ch. 12)
Register and Genre
- du, ihr, and Sie across settings (all chapters)
- Messages, complaints, applications, and reasoned opinions (Ch. 3, 6, 8, 16)
- Recognizing passive-voice signs and rules (Ch. 19)
If any of these feel unfamiliar, briefly revisit the relevant chapter before continuing. The capstone assumes recognition and controlled use of all Volume II active systems, not perfect recall of every detail.
Capstone Vocabulary Refresh
The vocabulary below draws together items from across the volume that are especially useful for this chapter's linked scenario. No new lexical systems are introduced; this is a working refresher.
Ankommen und Wohnen — Arriving and Housing
- der Umzug, die Umzüge — move, relocation
- die Wohnungssuche, die Wohnungssuchen — apartment search
- die Nachbarschaft, die Nachbarschaften — neighborhood
- der Vermieter, die Vermieter — landlord
Probleme und Lösungen — Problems and Solutions
- das Missverständnis, die Missverständnisse — misunderstanding
- die Lösung, die Lösungen — solution
- eine Ausnahme machen — to make an exception
- sich kümmern um (+Akk.) — to take care of
Erzählen und Vergleichen — Narrating and Comparing
- das Erlebnis, die Erlebnisse — experience
- im Vergleich zu (+Dat.) — in comparison to
- am Anfang / mittlerweile — at the beginning / by now
Ratschläge und Termine — Advice and Scheduling
- der Terminkonflikt, die Terminkonflikte — scheduling conflict
- ich würde an deiner Stelle... — if I were you, I would...
- eine Verpflichtung, die Verpflichtungen — obligation, commitment
All items here were active in earlier chapters and remain available for this chapter's integrated production tasks.
Model Exchange
Setting: Sophie and Lukas, longtime friends, meet for coffee during Lukas's first week in the city. They use du.
This exchange recycles narration (present perfect, simple past), comparison (im Vergleich zu), rule-related modal use, a conditional wenn-clause, and advice-giving — all from earlier chapters, now combined naturally.
Guided Practice
Übung 1 — Systeme identifizieren (Identifying Systems)
Reread the model exchange above and identify one example of each of the following: (a) a present perfect verb form, (b) a comparative structure, (c) a modal verb expressing advice or obligation, and (d) a conditional wenn-clause.
Übung 2 — Verbinden (Combining Sentences)
Combine each pair of sentences using the connector indicated.
- Lukas ist überfordert. + Er sucht eine Wohnung. (weil)
- Du brauchst eine Ausnahme. + Du solltest die Rezeption anrufen. (wenn)
- Das Teamessen ist wichtig. + Lukas sollte mit den Kollegen sprechen. (dass — as reported advice: "Sophie meint, dass...")
Übung 3 — Eigene Erfahrung (Your Own Experience)
Write two to three sentences narrating a small problem you once solved, using the present perfect and at least one temporal connector.
Listening Practice
Ask a partner, instructor, or text-to-speech tool to read the following short voicemail aloud. Listen once for the overall situation, then again for the specific request.
Anruf von Lukas — Listening Script
Hallo Sophie, hier ist Lukas. Ich habe gerade mit meinem Vermieter telefoniert, und es gibt ein kleines Problem mit der Wohnung: Der Herd funktioniert nicht richtig, und ich weiß nicht, wen ich anrufen soll. Der Vermieter hat gesagt, dass ein Techniker geschickt wird, aber das kann bis zu einer Woche dauern. Wenn du eine Nummer von einem Handwerker kennst, den man schneller erreichen kann, wäre das super. Außerdem wollte ich fragen, ob wir das Teamessen-Problem vom Samstag noch einmal besprechen können — ich glaube, ich habe eine Lösung gefunden. Ruf mich zurück, wenn du Zeit hast!
Verständnisfragen
1. Was funktioniert in Lukas' Wohnung nicht richtig?
2. Was hat der Vermieter gesagt?
3. Um was bittet Lukas Sophie?
4. Find one subordinate clause with dass and one with wenn in the script.
Speaking Practice
Aktivität: Lukas helfen (Helping Lukas)
Work with a partner. One of you plays Sophie, offering help and advice; the other plays Lukas, describing his situation and asking questions. Cover at least three of the following threads from the chapter: the apartment problem, the gym membership mix-up, the scheduling conflict, and the broken stove.
Partner A — Lukas
Describe one or two problems using the present perfect, and ask for advice.
- Use at least one subordinate clause with weil or dass.
Partner B — Sophie
Give advice, compare the situation to a past experience, and mention a rule or possibility.
- Use at least one wenn-clause and one comparative structure.
Bewertungshinweise — Speaking Criteria
- Clear narration of at least one past problem using accurate perfect-tense forms.
- At least one accurate subordinate clause and one conditional wenn-clause.
- A comparison and a piece of advice, each appropriately supported.
- Consistent, natural du-register throughout.
- Overall intelligibility and reasonable fluency for the B1-oriented level.
Solo alternative: Record both sides of the conversation yourself, switching your voice or pausing between turns.
Reading Practice
Read the following message from Lukas, then answer the questions that follow.
Nachricht von Lukas
Hallo Sophie, danke noch mal für deine Hilfe mit dem Fitnessstudio — die Rezeption hat tatsächlich eine Ausnahme gemacht, weil ich die E-Mail mit der Kündigung zeigen konnte! Was das Teamessen betrifft: Ich habe mit meinen Kollegen gesprochen, und wir haben das Essen auf Sonntagabend verschoben. Das bedeutet, wir können am Samstag trotzdem zum Fest fahren, wenn du noch Lust hast. Übrigens, der Techniker für den Herd kommt morgen früh — viel schneller, als der Vermieter gesagt hat! Ich finde es im Vergleich zu meiner alten Stadt hier erstaunlich einfach, Probleme zu lösen, wenn man höflich und direkt fragt. Meldest du dich, wenn du Zeit hast?
Verständnisfragen
1. Warum hat die Rezeption eine Ausnahme gemacht?
2. Wie haben Lukas und seine Kollegen den Terminkonflikt gelöst?
3. Was sagt Lukas über den Vergleich zu seiner alten Stadt?
4. Finde im Text: eine Passivkonstruktion (falls vorhanden) und einen wenn-Satz.
Writing Workshop — A Linked Reply
This task asks you to write a reply to Lukas's message above, combining several genres you have practiced across the volume: a short narrative, a piece of advice, and a confirmation of plans.
- Respond to the good news. React to the gym and stove updates using appropriate reactions and connectors.
- Narrate briefly. Add one or two sentences narrating a related experience of your own, using the present perfect or simple past.
- Compare and comment. Respond to Lukas's comparison between the two cities, agreeing, disagreeing, or qualifying his view.
- Confirm the plan. Confirm the Saturday festival plan clearly, using at least one wenn-clause.
- Revise using the checklist below.
Checkliste — Editing Checklist:
- The reply addresses all three genre threads: reaction, narration, and confirmation.
- At least one subordinate clause and one wenn-clause appear with correct verb-final order.
- Comparative language is used accurately and respectfully.
- The tone is warm and appropriate for a message between close friends using du.
- All nouns are capitalized; umlauts and ß are used correctly.
- No claim is made that one city or institution represents all of Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.
Culture and Communication
The confidence to solve everyday problems — negotiating a rule, comparing two cities, or resolving a scheduling conflict — depends as much on local institutions and personal networks as on language skill. What worked smoothly for Lukas with one gym or one landlord may not generalize to another city, another building, or another country. Practical independence in German means being able to ask, clarify, and adapt, not memorizing one fixed procedure.
When comparing rents, neighborhoods, or service experiences between two German-speaking cities or regions, remember that conditions vary by country, city, and even individual building or business. A single positive or negative experience should not be generalized into a claim about an entire country or the whole German-speaking world.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Error: *Ich habe gesagt dass ich komme am Samstag.
Correction: Keep the subordinate clause's verb at the end and use correct punctuation: Ich habe gesagt, dass ich am Samstag komme. Longer, multi-clause sentences still require careful bracket and word-order control.
Error: *In Deutschland sind alle Mieten hoch und alle Vermieter kompliziert.
Correction: Attribute the comparison to the specific situation: In dieser Stadt sind die Mieten höher als in meiner alten Stadt. Avoid turning one comparison into a claim about an entire country.
Error: *Hallo Lukas, wie geht es Ihnen? Kannst du mir helfen?
Correction: Keep address consistent throughout a single message: Hallo Lukas, wie geht es dir? Kannst du mir helfen? Since Sophie and Lukas are close friends, du should be used consistently.
Chapter Summary
Chapter 20 integrated the major systems of Volume II — case and article control, adjective endings, narration in the perfect and simple past, two-way prepositions, subordinate and conditional clauses, separable verbs, modal contrast, comparison, opinion, advice, and register consistency — within one linked, realistic scenario about helping a friend settle into a new city. You practiced listening to and reading connected everyday texts, spoke through a multi-thread conversation, and wrote a reply combining several genres. This completes Volume II: Everyday Independence and Connected Communication.
Capstone Performance Task
Kapitel 20 — Abschlussprojekt
Selbstständig auf Deutsch — On Your Own in German
Complete a linked, multi-part project that draws on the systems developed across all of Volume II.
1. Erzählen
Narrate a connected personal experience using the present perfect and/or simple past.
2. Vergleichen und Meinen
Compare two options and support an opinion about them.
3. Erklären und Verhandeln
Explain a rule or constraint and negotiate a possibility using a wenn-clause.
4. Vermitteln
Mediate one piece of practical information between German and English for a specific audience.
Component 1 — Spoken performance: Perform the Speaking Practice task with a partner, or record a solo alternative, covering at least three scenario threads.
Component 2 — Written performance: Complete the Writing Workshop reply, combining reaction, narration, comparison, and confirmation.
Component 3 — Reflection: Write three to five sentences in English or German reflecting on which Volume II systems now feel consolidated and which you want to prioritize reviewing before Volume III.
| Criterion | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Task completion | All four tracks — narrating, comparing/opining, explaining/negotiating, and mediating — appear clearly across speech and writing |
| Case and noun-phrase accuracy | Consistent case, article, and adjective-ending control across varied noun phrases |
| Clause architecture | Accurate V2 order, verb brackets, subordinate clauses, and at least one conditional wenn-clause |
| Register consistency | Address form matches the relationship and setting throughout |
| Reflective awareness | Reflection identifies specific systems, not only general impressions |
Answer Key
Guided Practice — Übung 1
- Present perfect: e.g., "habe... besichtigt," "hast... gehabt," "wurde... verlängert."
- Comparative: "Im Vergleich zu meiner alten Stadt sind die Mieten hier höher."
- Modal of advice/obligation: "solltest," "sollst."
- Conditional wenn-clause: "Wenn du eine Ausnahme brauchst, würde ich..."
Guided Practice — Übung 2
- Lukas ist überfordert, weil er eine Wohnung sucht.
- Wenn du eine Ausnahme brauchst, solltest du die Rezeption anrufen.
- Sophie meint, dass Lukas mit den Kollegen sprechen sollte.
Guided Practice — Übung 3
Open production. Accept any accurate narration using the present perfect or simple past with at least one temporal connector (e.g., zuerst, dann, danach, schließlich).
Listening — Comprehension Questions
- Der Herd funktioniert nicht richtig.
- Der Vermieter hat gesagt, dass ein Techniker geschickt wird, aber das kann bis zu einer Woche dauern.
- Lukas bittet Sophie um die Nummer von einem Handwerker.
- Sample dass-clause: "Der Vermieter hat gesagt, dass ein Techniker geschickt wird"; sample wenn-clause: "Wenn du eine Nummer... kennst..."
Reading — Comprehension Questions
- Weil Lukas die E-Mail mit der Kündigung zeigen konnte.
- Sie haben das Teamessen auf Sonntagabend verschoben.
- Er findet es hier erstaunlich einfach, Probleme zu lösen, wenn man höflich und direkt fragt.
- Sample wenn-clause: "wenn man höflich und direkt fragt"; no obligatory passive is required in this text, though learners may note the earlier-recognized pattern from Chapter 19 for comparison.
Speaking, Writing, and Reflection
Open production. Evaluate using the Capstone Performance Task criteria table above: task completion across all four tracks, case and noun-phrase accuracy, clause architecture, register consistency, and reflective awareness. Accept any natural, accurate response that meets these criteria.
Looking Ahead
Was Sie nach Kapitel 20 können — What you can do after Chapter 20
You have completed Volume II. You can now handle a wide range of everyday independence tasks in German: describing housing, discussing relationships and routines, planning travel, applying for work or study opportunities, managing health and service appointments, resolving shopping problems, discussing media, narrating experiences, giving and asking for advice, describing places and routes, following and giving instructions, stating and supporting opinions, comparing people and things, describing cultural events with DACH awareness, and explaining rules and possibilities. This reliable, integrated command of everyday German is the foundation for Volume III.