AURAL - Interview

Exam Format and Note-Taking Mechanics

In the interview part of the aural exam, you hear a reporter questioning a guest in German. Your job is to pick out three things: hard facts (times, numbers, places), what the guest thinks, and how the guest says it (enthusiastic, sarcastic, or quoting somebody else). You write your answers in English or Irish, using your own words rather than a word-for-word translation.

Audio Structure and Answering Rules

The audio track is controlled entirely by the official recording, with set reading pauses before each section and finishing pauses at the end. You must listen to the announcer's instructions on the day for the exact number of playbacks and pause lengths. The questions generally follow the order of the conversation, which helps you keep your place, but broad questions (such as 'Give details about the service' or attitude questions) can draw on information from across the entire extract. If a detail turns up earlier or later than you expected, stay calm and keep listening.

Your answers must be written in English or Irish; transcribing full German sentences directly from the audio will not be credited. However, proper nouns and specific contact details are different: personal names, place names, websites, and phone numbers are written exactly as heard (such as Frau Schütz, nummergegenkummer.de, or 116 111).

Efficient Margin Notes

Do not try to write polished English sentences while the guest is speaking, or you will miss the next question. Use the exam booklet margins actively:

• Write numbers as digits immediately: If you hear vierundvierzig, write down 44 straight away.
• Jot German keywords phonetically: If you catch a word but cannot translate it instantly, jot it down roughly (e.g. write 'kost-lows' for kostenlos) and convert it to 'free of charge' during the pause.
• Use the playbacks systematically: In the first playback, grasp the overall story and secure the straightforward facts. In the second playback, fill in specific explanations, attitudes, and reasons. If a third playback is given, check spellings, numbers, and qualifying words.
• Complete your work in the pause: Once the audio moves to the next section, you cannot go back. Ensure every answer space has your best response before the recording moves on.

Numbers, Clock Times, Dates, and Contact Details

Factual questions often hinge on numerical precision, dates, and contact data. Spoken German has several specific features that regularly catch candidates out.

The Units-First Rule and Clock Times

In German compound two-digit numbers, the unit is always spoken before the ten, linked by und:

• dreiundvierzig = 3 + 40 = 43 (not 34).
• fünfundsechzig = 5 + 60 = 65 (not 56).

For clock times, the word halb means half an hour before the named hour, never half past:

• halb drei = 2:30 (half past two).
• halb acht = 7:30 (half past seven).
• Viertel nach sieben = 7:15; Viertel vor sieben = 6:45; zehn vor halb acht = 7:20 (ten minutes before 7:30).

Interviews frequently use the 24-hour clock for evening times (zwanzig Uhr = 8:00 pm; sechzehn Uhr dreißig = 4:30 pm).

Dates and Larger Statistics

Dates are spoken using ordinal numbers: am dritten Mai (on the 3rd of May); am einundzwanzigsten Juni (on the 21st of June). Time boundaries often use Anfang Juli (beginning of July), Mitte Juli (mid-July), or Ende Juli (end of July).

Be alert to scale and false friends in statistics:

• eine Milliarde means a billion (1,000,000,000). A German Billion actually means a trillion.
• eineinhalb or anderthalb = 1.5; die Hälfte = half; ein Drittel = a third; ein Viertel = a quarter; doppelt so viele = twice as many.
• Prepositions with changes: um 20 Prozent gestiegen = risen by 20%; auf 20 Prozent gestiegen = risen to 20%.

Spelled-Out Names and Contact Information

Interviewees are often asked „Wie erreicht man Sie?“ (How can people reach you?). Each digit, website segment, or spelled letter often forms an individual marking point. Letters that frequently cause confusion:

• e sounds like English 'ay', i sounds like English 'ee', and a sounds like 'ah'. Reversing ei and ie turns Meier into Mieer.
• j = 'yot', v = 'fau', w = 'vay', y = Ypsilon, and z = 'tset'.
• ä, ö, ü are pronounced a-Umlaut, o-Umlaut, u-Umlaut; they can also be written out as ae, oe, ue (e.g. Schütz → Schuetz).
• ß is Eszett or scharfes S; writing 'ss' is acceptable (e.g. Straße → Strasse).
• doppel- means a repeated letter (doppel-t = tt).

Punctuation terms to recognise:

Limiting Words and Implicit Reason Questions

A candidate can understand the main topic of an extract perfectly and still lose the mark by dropping a small qualifying word. German speakers use short, unstressed limiting words that completely alter or reverse the factual meaning of a sentence.

Small Words That Flip the Meaning

Watch the difference between modal verbs: man muss nicht means 'you do not have to' (an option), whereas man darf nicht means 'you must not / you are not allowed to' (a prohibition). In a helpline extract, „Man muss seinen Namen nicht nennen“ means callers do not have to give their name, which secures the mark for anonymity.

Extracting Reasons When the Speaker Never Says 'Weil'

Higher Level interview questions frequently ask: 'Why is this initiative so popular?' or 'Why do young people use this service? Give three details.' Many students listen exclusively for causal conjunctions like weil or da. When they do not hear them, they panic.

In natural German interviews, the guest rarely says „Das ist beliebt, weil...“. Instead, the guest simply lists positive attributes, practical features, or emotional benefits. In an exam answer, you turn each positive feature directly into a reason:

• If the speaker says „Niemand sieht deine Nummer und es kostet keinen Cent“, your reasons are: (1) It is completely confidential / phone numbers are hidden, and (2) It is free of charge.
• If the speaker adds „Die Jugendlichen bestimmen selbst, wann Schluss ist“, your third reason is: (3) Callers themselves control how long the conversation lasts.

Tenses, Reported Speech, and Irony

Higher Level questions test your ability to separate past reality from future hopes, and to tell whether an interviewee is stating their own belief, reporting what someone else claims, or speaking with irony.

Tense Tracking and Timeframes

Notice how the verb structure signals the precise timeframe:

• Perfekt (Past): „Ich habe eine Lehre gemacht.“ – I completed an apprenticeship.
• Präsens (Present): „Ich arbeite bei einer Bank.“ – I work at a bank.
• Präsens with future adverb: „Morgen treffe ich den Chef.“ – Tomorrow I am meeting the boss.
• Futur I (Definite future): „Ich werde Biologie studieren.“ – I will study biology.
• Konjunktiv II (Hypothetical/Wish): „Ich würde gern im Ausland wohnen.“ – I would like to live abroad (a wish, not an established fact).
• Präsens with seit: „Ich wohne seit fünf Jahren in Köln.“ – I have been living in Cologne for five years (and I still live there today; do not translate this as a finished past action).

Reported Speech (Konjunktiv I)

When an interviewee quotes a third party, an official, or a public report without personally verifying it, German uses reported speech (indirekte Rede), often using Konjunktiv I forms like sei (is), habe (has), or wolle (wants):

„Der Politiker behauptet, die Mieten seien gesunken.“ – The politician claims that rents have fallen.

The verb behaupten (to claim) and the subjunctive verb seien indicate that this is the politician's unconfirmed claim. If the question asks whether rents have fallen according to the speaker, the correct answer is: 'No, the speaker notes that the politician claims they have, but does not confirm it.'

Discerning Tone and Irony

Spoken German often conveys sarcasm through exaggerated positive words combined with sharp intonation:

„Na toll! Noch mehr Hausaufgaben – genau das hat mir gefehlt!“ – Just great! Even more homework – exactly what I needed!

Here, toll (great) is biting irony. Writing down that the speaker was delighted with the homework forfeits the mark. Look out for particles like ja, doch, and sarcastic expressions like Na wunderbar! or Das darf nicht wahr sein! (That can't be true!).

Interrogatives, Discourse Markers, and Speaker Attribution

Interviews are dialogues. Listening actively for the reporter's question words (W-Fragen) tells you what category of information the guest will deliver next:

• Wer? / Mit wem? (Who? / With whom?): Prepares you for a person, colleague, or organisation.
• Wann? / Seit wann? / Bis wann? (When? / Since when? / Until when?): Signals dates, opening days, or durations.
• Wo? / Wohin? / Woher? (Where? / Where to? / Where from?): Pinpoints cities, buildings, or regions.
• Warum? / Weshalb? (Why? / For what reason?): Signals explanations, motivations, or causes.
• Wie viel? / Wie viele? (How much? / How many?): Signals costs, call numbers, percentages, or participant figures.

Causal and Contrast Connectors

German connects clauses using different word-order patterns:

• Subordinating conjunctions (weil, da): Send the conjugated verb to the end of the clause („Er nimmt den Bus, weil die Fahrkarte billig ist.“* – He takes the bus because the ticket is cheap).
• Coordinating conjunction (denn): Leaves the verb in standard position 2 („..., denn die Fahrkarte ist billig.“* – ..., for the ticket is cheap).
• Explanatory adverb (nämlich): Never sits at the start of a clause. It sits in the middle (Mittelfeld), right after the finite verb („Er kommt heute nicht; er ist nämlich krank.“* – He is not coming today; he is, you see, ill).
• Contrast markers: Words like aber (but), obwohl (although), trotzdem (nevertheless), and einerseits ... andererseits (on the one hand ... on the other hand) mark an immediate shift in perspective. Examiners regularly place the mark on the qualification immediately following the contrast word.

Self-Corrections and Speaker Attribution

German audio recordings frequently feature mid-sentence self-corrections: „Das Treffen ist am Dienstag — Entschuldigung, am Donnerstag.“ The first detail is a deliberate distractor; always write down the corrected item (Thursday).

Equally important is distinguishing between the reporter and the guest. An interviewer often introduces an extreme viewpoint or stereotype to provoke a reaction („Viele Leute glauben, dass Jugendliche heute egoistisch sind. Wie sehen Sie das?“). Do not record this introductory statement as the guest's opinion. Wait for the guest's response („Das stimmt überhaupt nicht...“).

Essential Thematic Vocabulary Banks

Leaving Certificate interview extracts draw on standard Senior Cycle themes. Familiarity with these vocabulary clusters enables rapid comprehension during playback.

The Opening: Personal and Biographical Details

The first twenty seconds of an interview often yield an accessible mark about the guest's background:

• Ich bin von Beruf... / Ich arbeite als... (I work as...).
• zuständig sein für... (to be responsible for...); leiten (to manage / lead); der Leiter / die Leiterin (director / manager).
• der Mitarbeiter (staff member / employee); der Freiwillige (volunteer).
• Ich komme ursprünglich aus... (I come originally from...); auf dem Land (in the countryside); in der Vorstadt (in the suburbs).
• verheiratet (married); geschieden (divorced); alleinerziehend (single parent); das Einzelkind (only child).

Youth Helplines and Support Services

• das Sorgentelefon / das Kummer-Telefon (helpline); kostenlos / gebührenfrei (free of charge); bundesweit (nationwide / across Germany).
• anonym (anonymous); vertraulich (confidential); rund um die Uhr (24/7 / around the clock); zuhören (to listen).
• der Leistungsdruck (pressure to achieve); die Zukunftsangst (fear of the future); das Mobbing / Cybermobbing (bullying / cyberbullying); die Einsamkeit (loneliness); der Liebeskummer (lovesickness / heartbreak).

Environment and Sustainability (die Umwelt)

• der Klimawandel (climate change); der Umweltschutz (environmental protection); die Erderwärmung (global warming).
• der Müll / der Abfall (rubbish / waste); Müll trennen (to separate rubbish); recyceln (to recycle); die Verpackung (packaging); die Plastiktüte (plastic bag).
• die öffentlichen Verkehrsmittel (public transport); die erneuerbaren Energien (renewable energy sources); das Windrad (wind turbine).
• Energie sparen (to save energy); verzichten auf (+ acc) (to do without / give up); nachhaltig (sustainable); umweltfreundlich (environmentally friendly); der Radweg (cycle lane).

Health and Lifestyle (Gesundheit und Lebensstil)

• sich ernähren (to nourish oneself / eat); die Ernährung (diet / nutrition); ausgewogen (balanced); Sport treiben (to do sport); sich fit halten (to keep fit).
• der Stress / stressig (stress / stressful); unter Druck stehen (to be under pressure); sich entspannen (to relax); der Schlafmangel (lack of sleep).
• das Rauchen aufgeben (to quit smoking); der Alkoholkonsum (alcohol consumption); die Sucht / süchtig (addiction / addicted); die Bildschirmzeit (screen time).

Deceptive False Friends

Key terms

der Gast / der Interviewpartner

The invited interviewee whose statements, opinions, and explanations provide the factual answers required on the exam paper.

halb drei

Spoken clock time meaning 2:30 (half past two), representing half an hour before the third hour.

erst

Limiting word meaning 'only' or 'not until' (e.g. 'erst um acht' = not until eight o'clock).

nicht mehr

Phrase meaning 'no longer' or 'not any more', indicating that a past condition has ceased.

kostenlos / gebührenfrei

Free of charge; a regular marking point in descriptions of helplines, public services, and youth clubs.

bundesweit

Nationwide; across all federal states in Germany.

der Leistungsdruck

Pressure to achieve or perform, especially regarding school exams, points, and university admission.

die Zukunftsangst

Anxiety or fear about the future, particularly regarding career prospects, housing, or the environment.

verzichten auf (+ acc)

To do without, forgo, or give up something voluntarily (such as giving up using a car).

behaupten

To claim or assert; frequently introduces reported speech or unverified statements.

nämlich

Explanatory adverb meaning 'you see' or 'namely'; sits after the verb in the main clause and never starts a subordinate clause.

eine Milliarde

One billion (1,000,000,000); not to be confused with a trillion.