During a typical German lesson we focus on the different areas of the language learning:
- grammar,
- talking,
- text comprehension,
- text production.
Talking shows your ability to build up a sentence using the grammar concepts and learned lexicon we have seen before.
On the other side, you need to understand your interlocutor to talk with him, here we come to text comprehension. There are different ways to exercise your ability to understand the language.
For example, when talking with a person you don't need to understand every single word the person says. Usually the meaning of the discussion is understandable just picking out some words of the dialogue. Then you shift your focus to the answer, as shown in the picture.
A dictation is a completely different exercise, even if still involving audio and text comprehension. It is perfect to verify the comprehension of German as you need to understand each word, if you don't understand something stop and hear it again.
When you write something be sure that the grammar is correct, so it is useful also as a proof of your grammar understanding.
Unfortunately there is not much time to do a dictation during the lesson, but you can catch up here with the homework I propose.
Here is the listening homework:
- Listening Comprehension, A1 level – A short audio dialogue with follow-up questions for absolute beginners.
- Homework – A2 – Urlaubspläne – Practice understanding travel-related conversations at elementary level.
- Listening level B1 – Intermediate listening exercise on everyday topics.
- Homework – B2 – Informationsgespräch – Upper-intermediate exercise featuring an information interview.
- Listening C1 level – Advanced listening comprehension with complex audio material.
- Homework – C2 – Sprechstunde – Proficiency-level exercise simulating a doctor's consultation.
Here is a list of the dictation homework on my website:
- Dictation – level A1 – Simple words and short sentences for beginners.
- Dictation – level B1 – Intermediate dictation to test grammar and spelling.
- Dictation – level C1 – Advanced dictation with complex vocabulary and sentence structures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between listening comprehension and dictation?
Listening comprehension tests your ability to understand the general meaning of spoken German. You listen to an audio clip and answer questions about it. Dictation requires you to write down every single word you hear, testing both your listening skills and your grammar knowledge at the same time.
Which level should I start with?
If you are a complete beginner, start with A1 exercises. If you have some prior knowledge, try the level above your current one. Each exercise includes the transcript so you can check your answers regardless of your level.
Are these exercises free?
Yes, all listening and dictation exercises on this page are completely free. If you would like personalised guidance, consider booking a private German course in Munich or an online German lesson.
Ready to improve your German?
Try these exercises, then take the next step with a free trial lesson tailored to your level.
