Resource: Fokus Deutsch

series104.html[2014/07/21 12:22:55 PM]

by Discipline by Grade
Teacher Resources/Foreign Language

A video instructional series in German for college and high
school classrooms and adult learners; 48 fifteen-minute video
programs, audio CDs, and coordinated books
Now on DVD
Follow the story of Professor Bob Di Donato and Marion, his
assistant, as they create a German course using a German
studies approach. They weave together minidramas set in
Germany, interviews with native speakers, and documentary
footage on history and culture, all of which help increase
fluency in and comprehension of the language. The narratives,
presented in natural, authentic German, cover topics such as
school, employment, travel, and personal relationships. Time
codes on the videos make it easy to find specific segments.
Levels 1 and 2 address vocabulary, topics, and structures for
basic communication in German; level 3 continues many of
these topics but goes into greater depth. The series is also
appropriate for teacher professional development.
A co-production of WGBH Boston, Inter Nationes, and the
Goethe-Institut. 1999.
ISBN: 1-57680-105-5

Footage filmed in
Germany introduces
language and culture.

Overview
Individual Program Descriptions
Printable Page
Broadcast Dates
Buy Videos and Materials
Transcripts
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Episode 1. Arbeitslos (Unemployed)
An introduction to the series by Professor Di Donato and the beginning of Marion's story. Marion's father is
looking for a job. Vocabulary for families and greetings.
Episode 2. Kein Geld (No Money)
An introduction to the native German speakers in the series. Marion's father applies for a new job in a new city.
Vocabulary for apologizing and asking for information.
Episode 3. Wie geht es Papa? (How's Papa Doing?)
Marion's family prepares for their move. Vocabulary about living spaces and housing.
Wiederholung (Review) 1
Contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 1-3.
Episode 4. Umzug nach Kln (The Move to Cologne)
Marion's family moves to Cologne but she stays behind. Vocabulary for furniture; cultural information about
Cologne and housing.
Episode 5. Das Karnevalsfest (The Mardi Gras Celebration)
The Koslowskis take part in Karneval festivities. Vocabulary for directions; cultural information about German
festivals.
by Discipline by Grade
Resource: Fokus Deutsch
series104.html[2014/07/21 12:22:55 PM]
Episode 6. Der Unfall (The Accident)
One of the Koslowskis has an accident. Vocabulary for illness and sickness; a discussion of the concept of luck.
Wiederholung (Review) 2
Contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 4-6.
Episode 7. Der Urlaub (The Vacation)
Marion and her mother prepare to go on vacation. Vocabulary for clothing and wishing someone a good trip;
cultural information about where Germans go on holiday.
Episode 8. der Insel Rgen (On the Island of Rgen)
Marion begins a romance with Michael, and the professor and Marion work on the vacation storyline for the
course. Vocabulary about vacations; cultural information about German art.
Episode 9. Abenteuer und Liebe (Adventure and Love)
Marion wants to rewrite the story of her vacation to add more adventure. Marion and Michael's boat is lost at
sea. Vocabulary for giving opinions.
Wiederholung (Review) 3
Contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 7-9.
Episode 10. "Die Wespe" ("The Wasp")
Marion writes about Michael's controversy with his school newspaper. Vocabulary about school life.
Episode 11. Ein Liebesdrama (A Love Story)
Michael's girlfriend Silke discovers photos of Michael and Marion and is upset. Vocabulary for school subjects.
Episode 12. Silke (Silke)
The professor and Marion reflect on romance, and Marion talks with her guest Sabine about how to make the
story she's writing realistic. A humorous look at fairy tales.
Wiederholung (Review) 4
Contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 10-12.
Episode 13. Der Auszubildende (The Apprentice)
Professor Di Donato reviews the storylines to open Level 2, and Marion writes about Michael's apprenticeship
in a shipping company. Vocabulary about workplaces and introductions.
Episode 14. Der Trick (The Trick)
The crew on Michael's ship plays a prank on him. Cultural information about Hamburg.
Episode 15. Zu viel Salz (Too Much Salt)
The professor and Marion have dinner and discuss the next script. Michael has dinner at his boss's house.
Vocabulary about food and restaurants.
Wiederholung (Review) 5
Contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 13-15.
Episode 16. Am Wochenende (On the Weekend)
Marion and Sabine work out at a gym. Native speakers discuss their typical weekends. Vocabulary about
weekends; the concept of German unification.
Episode 17. Nach Thringen? (To Thuringia?)
Herr Cornelius is offered a promotion in Thringen in the former East Germany. Marion and Sabine talk about
Marion's real identity. Vocabulary for making inquiries, persuading, and factory work.
Episode 18. Die Lsung (The Solution)
The Cornelius family copes with their move. Native speakers discuss their hobbies. Vocabulary related to family
dynamics, discussion, and compromise.
Resource: Fokus Deutsch
series104.html[2014/07/21 12:22:55 PM]
Wiederholung (Review) 6
Contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 16-18.
Episode 19. Der Spaghetti-Professor (The Spaghetti Professor)
Klara Cornelius meets Markus at the university in Munich. Marion and the professor discuss issues of interest to
students. Vocabulary related to the university.
Episode 20. Der Umweltsnder (The Polluter)
Klara and Markus encounter a polluter. Marion and Sabine try to tell the professor about their true identities but
fail. Vocabulary about pollution.
Episode 21. Die falschen Klamotten (The Wrong Clothes)
Marion and Sabine are turned away at a disco. Vocabulary for what young people like to do for fun.
Wiederholung (Review) 7
Contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 19-21.
Episode 22. Ein neues Gemlde (A New Painting)
The Stumpf family buys a painting. Marion and Sabine meet the professor at a museum and reveal their true
identities. Vocabulary about art.
Episode 23. Der Hausmann (The House Husband)
House husband Heiner is finding it difficult to take care of his son. Vocabulary about housekeeping; the concept
of Erziehungsurlaub (time off with pay to raise a child).
Episode 24. Das Au Pair (The Au Pair)
The Sanders hire an au pair. Marion now takes on her real persona the actress Susanne Dyrchs and she
and the professor plan the rest of the series. Vocabulary about shopping; the informal du form of address.
Wiederholung (Review) 8
Contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 22-24.
Episode 25. Ein Familiengeschichte (A Family History), Lebensstile (Life Styles)
The professor, Susanne, and native speakers discuss their upbringings. A historical biography and three
contemporary profiles give a picture of German life in the twentieth century.
Episode 26. Jugend in Bewegung (Young People on the Move), Drei Jugendportrts (Three Youths)
One documentary on German youth from the 1950s to today and another with three contemporary portraits, with
comments from native speakers. Vocabulary related to youth issues.
Episode 27. Geschichte eines Gymnasiums (History of a Gymnasium), Der Schulalltag (A Typical
School Day)
A historical documentary about secondary education and a contemporary portrait of a rural high school student,
with comments from Susanne and native speakers.
Wiederholung (Review) 9
Ein Familiengeschichte (A Family History), Drei J ugendportrts (Three Youths), Der Schulalltag (A Typical
School Day).
Episode 28. Geschichte einer Universitt (History of a University), Ein Student aus Kamerun (A
Student From Cameroon)
A look at the founding of Heidelberg University and a portrait of an engineering student from Cameroon. Native
speakers, Susanne, and Sabine discuss their lives as students.
Episode 29. Wirtschaft im Wandel (A Changing Economy), Hilfe fr Arbeitslose (Help for the
Unemployed)
Germany's changing economy, including a short documentary about unemployment. Vocabulary for economics
and industry.
Resource: Fokus Deutsch
series104.html[2014/07/21 12:22:55 PM]
Episode 30. Die Frauenbewegung (The Women's Movement), Im Auftrag der Frauen (Representing
Women)
The role of women in twentieth-century Germany. Vocabulary related to women's issues and history.
Wiederholung (Review) 10
Geschichte einer Universitt (History of a University), Ein Student aus Kamerun (A Student from Cameroon),
Hilfe fr Arbeitslose (Help for the Unemployed).
Episode 31. Ein grnes Hobby (A Green Hobby), Weiterbilden in der Freizeit (Leisure Learning)
Documentaries on urban gardening and adult education. Native speakers and Susanne talk about hobbies.
Vocabulary about gardening and education.
Episode 32. Urlaub: Gestern und heute (Vacation: Yesterday and Today), Abenteuerurlaub
(Adventure Vacation)
A look at how Germans spend their vacations, with commentary from native speakers. Vocabulary about
vacations and travel arrangements.
Episode 33. Ein Kurort (A Spa), Ein Arztbesuch (A Visit to the Doctor)
A historical look at spas, highlighting the famous city of Bad Ems, along with a documentary about a typical
physical examination. Vocabulary about health.
Wiederholung (Review) 11
Weiterbilden in der Freizeit (Leisure Learning), Urlaub: Gestern und heute (Vacation: Yesterday and Today),
Abenteuerurlaub (Adventure Vacation).
Episode 34. Typisch Deutsch? (Typically German?), Vom Sauerkraut zur Pizza (From Sauerkraut to
Pizza)
The wide array of modern German cuisine and a look at the multicultural German world. Vocabulary about
food.
Episode 35. Auf Kosten der Umwelt (At What Cost to the Environment?), Umweltschutz zu Hause
(Environmental Protection at Home)
Environmental problems and political efforts in modern Germany and an environmentally sound German
household. Vocabulary about environmental topics.
Episode 36. Theater fr Jugendliche (Theater for Young People), 100 Jahre deutscher Film (100 Years
of German Cinema)
Berlin's avant-garde Grips Theatre and a documentary about Germany's legendary film history. Vocabulary
related to film and theater.
Wiederholung (Review) 12
Typisch Deutsch? (Typically German?), Vom Sauerkraut zur Pizza (From Sauerkraut to Pizza), Umweltschutz
zu Hause (Environmental Protection at Home).

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