Emma moved to Germany three months ago. She was learning German, but it was not easy. She often made small mistakes when speaking. One morning, Emma went to a bakery near her apartment. She wanted to buy some fresh bread for breakfast. The bakery was busy with many customers. Emma waited in line patiently. When it was her turn, she smiled at the baker. She tried to say 'I would like two rolls, please.' But she made a mistake with her words. Instead of saying 'please,' she said 'now.' It sounded like she was demanding the bread. The baker looked at her with a frown. Emma did not understand why he seemed upset. He gave her the rolls without saying a word. Emma paid and left the bakery feeling confused. Later that day, she met her German friend, Klaus. She told him about the strange experience at the bakery. Klaus started to laugh when he heard what she said. 'Emma, you basically ordered him around!' he said. Emma covered her face with her hands. She felt so embarrassed about her mistake. 'Don't worry,' Klaus said. 'Everyone makes mistakes when learning.' He taught her the correct way to order politely. A few days later, Emma went back to the same bakery. She felt nervous when she saw the same baker. This time, she spoke slowly and carefully. 'Good morning. I would like two rolls, please,' she said. She also added, 'I am sorry about last time. I am still learning.' The baker's expression softened. He smiled warmly at her. 'No problem,' he said. 'Your German is getting better.' Emma felt relieved and happy. From that day, she became a regular customer at the bakery. The baker, whose name was Hans, always greeted her warmly. He even helped her practice new German words. One day, Emma accidentally said a wrong word again. She wanted to say 'gift' but said a word that means 'poison' in German. Hans laughed and gently corrected her. 'In German, Gift means poison,' he explained. Emma laughed too, no longer feeling ashamed of her mistakes. She learned that making mistakes was part of learning. Now Emma speaks German much better than before. She still visits the bakery every week. Hans and Emma have become good friends over time. Sometimes they laugh about her first visit to the bakery. Emma always remembers this lesson: being polite matters. And if you make a mistake, just apologize and try again.
English Story (A2)Accidentally Being Rude
This A2 English story is designed for elementarys learning English. It includes simple vocabulary and short sentences to help you improve your reading and listening skills. Click any word to see translations and hear pronunciation.
About this story
Emma moves to Germany and accidentally sounds rude at a bakery when she confuses her words. After her friend Klaus explains her mistake, she apologizes to the baker and they become friends. She learns that making mistakes is part of learning a new language.
Translations in English
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
How long had Emma been living in Germany when the story begins?
2
What mistake did Emma make when ordering at the bakery?
3
Who explained to Emma what she had done wrong at the bakery?
4
What did Emma accidentally say instead of 'gift' during a later visit to the bakery?
Vocabulary
30 words from this story
