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Alltagsgespräche · Everyday Talk · Folge 4

Die Überraschungsparty

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In each language: The Surprise Party · Die Überraschungsparty

Leo plans a surprise party for Maya's birthday. The cake burns, the guests are strange and the surprise is not the one he planned. Nora brings a photo.

In English and German · 4 chapters · 10 min to read.

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How it begins

GermanEnglish

1

1

„Am Freitag hat Maya Geburtstag“, sagt Leo. „Ich hab's in ihrem Pass gesehen. Und wir machen ihr eine Überraschungsparty.“

"Friday is Maya's birthday," said Leo. "I've seen it on her passport. And we're going to give her a surprise party."

Sams Stimme ist wieder da, aber nur zur Hälfte. „Warum hast du dir ihren Pass angeguckt?“

Sam's voice was back, but only half of it. "Why were you looking at her passport?"

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

  • The Surprise Party · English (original)A2 Easy · 1,071 words · ~10 min
  • Die Überraschungsparty · GermanA2 Easy · 1,058 words · ~10 min

Open in the reader: German with English · English with German

More stories at this level

Easy stories in German with English beside it (all of them: Easy German stories).

Reading it as a parallel text

A parallel text puts a story next to its translation, paragraph by paragraph. Read in the language you are working on and glance across only when a sentence stops you: the story keeps moving, and the words you look up stay in context. More in how to read with a parallel text.

Questions

Which languages can I read The Surprise Party in?
English and German. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.
What level is it?
The original English is A2 Easy. In translation, German is A2 Easy. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
How long is it?
About 1,071 words in 4 chapters: around 10 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.
Is it free?
Yes. Read it online with no account. The e-reader files (EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account; the PDF doesn't.
Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?
Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.