My First Month in Berlin: Talking About My Free Time (and Those Weird Verbs!)

Okay, so I’ve been in Berlin for a little over a month now, working as a freelance translator. It’s amazing, the work is great, and the city is…well, it’s Berlin. Chaotic, brilliant, and completely overwhelming sometimes. But the biggest challenge, honestly, has been actually talking to people. I’m not a shy person, but the German just comes out so fast, and I get so worried about messing up.

One of the first things everyone asks you is about your Freizeit – your free time. It’s a huge deal here. Apparently, Germans love to talk about what they do when they’re not working. And that’s where these… separable verbs threw me for a loop.

The Separable Verb Problem

Seriously, what are they? I understood the basic concept – that a verb like aufstehen (to get up) has a prefix that separates from the rest of the verb – but actually using them correctly felt incredibly awkward. It’s like, I’d be trying to say “Ich stehe jeden Morgen um 7 Uhr auf,” and my brain would just freeze up.

My colleague, Markus, noticed this immediately. He said, with a friendly smile, “Du musst dich daran gewöhnen, dass ‘auf’ immer weg ist! Es ist wichtig, damit die Bedeutung klar ist.” (You need to get used to the fact that ‘auf’ is always gone! It’s important so the meaning is clear.)

It sounds so simple when he says it, but it wasn’t!

Practical Conversations – Let’s Talk Freizeit!

Let’s look at some real examples. I was at a Stammtisch (a regular gathering of friends) last week, and someone asked me: “Was machst du so am Wochenende?” (What do you do on the weekend?).

I wanted to say, “Ich gehe oft ins Kino” (I often go to the cinema), but I blurted out, “Ich gehe am Wochenende Kino.” It felt right, you know? Markus immediately corrected me, laughing gently. “Nein, nein! Es muss gehen + ins Kino! Du sagst: ‘Ich gehe am Wochenende ins Kino.’” (No, no! It has to be gehen + to the cinema! You say: ‘I go to the cinema on the weekend.’)

The correct sentence sounded so much smoother, and I realized he was right – splitting it up was the key.

Here are a few more common scenarios and how I’ve messed them up (and how Markus helped):

• “Ich treffe mich mit Freunden.” (I meet up with friends). I kept saying “Ich treffe mich mit Freunden” – it felt complete. Markus patiently explained, “Du musst sagen: ‘Ich treffe mich mit Freunden.’” (You have to say: ‘I meet myself with friends’). It’s weird, I know, but it’s the way it works!
• “Ich lese ein Buch.” (I’m reading a book). I was trying to impress someone with my reading, and I said, “Ich lese ein Buch gerade.” (I’m reading a book right now). Markus pointed out, “Du musst sagen ‘Ich lese ein Buch.’” (You have to say ‘I’m reading a book’). Little details, right?

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

I’ve made so many mistakes. One particularly embarrassing moment involved trying to order a coffee. I wanted to say, “Ich nehme einen Kaffee, bitte.” (I’ll take a coffee, please). Instead, I said, “Ich nehme einen bitte Kaffee.” The barista looked completely baffled! He gently explained that “Kaffee” comes after “nehmen.” I nearly died of embarrassment.

Another time, I was telling someone about my plans for the evening – “Ich gehe heute Abend ins Fitnessstudio” (I’m going to the gym tonight). I emphasized the “ins” and nearly caused a fit! Thankfully, my friend just smiled and said, “Kein Problem! Das ist ein typischer Fehler.” (No problem! That’s a typical mistake).

Useful Phrases to Remember

Here are some phrases I’ve found really helpful:

• “Ich mache…” (I do…) – “Ich mache Yoga am Dienstag.” (I do Yoga on Tuesday).
• “Ich gehe…” (I go…) – “Ich gehe schwimmen am Wochenende.” (I go swimming on the weekend).
• “Ich treffe mich mit…” (I meet with…) – “Ich treffe mich mit meinen Eltern.” (I meet with my parents).
• “Ich lese…” (I read…) – “Ich lese gern Romane.” (I like to read novels).

My Progress – It’s Getting Better!

Honestly, I’m still struggling, but I’m definitely getting better. I’m starting to recognize the separable verbs more easily, and I’m less afraid to make mistakes. Markus is a patient teacher, and I’m trying to embrace the fact that learning a language is a messy process.

The next time someone asks me “Was machst du am Wochenende?”, I’m going to confidently say, “Ich gehe ins Kino” – and hopefully, without completely freezing up!

Ich drücke die Daumen! (I wish you luck!)