Get Germanized. Vorsicht! Mild Laughter and More May Ensue!

Here is a fun way to get your cultural component for your German language learning.  This is the first in a series of videos, and actually, there is a lot of information here.  Check it out!

A Coffee in Berlin: Wander the Streets of Berlin with a Slacker, German-style

"A Coffee in Berlin" is a slacker movie, German style; and though at first glance it might seem as aimless as its main character, this wry, charming film actually offers some mature observations about this thing we call life.

Niko (Tom Schilling, very good) appears to be getting more reclusive by the day, but when his fed-up girlfriend shows him the door and his ATM pipeline dries up, he is forced into a series of bizarre encounters with a strange species he rarely deals with: Homo sapiens.

Writer-director Jan Ole Gerster whips up an odd assortment of characters who get in the way of Niko's path to passivity - and his much-wanted cup of coffee. These oddballs, just to name a few, include an over-disclosing neighbor who offers bad-tasting food, an old schoolmate who hasn't come to terms with her past, and an obnoxious psychiatrist who pulls no punches about Niko's mental state.

The proceedings could easily have gotten precious, but Gerster's sharp dialogue - and his wise choice not to force the comedy - make us happily join Niko's wanderings through the streets of Berlin.

Speaking of Berlin, the German metropolis plays an important role here, and Gerster's third act homage to the city plays out beautifully in a film that has shadings of Woody Allen's "Manhattan," Jim Jarmusch's "Stranger Than Paradise," and Martin Scorsese's "After Hours."

Still, this German brew has a peculiar flavor all its own, and when Niko finally gets his java, we believe that it's the most important cup of coffee he will ever have. (David Lewis, SF Chronicle)

A Coffee in Berlin is now playing in San Francisco at the Opera Plaza Cinema (The movie is referred to as "Oh, Boy!", the original title) 

German 1A - Summer Session - June 16 - July 30 at the Downtown Center

Freiburg im Sommer

Are you going to Germany in August and want to be able to have a "value added" trip by being able to communicate with Germans?  Are you looking to transfer to a 4-year institution and need that foreign language credit that you didn't get in high school?  Step right up and start right here with German 1A this summer.  In 6 short weeks, you'll be speaking elementary German on topics such as:

• yourself (who you are, where you're from, what activities you enjoy),
• how you live, 
• and friends and family. 

The class will be held at the conveniently located Downtown Center (4th and Mission), in the heart of San Francisco. It is right around the corner from the Powell St. BART Station and easily reachable by various MUNI routes.  The parking garage across the street at 4th/5th and Mission offers discounted prices after 6 p.m.  

It will feature a medley of activities: culture, grammar, interactive exercises, videos, and guided conversations with classmates. There will be listening, speaking, reading, and writing. And ... viel Spaß! Click here to go to the German 1A blog, where you'll find the syllabus and can get an idea of what will be covered, test schedule, etc.  It's not too late to register!  A 3-unit course is affordable and credits are fully UC and CSU transferrable!  Feel free to contact the instructor, Leslie Pahl, if you have questions, comments, or concerns.  Hope to see you in class!   

Easter in Germany: A Time of Many Traditions

The Easter season is a time when all customs seem to symbolize renewal, life and the beginning of spring. Colorful eggs, special meals, huge bonfires and, of course, church services are some of the customs that mark this special time of year.

Click here to read more about Easter customs in Germany: eggs and bunnies and eating green foods are just the beginning of venerable customs and folkways.