Practice Texts

Here is a short list of annotated texts at various levels of difficulty.

• Der Panther (poem) [Deutsch 231]
• Chor der Geretteten (poem) [Deutsch 231]
• Der Erlkönig (poem) [Deutsch 231] Unfortunately, this page looks odd in some browsers. The formatting is meant to distinguish the speakers: the narrator and the father get the same font; the child gets a bolder font, and the Erlkönig's text is in italics.
• An die Freude (poem) [Deutsch 231] This is the text of the "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Only the first stanza is annotated.
• 66 Fragen [Deutsch 231]
• Der Stern der Weisen und die Wissenschaft (speculative text offering an interesting (though incorrect) theory as to what astronomical event may have given rise to the biblical Star of Bethlehem [Deutsch 232]

Relativ leicht [=easy]

• The texts that were previously linked here are no longer available, but the about.com link below does include some easier texts.

Relativ schwer [=difficult]

• Die Todesfuge Ein Gedicht von Paul Celan über den Holocaust. Auf der Webseite finden Sie den Text, eine Übersetzung [=translation] und viele Materialien zum Text.
• Nicht ohne meine Tanne Ein Text über den Tannenbaum und Weihnachten, mit Vokabeln (deutsch-deutsch), Übungen und Lösungen [=solutions].

Sites Where You Can Practice On Your Own

• WordChamp Click on the link to the "Web Reader" and then follow the instructions: the program will mark up a webpage of your choice whenever it encounters a word in its database. Once the page comes up, you can run your mouse over highlighted words and get translations, as well as audio and conjugation information when available. The site also offers access to tutors, connects you with other learners, and provides access to flashcards and exercises!

• About.com's German Reading Selections This fantastic page includes a variety of annotated or dual-language texts at various levels of difficulty, and includes comprehension questions.
• 19th century German Stories Wonderfully done multimedia editions from Virginia Commonwealth University.  Includes Struwwelpeter, Max und Moritz, and a selection of the Grimm fairy tales, as well as a great selection of other texts.  For most texts you can find a "story menu" that allows you to read a dual-language version, or to read the text side-by-side with a convenient dictionary window.
• Litgloss (University of Buffalo) Collection of extensively glossed texts in various languages.  The German selections include texts by the Grimm Brothers, Goethe, Kafka, and Kant.

Deutsche Welle Nachrichten