It is no longer hosted on the Annenberg Media website.

Fokus Deutsch is a video instructional series in German for college and high
school classrooms and adult learners; 36 fifteen-minute video programs.
A co-production of WGBH Boston, Inter Nationes, and the Goethe-Institut.
1999.

Fokus Deutsch is a German-language course developed by Robert "Bob" Di

Donato, Professor of German at the Miami University in Ohio. It was produced
by WGBH Boston, Inter Nationes, and the Goethe-Institut in 1999. It was
funded by Annenberg/CPB, and has been aired frequently on PBS since then.
The course includes workbooks, textbooks, and a 36-episode television series
with audio CDs comprising 24 audio programs. It focuses on the story of
Marion Koslowski and her family, intermixed with interviews of native
speakers of German from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, including Erika,
a survivor from the World War II years; Guy, a student from Cameroon
studying in Germany at RWTH Aachen; Grace, a Zimbabwean-German; and
Grkan, a Turkish-German. There are also documentaries on German history
and society, past and present.
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.

The Episodes
Each episode is around a half-hour long. The episodes are divided as follows:
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 K ln(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.
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 R gen(On the Island of R gen)
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 Th ringen.(To Thuringia.)
Herr Cornelius is offered a promotion in Th ringen 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 L sung(The Solution)
The Cornelius family copes with their move. Native speakers discuss their
hobbies. Vocabulary related to family dynamics, discussion, and compromise.
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 Umwelts nder(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 Gem lde(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
Jugendportr ts(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 Jugendportr ts(Three Youths),

Der Schulalltag(A Typical School Day).
Episode 28. Geschichte einer Universit t(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 f r
Arbeitslose(Help for the Unemployed)
Germany''s changing economy, including a short documentary about
unemployment. Vocabulary for economics and industry.
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 Universit t(History of a University), Ein Student aus
Kamerun(A Student from Cameroon), Hilfe f r Arbeitslose(Help for the
Unemployed).
Episode 31. Ein gr nes 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 f r 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.

Main characters

Professor Professor Robert di Donato

Marion Susanne Dyrchs

Papa

Mama

Lars

Rdiger

Places visited

Cologne

Rheinhausen