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At School & In the Park ​

Two everyday scenes: the classroom and a sunny bench.

In class you usually address the teacher with Sie but talk to classmates with du. Strangers you chat with in a park are usually du if they're around your age, Sie if older.

In class ​

Formal (Sie) — asking the teacher to help.
Schülerin
Entschuldigung, ich verstehe das nicht. Können Sie das wiederholen?
Excuse me, I don't understand. Can you repeat that?
Lehrer
Natürlich. Hören Sie gut zu.
Of course. Listen carefully.
Schülerin
Wie schreibt man das?
How do you spell that?
Lehrer
Ich schreibe es an die Tafel.
I'll write it on the board.
Good to know — classroom phrases: Ich verstehe das nicht (I don't understand), Können Sie das wiederholen? (can you repeat that?), Wie schreibt man das? (how do you spell that?), Was bedeutet …? (what does … mean?). "Man" is the impersonal "one/you".

On a park bench ​

Informal (du) — a friendly stranger your age.
Max
Ist der Platz hier frei?
Is this seat free?
Sara
Ja, klar. Setz dich!
Yes, of course. Have a seat!
Max
Danke. Schönes Wetter heute, oder?
Thanks. Nice weather today, isn't it?
Sara
Ja, endlich Sonne! Ich liebe den Frühling.
Yes, finally some sun! I love spring.
Good to know: tag a sentence with …, oder? to make small talk ("…, right?"). Ist der Platz frei? is the polite way to take a seat. The weather is the safest small-talk topic in Germany — Schönes Wetter, oder? works almost anywhere.