This document introduces "The Germans at Home", a historical German course based on a Victorian textbook. It uses conversations to tell the story of a typical German family, the Baumanns, and their daily life. While it teaches basic German vocabulary and grammar, the outdated content means it doesn't reflect modern German. However, it provides an intriguing glimpse into 19th century life. The course introduces the Baumann family members and their servants that the student will learn about through the first 10 conversations between Wilhelm and his nanny preparing for breakfast.

1. The Germans at Home

2. What is „The Germans at Home“?
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It's a historical German course, based on a
Victorian textbook.
Though the original book contains no information
on vocabulary, just 'conversations'.
It also uses some very odd period spellings.
I've left those as they are to preserve the Victorian
flair of the course, but (correct) modern
alternatives are allowed.

3. What does it do?
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It's a basic German course intended for selfteaching.
The conversations start out very simple but
vocabulary, grammar etc. get increasingly more
complex.
Together, the conversations tell the story of a
typical day in the life of a typical(?) German
family, the Baumanns.

4. What can this course not do?
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Since it's a course that's well over 100 years old, it
obviously can't teach you modern German.
Which means that you may get weird looks if you
try out some of those phrases in conversation.
(NB: Never use 'gefälligst' if you mean to say
'please' – it now means the exact opposite!)
It also means this probably won't help you get an
A* for your GCSE German. Sorry.

5. So why should I do it, then?
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Because it's fun!
Apart from teaching you basic German, the scenes
give you an intriguing glimpse of 19th-century
life and family values. So the course is almost like
a little time-machine.
To get the most out of that, I'd recommend that as
well as learning the words and phrases you also
try to pay attention to what is actually happening
in those short scenes. (Though of course it's up to
you.)

6. Meet the Germans!
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Wilhelm. Main protagonist. 5-6 years old and the
only child in the (fairly posh) Baumann family.
Anna and Walter Baumann. His mum and dad.
In supporting roles:
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Fräulein Milde. Wilhelm's governess.
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Marie. Wilhelm's nanny.
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Sophie. Maidservant.
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Emma. Wilhelm's friend, who lives next door.

7. Coming up: Scenes 1-10
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The first ten conversations are between Wilhelm
and Marie, who is trying to get him ready for
breakfast. This takes a long time, partly because
Wilhelm is in a chatty mood and partly because
he's expected to dress up.
Interesting fact: even in an evidently posh
household like the Baumanns' people still seem to
wash in cold water.
What to watch for: the procedure of getting
yourself ready in the morning (very different from
today's, obviously) and the implements used.