My German Adventures: Talking About What I Do in My Free Time

Okay, so here I am, six months in Berlin. It’s amazing, truly, but sometimes I feel like I’m constantly playing catch-up, especially when it comes to actually talking to people. I can order coffee, ask for directions, and generally get by, but when someone asks, “Was machst du gern in deiner Freizeit?” (What do you like to do in your free time?), I completely freeze. It’s not just the question itself, it’s the pressure to have a good answer!

The Awkward First Few Weeks

The first few weeks, I just defaulted to “Ich lese” (I read). It’s true, I do enjoy a good book, but it felt…small. And honestly, it didn’t really give anyone much to latch onto. I tried to be more descriptive, saying “Ich spiele gern Klavier” (I like to play the piano), and I could see a flicker of interest, but then they’d just ask, “Wie lange spielst du?” (How long do you play?) and I’d stumble, completely lost. My German vocabulary felt so…limited.

Separable Verbs – My Biggest Struggle

Let’s talk about something that’s been a huge roadblock: separable verbs. Seriously, I swear they’re actively trying to sabotage my conversations. Yesterday, I was talking to Sarah, a lovely woman I met at the gym, and I really wanted to say I go running in the park on Sundays. I said, “Ich gehe jeden Sonntag im Park laufen.” (I go running in the park every Sunday.) Sarah looked completely confused. She gently corrected me, saying “Nein, nein! Du gehst mit dem Park laufen!” (No, no! You go running with the park!). Apparently, you separate the verb. It’s like a tiny German gremlin messing with my sentence structure.

The good news is, she gave me a really good example: “Anfangen zu helfen” (to start to help) becomes “Ich anhalle zu helfen” (I start to help). It’s still utterly baffling, but at least now I know not to just blurt everything out. I’m writing down a list of common separable verbs – anfangen (to begin), aufhören (to stop), sich treffen (to meet up) – and trying to practice them until they become automatic.

Time Expressions: “Sonntags” vs. “In den Sonntagen”

This is another area where I’ve made some spectacularly embarrassing mistakes. I’ve been told, multiple times, that saying “Ich gehe am Sonntags schwimmen” (I go swimming on Sundays) is wrong. Apparently, you need the preposition in! It’s “Ich gehe in den Sonntagen schwimmen” (I go swimming on Sundays). Seriously! It feels so weird, but I’m trying to internalize it. I’m convinced Germans have a secret rule about prepositions that I’m just not privy to yet.

Real-Life Conversations & Misunderstandings

I was at a Biergarten (beer garden) last week, trying to strike up a conversation with a couple. I wanted to tell them about my attempts to learn German and my love of hiking. I blurted out, “Ich liebe es, in den Bergen wandern.” (I love to hike in the mountains.) The man, Klaus, raised an eyebrow and said, “Aber warum?” (But why?). It turns out I’d used “in” and he thought I was saying I loved being inside the mountains! We both had a good laugh, and he patiently explained that you say “Ich wandere in den Bergen” (I hike in the mountains). It’s a good reminder to be more specific, I think.

Useful Vocabulary & Phrases

Here’s a little list of phrases I’m actually finding useful:

• Was machst du gern am Wochenende? (What do you like to do on the weekend?) – A classic opener.
• Ich gehe gerne joggen. (I like to go jogging.)
• Ich treffe mich gern mit Freunden. (I like to meet up with friends.)
• Ich lese gern Romane. (I like to read novels.)
• Ich sehe gern Filme. (I like to watch movies.)

Moving Forward – It’s Okay to Make Mistakes

Honestly, I’m realizing that it’s okay to make mistakes. Everyone makes them, especially when learning a new language. The important thing is that I’m trying, that I’m actively seeking out opportunities to practice, and that I’m not afraid to look silly. I’m starting to feel a bit more confident, and I’m even starting to enjoy talking about my hobbies, even when I stumble over words and phrases. And who knows, maybe one day I’ll confidently say “Ich gehe gern im Park laufen” and Sarah will actually understand me! Wish me luck!