Build Your German Conversation System

Set up Anki with FSRS and AI role-play prompts for German restaurant and daily life.

Introduction

30 Second Summary

Moving to a new country for work means learning a language in two worlds at once. You need professional vocabulary for your job AND everyday phrases for life outside work.

In this project, you will build a complete daily German learning system that combines Anki's spaced repetition with AI conversation practice, targeting both restaurant service language and daily life scenarios.

What You'll Build

A personalized German learning system using optimized Anki decks and reusable AI role-play prompts designed for a demi chef de rang preparing to work and live in Germany.

By the end of this project, you'll have:

  • An optimized Anki setup with the FSRS algorithm enabled and settings tuned for language learning.
  • Two themed decks with cloze deletion cards covering restaurant service phrases and daily life German.
  • A reusable AI prompt library with role-play scenarios for both work and everyday situations, plus completed practice sessions proving the system works.
  • Secret Mission: Build a weekly rotation calendar that cycles through 100 daily life topics so you systematically cover all of them over time.

Are there any prerequisites?

You need Anki installed on your Mac and access to Claude or Gemini (the free tier works perfectly). No prior German knowledge or coding experience is required.

Optimize Your Anki Settings for German

Your Anki installation uses default settings that are not optimized for language learning.

In this step, you will switch to the modern FSRS scheduling algorithm, tune your review settings for daily German study, and create a deck structure for both restaurant service and daily life vocabulary.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Enable the FSRS scheduling algorithm.
  • Configure review settings for language learning.
  • Create your "Deutsch::Restaurant" and "Deutsch::Alltag" subdecks.
Enable FSRS (the modern scheduling algorithm)

Anki's default scheduling uses an older algorithm called SM-2. The newer FSRS algorithm adapts to your personal memory patterns, reducing unnecessary reviews while keeping retention high.

  • On the Decks screen, click the gear icon next to the Default deck.
  • Click Options.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the deck options page to find the FSRS section.
  • Toggle FSRS on.
  • Set Desired Retention to 0.85 (85%).
  • Click Save at the top of the options panel.

What is FSRS?

FSRS stands for Free Spaced Repetition Scheduler. It replaces the older SM-2 algorithm with a smarter scheduler that models your personal forgetting curve. It requires Anki 23.10 or newer.

When FSRS is turned on, SM-2 specific options (like Graduating interval and Easy bonus) are hidden because FSRS manages long-term scheduling for you.

Why 0.85 instead of the default 0.90?

The Anki manual states that above 90% desired retention, the workload increases very quickly. At 0.85 you still remember the vast majority of your cards, but you avoid drowning in daily reviews as your deck grows.

Don't see the FSRS section?

FSRS requires Anki 23.10 or newer. Check your version under Anki > About Anki in the menu bar. If you are on an older version, update Anki from the official site before continuing.

Help me find and enable FSRS in Anki

Configure your learning settings

Now you will set the review limits that control how many new cards you see each day and how the learning phase works.

  • In the same Deck Options panel, find the Daily Limits section.
  • Set New cards/day to 20.
  • Set Maximum reviews/day to 9999.
  • Scroll up to the Learning Steps field.
  • Set it to 10m.
  • Click Save.

Why these specific values?

  • 20 new cards/day is the consensus sweet spot for language learners. You will split this across two decks (10 restaurant + 10 daily life). Each new card generates 8-12 future reviews, keeping your daily session around 30 minutes.
  • Learning steps of 10m keeps things simple. The Anki manual recommends steps shorter than 1 day when using FSRS. Longer multi-day learning steps are not needed because FSRS handles long-term scheduling.
  • Maximum reviews/day at 9999 removes any artificial cap so FSRS can schedule reviews as needed.
Create your deck structure

You will create two subdecks under a parent deck called "Deutsch". One holds your restaurant service vocabulary. The other holds your daily life German.

  • Return to the main Decks screen by closing the options panel.
  • Click Create Deck at the bottom of the screen.
  • In the dialog box, type Deutsch::Restaurant and click OK.
  • Click Create Deck again.
  • Type Deutsch::Alltag and click OK.

What does the :: do?

Anki uses double colons to create a deck hierarchy. Typing Deutsch::Restaurant creates a parent deck called "Deutsch" with a subdeck called "Restaurant" nested inside it.

This lets you study all German cards together by clicking the parent deck, or focus on one area by clicking the subdeck.

You should now see a "Deutsch" parent deck on your Decks screen with two subdecks listed beneath it: "Restaurant" and "Alltag".

Only see one deck called Deutsch?

Click the arrow or triangle next to "Deutsch" to expand it. The subdecks collapse under the parent by default.

If you accidentally typed the name without the :: separator, you will have a flat deck instead of a subdeck. Delete it by clicking the gear icon next to it, selecting Delete, and creating it again with the correct name.

Help me fix my deck structure in Anki

Your Anki is now configured for efficient German learning. Next up, you will fill the Restaurant deck with your first batch of service phrases using cloze deletion cards.

Build Your Restaurant German Deck

Your Anki settings are dialed in and your two empty decks are ready to fill.

Now it is time to populate your Deutsch::Restaurant deck with real service phrases you will use on the floor. You will create cloze deletion cards that hide one key word in a full German sentence, forcing you to recall vocabulary in context rather than in isolation.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Create cloze cards for greeting and seating guests.
  • Create cloze cards for taking orders and making recommendations.
  • Create cloze cards for billing and handling complaints.
Create your first cloze cards for guest interactions

Cloze deletion cards hide one key word in a sentence so you actively recall it during review. This is far more effective than simple word-pair flashcards because you learn each word in context.

  • In Anki, click Add in the main window to open the Add Notes window.
  • Click the note type button in the top left of the Add window.
  • Select Cloze from the list of note types.
  • Click the deck button in the top right of the Add window.
  • Select Deutsch::Restaurant as the target deck.

What is a cloze deletion?

A cloze deletion hides one word in a sentence using the syntax {{c1::word}}. When you review the card, Anki shows the sentence with a blank where the hidden word should be. You try to recall the missing word, then reveal the answer.

You can type the cloze syntax directly into the Text field, or type the full sentence first, highlight the word to hide, and click the [...] button. Both methods produce the same result.

  • Type each of the following sentences into the Text field, one card at a time. After typing each one, press Cmd+Enter to save the card:
Guten Abend. Haben Sie {{c1::reserviert}}?
(Good evening. Do you have a reservation?)

{{c1::Möchten}} Sie drinnen oder draußen sitzen?
(Would you like to sit inside or outside?)

Kommen Sie bitte {{c1::mit}}.
(Please come with me.)

Hier sind die {{c1::Karten}}: die Speisekarte und die Getränkekarte.
(Here are the menus: the food menu and the drinks menu.)

What do these cards cover?

These four cards cover the first moments of guest interaction. Reserviert (reserved) and Möchten (would like) are high-frequency verbs you will use dozens of times per shift.

Each cloze hides the word that carries the most meaning in the sentence. When you review, you reconstruct the sentence from context. This mirrors how real conversation works.

  • After adding all four cards, check the card count next to Deutsch::Restaurant on the Decks screen. You should see 4 listed as new cards.

Not seeing 4 cards in the deck?

Make sure the deck selector in the top right of the Add window shows Deutsch::Restaurant and not another deck. Cards go wherever the deck button points.

If you see a Front and Back field instead of a Text field, your note type is still set to Basic. Click the note type button in the top left and switch it to Cloze.

help me troubleshoot my Anki cloze cards not appearing in the correct deck

Create cards for taking orders and recommendations

The ordering phase is where you spend the most time interacting with guests. These cards cover everything from the initial drink question through to recommending dishes.

  • With the Add window still open (note type set to Cloze, deck set to Deutsch::Restaurant), type each of the following cards and press Cmd+Enter after each one:
Möchten Sie schon etwas zu {{c1::trinken}} bestellen?
(Would you like to order something to drink first?)

Mit oder ohne {{c1::Kohlensäure}}?
(With or without carbonation?)

Haben Sie schon {{c1::gewählt}}?
(Have you decided yet?)

Ich {{c1::empfehle}} das Tagesgericht.
(I recommend the daily special.)

Möchten Sie noch eine {{c1::Vorspeise}} dazu?
(Would you like a starter with that?)

Ich hätte gerne den {{c1::Rinderbraten}} mit Kartoffeln.
(I would like the roast beef with potatoes.)

Why these specific words are hidden

Each cloze targets the word that changes depending on the situation. Trinken (to drink) could become essen (to eat). Vorspeise (starter) could become Nachspeise (dessert). Learning the slot forces you to build flexible sentences, not just memorize fixed scripts.

Card 10 uses Ich hätte gerne (I would like), which is the polite ordering phrase in German restaurants. This is the guest speaking, which helps you recognize what guests will say to you.

  • Return to the Decks screen. Your Deutsch::Restaurant deck should now show 10 new cards.

Still seeing only 4 cards?

Close the Add window and click on the Deutsch::Restaurant deck name to refresh the count. Anki sometimes delays updating the Decks screen while the Add window is open.

If some cards are missing, open the Browse window (Cmd+B) and check whether any cards landed in the wrong deck.

help me find where my Anki cards went if they are not in the expected deck

Create cards for billing and complaints

The end of a guest's visit is where tips are won or lost. Billing phrases and complaint handling require specific vocabulary that you need to produce quickly under pressure.

  • In the Add window (same Cloze note type, same Deutsch::Restaurant deck), type each of these cards and press Cmd+Enter after each one:
Möchten Sie {{c1::getrennt}} oder zusammen zahlen?
(Would you like to pay separately or together?)

Das {{c1::macht}} 36,80 Euro.
(That comes to 36.80 euros.)

Hat es Ihnen {{c1::geschmeckt}}?
(Did you enjoy your meal?)

Entschuldigung, das haben wir nicht {{c1::bestellt}}.
(Excuse me, we did not order that.)

Oh, entschuldigen Sie bitte. Ich {{c1::tausche}} das sofort.
(Oh, I am sorry. I will replace it immediately.)

What do the billing and complaint cards cover?

Cards 11-13 handle the normal billing flow. Getrennt (separately) and geschmeckt (enjoyed/tasted) are phrases you will say at every single table.

Cards 14-15 cover complaints. Card 14 is from the guest's perspective so you recognize the complaint. Card 15 is your response. Tausche (swap/replace) is the key action word when something goes wrong with an order.

  • Close the Add window.
  • Return to the Decks screen. Your Deutsch::Restaurant deck should now show 15 new cards.

Seeing fewer than 15 cards?

Open the Browse window with Cmd+B. Click on Deutsch::Restaurant in the left sidebar to see all cards in that deck. Count the rows to confirm your total.

If a card shows an error or did not save, check that you typed the double curly braces correctly: {{c1::word}}. A missing brace will prevent the cloze from being created.

help me fix cloze deletion syntax errors in my Anki cards

✔️ Awesome, I've got everything!

Great. You now have 15 restaurant German cards ready for review. Make sure the Add window is closed so the deck count updates on the Decks screen.

ⓧ I'd like to double check the full card list

Here is the complete list of all 15 cards you should have in your Deutsch::Restaurant deck:

GREETING AND SEATING (4 cards):
1. Guten Abend. Haben Sie {{c1::reserviert}}?
2. {{c1::Möchten}} Sie drinnen oder draußen sitzen?
3. Kommen Sie bitte {{c1::mit}}.
4. Hier sind die {{c1::Karten}}: die Speisekarte und die Getränkekarte.

ORDERING AND RECOMMENDATIONS (6 cards):
5. Möchten Sie schon etwas zu {{c1::trinken}} bestellen?
6. Mit oder ohne {{c1::Kohlensäure}}?
7. Haben Sie schon {{c1::gewählt}}?
8. Ich {{c1::empfehle}} das Tagesgericht.
9. Möchten Sie noch eine {{c1::Vorspeise}} dazu?
10. Ich hätte gerne den {{c1::Rinderbraten}} mit Kartoffeln.

BILLING AND COMPLAINTS (5 cards):
11. Möchten Sie {{c1::getrennt}} oder zusammen zahlen?
12. Das {{c1::macht}} 36,80 Euro.
13. Hat es Ihnen {{c1::geschmeckt}}?
14. Entschuldigung, das haben wir nicht {{c1::bestellt}}.
15. Oh, entschuldigen Sie bitte. Ich {{c1::tausche}} das sofort.

Use the Extra field for English translations

Each Cloze note type has an Extra field that shows on the answer side of the card. You can paste the English translation there so it appears when you reveal the answer. This is optional but helpful in the early weeks.

Your restaurant deck is stocked with the phrases you will use most often on the floor. Next up, you will build your Daily Life deck to cover the German you need outside of work.

Build Your Daily Life German Deck

Your Restaurant German deck is loaded with 15+ cards covering every phase of guest service. That handles your workday.

But your workday is only part of living in Germany. Outside the restaurant, you need to find an apartment, buy groceries, visit a doctor, and chat with neighbors. In this step, you will fill your Deutsch::Alltag deck with the sentences that get you through daily life, then run your first full review session.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Create cloze cards for housing, shopping, and health scenarios.
  • Add personal introduction and small talk phrases you will use every day.
  • Complete your first full Anki review session across both decks.
Create cards for your highest-priority daily topics

From your 100 topics list, three categories will matter most in your first weeks in Germany: Wohnen (housing), Einkaufen (shopping), and Gesundheit (health). These cover situations where not knowing the right word has real consequences.

  • In Anki, click Add at the top of the window.
  • Set the note type to Cloze using the dropdown at the top-left of the Add dialog.
  • Set the deck to Deutsch::Alltag using the deck dropdown at the top-right of the Add dialog.

Now create your housing cards. Type each card into the text field and click Add after each one:

Ich suche eine {{c1::Wohnung}} zur Miete.
(I am looking for an apartment to rent.)

Wie hoch ist die {{c1::Miete}} pro Monat?
(How much is the rent per month?)

Wann kann ich {{c1::einziehen}}?
(When can I move in?)

What makes these housing cards useful?

These three sentences cover the most common questions when apartment hunting in Germany. The cloze words (Wohnung, Miete, einziehen) appear in every rental listing and viewing conversation.

Each card tests you on the word you would need to produce yourself in a real conversation. Reading comprehension is easy. Speaking the right word at the right moment is the hard part.

  • Confirm all three cards were added by clicking Browse at the top of the Anki window.
  • In the Browse window, type deck:Deutsch::Alltag in the search bar and press Enter. You should see 3 cards listed.

Don't see 3 cards?

  • Check that the deck dropdown in the Add dialog says Deutsch::Alltag, not Deutsch::Restaurant or Default.
  • Make sure the note type is Cloze. If it says Basic, your {{c1::...}} syntax shows as plain text instead of creating a hidden word.
  • Make sure you clicked Add after typing each card. The field clears when the card is saved successfully.

Why aren't my cloze cards showing in Deutsch::Alltag?

Next, create your shopping cards. Keep the Add dialog open with the same note type and deck settings. Type each card and click Add after each one:

Wo finde ich {{c1::die Milch}}?
(Where can I find the milk?)

Kann ich mit {{c1::Karte}} zahlen?
(Can I pay by card?)

Haben Sie das in einer anderen {{c1::Größe}}?
(Do you have that in another size?)

What do these shopping cards cover?

These three patterns handle 90% of supermarket and store interactions: finding items (Wo finde ich...), paying (mit Karte zahlen), and asking about options (andere Größe).

  • After adding all three shopping cards, check your Browse window again. Filter by deck:Deutsch::Alltag. You should now see 6 cards.

Finally, create your health cards. These cover the essentials for booking a doctor and describing symptoms. Type each one and click Add:

Ich möchte einen {{c1::Termin}} beim Arzt machen.
(I would like to make a doctor's appointment.)

Ich habe {{c1::Kopfschmerzen}}.
(I have a headache.)

Brauche ich ein {{c1::Rezept}} dafür?
(Do I need a prescription for that?)

Why health vocabulary matters early

German healthcare requires you to call and book appointments yourself. There is no walk-in culture for most doctors.

Knowing Termin, Kopfschmerzen, and Rezept lets you handle the phone call to a doctor's office without panicking.

  • After adding all three health cards, close the Add dialog.
  • In the Browse window, filter by deck:Deutsch::Alltag. You should now see 9 cards total.

Seeing fewer than 9 cards?

  • If you accidentally closed the Add dialog between cards, click Add again. Your previous cards are already saved.
  • Count your cards by checking the Browse window with the filter deck:Deutsch::Alltag. This shows every card in the deck regardless of review status.

How do I check how many cards are in my Anki deck?

Add your personal introduction and small talk cards

These are the phrases you will use every single day. At work with colleagues, with neighbors, at the bakery. They form your personal script for introducing yourself and keeping a conversation going.

  • Click Add again. Keep the note type as Cloze and the deck as Deutsch::Alltag.
  • Create these five small talk cards, clicking Add after each one:
Ich komme aus {{c1::dem Libanon}}.
(I come from Lebanon.)

Ich arbeite als {{c1::Demi Chef de Rang}} in einem Restaurant.
(I work as a demi chef de rang in a restaurant.)

Wie lange wohnen Sie schon {{c1::hier}}?
(How long have you been living here?)

Was machen Sie {{c1::beruflich}}?
(What do you do for work?)

Das Wetter ist heute {{c1::schön}}, oder?
(The weather is nice today, right?)

Personalize your introduction card

The first card uses "dem Libanon" as an example. Replace this with your own country in German. The cloze deletion should hide the country name so you practice recalling it under pressure.

Why these small talk phrases?

The first two cards are your personal introduction. You will repeat these dozens of times in your first weeks in Germany.

The last three are conversation starters that work anywhere: with colleagues, neighbors, or the person next to you in line at the bakery.

  • Close the Add dialog after adding all five cards.
  • In the Browse window, filter by deck:Deutsch::Alltag. You should now see 14 cards total (9 daily life + 5 small talk).

Card count seems wrong?

  • The number shown on the Decks screen displays cards due for review today, not the total card count. Always use Browse with the deck filter to see the true total.
  • If some cards went to the wrong deck, select them in Browse, right-click, and choose Change Deck to move them to Deutsch::Alltag.

How do I move cards between decks in Anki?

Run your first Anki review session

Your decks are built. Now it is time to study them for the first time. This session locks the cards into your memory schedule.

From today on, FSRS will show you each card at exactly the right moment to prevent forgetting.

  • Close the Browse window and return to the Decks screen.
  • Click on your Deutsch parent deck. This pulls cards from both subdecks together into one session.
  • Click Study Now to start your review.

How to review each card

  • Read the sentence and try to recall the hidden word before revealing it.
  • Click Show Answer when you are ready to check.
  • Rate yourself: press Again if you had no idea, or Good if you remembered with effort.
  • Continue until Anki shows the congratulations screen.
  • Keep reviewing until you see the message: "Congratulations! You have finished this deck for now."

How long should this take?

With roughly 30 cards across both decks (15 restaurant + 14 daily life), your first session should take about 15-20 minutes.

Every card starts as "new" today. Tomorrow, FSRS will schedule each card based on how you rated it. This is now your daily habit: every morning, open Anki and clear your review queue.

Only seeing cards from one deck?

  • Make sure you clicked the parent Deutsch deck on the Decks screen, not one of the subdecks. The parent deck combines cards from both Restaurant and Alltag.
  • If you accidentally started from a subdeck, click the Anki logo in the top-left to return to the Decks screen. Then click Deutsch (the top-level deck) to start a combined session.

Why am I only seeing cards from one of my Anki subdecks?

Your vocabulary foundation is set across both work and daily life. Next up, you will build a library of AI conversation prompts that put all these words into action through live role-play sessions.

Create Your AI Conversation Prompt Library

You've built two Anki decks packed with German vocabulary for both your restaurant role and daily life. Flashcards are powerful for memorization, but they only test recognition.

To actually speak German at work and around town, you need practice producing full sentences in real-time conversations. In this step, you'll create a library of AI prompts that turn Claude or Gemini into German-speaking role-play partners who match your level and correct your mistakes as you go.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Build a restaurant shift role-play prompt for practicing guest service in German.
  • Create daily life prompts for housing, health, and shopping scenarios.
  • Organize all prompts in a reusable document you can open every day.
Build your restaurant shift prompt

Your restaurant prompt needs to simulate a full guest interaction from arrival to payment. The prompt sets the AI's role, language level, and correction behavior so every session gives you structured practice.

  • Switch to Claude or Gemini in your browser.
  • Paste this prompt into the chat to test that it works:
You are a German-speaking guest at a fine dining restaurant in Munich. I am your waiter (Demi Chef de Rang). Conduct our entire interaction in German. Start by arriving at the restaurant. You should: greet me, ask about your reservation, order drinks and food, ask about recommendations, and eventually ask for the bill. Keep your German at A1-A2 level. If I make a grammar mistake, gently correct me in parentheses after responding in character. Do not switch to English unless I say 'Pause'. Let us begin. You walk in the door.

What does this prompt do?

This prompt has five key design choices that make it effective for language practice:

  • It assigns the AI a specific role (restaurant guest) so the conversation follows a realistic flow.
  • It locks the language level to A1-A2 so you are not overwhelmed by advanced grammar.
  • It instructs corrections in parentheses, meaning you get feedback without breaking the conversation's flow.
  • It gives you a 'Pause' escape word so you can ask questions in English when truly stuck.
  • It ends with a scene-setting line that kicks off the role-play immediately.

The AI should respond in German as a guest walking into your restaurant. If it responds in English or asks what language you want, paste the prompt again and make sure you did not accidentally delete any of the instructions.

AI responding in English or ignoring instructions?

If the AI keeps switching to English, start a brand new chat and paste the prompt as your very first message. Prompts work best at the start of a fresh conversation rather than mid-thread.

If corrections are not appearing, check that the line about correcting mistakes in parentheses is included in your pasted text.

Still not working? Help me troubleshoot my German role-play prompt

Build your daily life prompts

Your restaurant prompt covers work, but you also need German for everyday situations outside the restaurant. These three prompts target the scenarios you will encounter most often when living in Germany.

  • Create your landlord conversation prompt by copying the following:
You are my German landlord. I am a new tenant who just moved to Germany. Speak only in German at A1-A2 level. We are discussing the apartment: the rent, the rules, the neighbors, when garbage collection happens. Correct my mistakes in parentheses. Let us begin. I knock on your door.

Why a landlord prompt?

Housing conversations in Germany involve specific vocabulary (Miete, Nebenkosten, Kaution) and formal register. Practising with an AI landlord prepares you for real interactions about your apartment before they happen.

  • Create your doctor's office prompt by copying this:
You are a receptionist at a German doctor's office (Arztpraxis). I am calling to make an appointment. Speak only in German at A1-A2 level. Ask me about my symptoms, insurance card, and availability. Correct my mistakes in parentheses. Let us begin. You answer the phone.
  • Create your supermarket checkout prompt by copying this:
You are a friendly cashier at a German supermarket. I am checking out. Speak only in German at A1-A2 level. Make small talk about the weather, ask if I need a bag, tell me the total. Correct my mistakes in parentheses. Let us begin. I put my items on the conveyor belt.

Why do all prompts share the same structure?

Every prompt follows the same formula: assign a role, set the language level, request corrections in parentheses, and end with a scene-setting line. This consistency means you can create new prompts for any scenario later by swapping the role and context details.

Organize your prompt library

Having prompts scattered across old chat threads means you will never reuse them. A single organized document lets you grab the right prompt in seconds each day.

  • Open a new document in your Notes app, a text file, or wherever you keep things you reference daily.
  • Title the document something clear like German Practice Prompts.
  • Paste all four prompts into this document with clear labels above each one, like this:
RESTAURANT: Fine dining guest

You are a German-speaking guest at a fine dining restaurant in Munich. I am your waiter (Demi Chef de Rang). Conduct our entire interaction in German. Start by arriving at the restaurant. You should: greet me, ask about your reservation, order drinks and food, ask about recommendations, and eventually ask for the bill. Keep your German at A1-A2 level. If I make a grammar mistake, gently correct me in parentheses after responding in character. Do not switch to English unless I say 'Pause'. Let us begin. You walk in the door.

---

HOUSING: Landlord conversation

You are my German landlord. I am a new tenant who just moved to Germany. Speak only in German at A1-A2 level. We are discussing the apartment: the rent, the rules, the neighbors, when garbage collection happens. Correct my mistakes in parentheses. Let us begin. I knock on your door.

---

HEALTH: Doctor appointment

You are a receptionist at a German doctor's office (Arztpraxis). I am calling to make an appointment. Speak only in German at A1-A2 level. Ask me about my symptoms, insurance card, and availability. Correct my mistakes in parentheses. Let us begin. You answer the phone.

---

SHOPPING: Supermarket checkout

You are a friendly cashier at a German supermarket. I am checking out. Speak only in German at A1-A2 level. Make small talk about the weather, ask if I need a bag, tell me the total. Correct my mistakes in parentheses. Let us begin. I put my items on the conveyor belt.
  • Save the document.
  • Confirm you can see all 4 labeled sections: RESTAURANT, HOUSING, HEALTH, and SHOPPING.

✔️ Awesome, I've got everything!

Great. Make sure this document is saved somewhere you can access quickly each day. You will open it every time you start a practice session.

ⓧ I'd like to double check the full prompts

Your document should have exactly 4 prompts, each with a clear label. Here is the complete content for reference:

RESTAURANT: Fine dining guest

You are a German-speaking guest at a fine dining restaurant in Munich. I am your waiter (Demi Chef de Rang). Conduct our entire interaction in German. Start by arriving at the restaurant. You should: greet me, ask about your reservation, order drinks and food, ask about recommendations, and eventually ask for the bill. Keep your German at A1-A2 level. If I make a grammar mistake, gently correct me in parentheses after responding in character. Do not switch to English unless I say 'Pause'. Let us begin. You walk in the door.

---

HOUSING: Landlord conversation

You are my German landlord. I am a new tenant who just moved to Germany. Speak only in German at A1-A2 level. We are discussing the apartment: the rent, the rules, the neighbors, when garbage collection happens. Correct my mistakes in parentheses. Let us begin. I knock on your door.

---

HEALTH: Doctor appointment

You are a receptionist at a German doctor's office (Arztpraxis). I am calling to make an appointment. Speak only in German at A1-A2 level. Ask me about my symptoms, insurance card, and availability. Correct my mistakes in parentheses. Let us begin. You answer the phone.

---

SHOPPING: Supermarket checkout

You are a friendly cashier at a German supermarket. I am checking out. Speak only in German at A1-A2 level. Make small talk about the weather, ask if I need a bag, tell me the total. Correct my mistakes in parentheses. Let us begin. I put my items on the conveyor belt.

Add more prompts over time

As you discover new situations in Germany, create new prompts following the same formula: assign a role, set A1-A2 level, request parenthetical corrections, and end with a scene-setting line. Your library will grow alongside your confidence.

Your prompt library is ready to go. In the next step, you'll put these prompts to work by running your first full German conversation sessions with AI.

Run Your First Practice Sessions

Your decks are loaded with phrases and your prompt library is saved. Now it is time to put the entire system to work with real AI conversations.

Practicing with AI gives you a judgment-free space to try forming German sentences in real scenarios. You will play through a full restaurant shift and a daily life interaction, then turn the new vocabulary you discover into fresh Anki cards.

In this step, get ready to:
  • Complete a restaurant role-play session as a waiter.
  • Complete a daily life role-play at the supermarket.
  • Mine both conversations for new Anki cards.
Complete a restaurant role-play (15 minutes)

This is where your Anki phrases meet real conversational pressure. You will play through an entire guest interaction from greeting to bill.

  • Open Claude or Gemini in your browser.
  • Open your saved AI Prompt Library document and copy the RESTAURANT: Fine dining guest prompt.
  • Paste the prompt into the chat and press Enter to start the role-play.

The AI will respond as a guest walking into the restaurant. Play through the full scenario as a waiter.

  • Greet the guest and offer seating.
  • Present the menu.
  • Take their drink order.
  • Recommend a dish.
  • Take their food order.
  • Check on them during the meal.
  • Present the bill.

Use your Anki phrases

Try to use the exact phrases from your Deutsch::Restaurant deck. For example, greet with "Guten Abend. Haben Sie reserviert?" and ask about drinks with "Möchten Sie schon etwas zu trinken bestellen?"

If you get stuck on a word, ask the AI: "Wie sagt man... [English word]?" (How do you say...). This keeps you in German while getting help.

  • When the AI corrects your grammar in parentheses, note those corrections in a separate document or at the bottom of your chat. These are your personal weak spots.

Why note your corrections?

Grammar corrections from AI reveal patterns you cannot see on your own. You might notice you always mix up word order, or forget article genders. Spotting patterns now helps you target those areas in future study.

Complete a daily life role-play (15 minutes)

Now switch to an everyday scenario. The supermarket prompt is the shortest interaction, making it a good first daily life practice.

  • In your AI Prompt Library document, copy the SHOPPING: Supermarket checkout prompt.
  • Start a new chat in Claude or Gemini and paste the prompt.
  • Play through the full scenario, focusing on using complete sentences even if they are simple.

After the conversation naturally ends (you have paid and said goodbye), ask the AI for feedback.

  • Type this message to request an error summary:
Kannst du mir eine Zusammenfassung meiner Fehler geben?

What does this message mean?

This translates to "Can you give me a summary of my mistakes?" The AI will list every grammar and vocabulary error you made during the conversation, often grouped by type.

  • Read through the error summary and note any patterns. For example, do you consistently forget article genders? Do you struggle with word order in questions?

AI switched to English mid-conversation?

If the AI starts responding in English, paste this reminder: "Bitte nur auf Deutsch antworten." (Please only answer in German.) Some models default back to English if your messages contain too many English words.

Help me keep my AI role-play in German

Mine your sessions for new Anki cards

Your conversations are a goldmine of new vocabulary. Every word you had to ask about or got corrected on is a word worth adding to Anki.

  • Scroll back through both conversations (restaurant and supermarket).
  • Find 5-10 new words or phrases that came up during the role-play that you did not know.
  • In Anki, click Add and make sure the note type is set to Cloze.
  • Create a new cloze card for each word, using the full sentence from the conversation as context.

For example, if the AI used the word "Kassenbon" (receipt) and you did not know it, create a card like this:

Möchten Sie den {{c1::Kassenbon}}? (Would you like the receipt?)

Why mine from your own conversations?

This technique is called sentence mining. Words from your own conversations stick better because they are tied to a real experience you just had. The sentence you build the card from already has personal meaning.

It also guarantees you are learning words you actually need. A textbook might teach you "Flughafen" (airport) before "Kassenbon" (receipt), but you will use "Kassenbon" every single day at the supermarket.

  • Place each new card in the correct deck: restaurant vocabulary goes in Deutsch::Restaurant and daily life vocabulary goes in Deutsch::Alltag.
  • Aim for at least 5 new cards total across both decks.

Keep sentences short

When creating cloze cards from conversation sentences, keep them between 5-15 words. If the AI used a long complex sentence, simplify it down to the core phrase while keeping the target word in context.

Secret mission

Build Your Weekly Topic Rotation System

You have 100 daily life topics to learn, but without a system you will keep practicing the same comfortable ones. In this mission, you will design a 10-week rotation calendar that guarantees every single topic gets covered. You will also write combined AI prompts for each day and test the system yourself.

Clean Up Your Resources

Clean Up Your Resources

This project runs entirely locally on your Mac using Anki and free-tier AI tools. There are no ongoing costs or cloud resources to worry about.

Decide whether to keep your learning system intact, pause it, or remove it entirely.

Resources you used:

  • Anki decks: Deutsch::Restaurant and Deutsch::Alltag (with all cloze cards).
  • Anki FSRS settings changes (enabled FSRS, 0.85 retention, 20 new cards/day, 10m learning steps).
  • AI Prompt Library document (saved in Notes app or text file).
  • 10-Week Topic Rotation Calendar (saved in Notes, spreadsheet, or text file).

Keep everything running

No action needed. Choose this if you are actively using your daily German practice system.

  • Your Anki decks continue to schedule reviews daily. Open Anki each morning and clear your review queue.
  • Your AI prompt library and rotation calendar stay where you saved them. Use them each evening for conversation practice.
  • Your FSRS settings will continue optimizing your review schedule as you build review history.

Pause - I'll come back to this later

If you want to take a break but come back to your German practice later, you can pause without losing progress.

  • Close Anki. Your decks and review history are saved automatically. When you return, Anki will show you all overdue cards and FSRS will reschedule them based on how long you were away.
  • Your prompt library and rotation calendar stay in place. Pick up where you left off when you are ready.

Delete - I don't want to use this again

Remove all project resources and start fresh. This cannot be undone.

  • Delete your Anki decks: in Anki, click on the gear icon next to the "Deutsch" parent deck on the Decks screen, then click "Delete". This removes both subdecks (Restaurant and Alltag) and all cards inside them.
  • Revert your FSRS settings: open Deck Options (gear icon on any remaining deck), scroll to the FSRS section, and toggle FSRS off. Reset "New cards/day" to 20 and "Maximum reviews/day" to 200 (Anki defaults).
  • Delete your AI Prompt Library document from wherever you saved it (Notes app, text file, or other location).
  • Delete your 10-Week Topic Rotation Calendar from wherever you saved it (Notes app, spreadsheet, or text file).

Nice Work!

Nice Work!

Nice work! You have built a complete daily German learning system tailored to your life as a demi chef de rang preparing to work and live in Germany.

You now have a repeatable 1-hour daily routine: 30 minutes of Anki reviews in the morning and 30 minutes of AI conversation practice in the evening.

Here is what you accomplished:

  • Configured Anki with FSRS enabled at 85% desired retention, with optimized settings for sustainable daily German vocabulary learning.
  • Created two structured decks (Deutsch::Restaurant and Deutsch::Alltag) filled with cloze deletion cards that test vocabulary in real sentence contexts.
  • Built a reusable AI prompt library for restaurant and daily life role-plays, completed your first conversation sessions, and mined them for new Anki cards.
  • Secret Mission: Designed a 10-week topic rotation calendar that systematically cycles through all 100 daily life topics with daily prompts and weekend reviews.

Ready to quiz yourself?