German

Although her most important writings came late in life, Annette von Droste-Hulshoff's poetry and prose-often compared to Goethe's-have assured her a place among Germany's great 19th-century writers. This program visits Castle Hulshoff, her Westphalian birthplace; the Ruchhaus; and Meersburg Castle on Lake Constance, where she experienced her period of greatest productivity. Aspects of her life, such as her need for solitude amid nature, and the qualities of isolation, melancholy, reverie, and longing inherent in her writing are discussed. A Deutsche Welle production. (30 minutes)

In Germany, trains, subways, and trams provide convenient ways to get around. This program looks at how to buy train and cable car tickets and how to order meals. Featured activities include sightseeing in the Bavarian Alps, lunching at the award-winning Paulaner Imtal restaurant in Munich, eating Kaiserschmarren in Oberammergau, and dining on Japanese cuisine at Munich's No Mi Ya restaurant. Original BBC broadcast title: Talk German, Program 5. (German and English, 16 minutes)

This program pays lyrical homage to the enigmatic relationship between the poet/dramatist Goethe and the Baroness Charlotte von Stein and explores its influence on his work. Excerpts from a selection of the more than 2,000 letters exchanged by Goethe, Charlotte, and their friends bear testimony to the intensity and intimacy of the relationship-one which most experts believe was platonic, despite the often passionate tone of the letters. Dramatized vignettes, sketches, and actual footage provide a historical glimpse into the German courts of the period, and into the life of this revered German figure and the woman he considered mother, sister, and one true love." A Deutsche Welle production. (28 minutes)"

Whether shopping or sightseeing, going to work or going to college, travel and conversation are both a part of everyday life. This program demonstrates how to say where one lives and works and what one does for a living, how to ask for and give directions, and how to ask what the costs of things are. The BMW factory, an all-organic supermarket, the renowned Borstei apartments, and Neuschwanstein Castle are featured. Original BBC broadcast title: Talk German, Program 3. (German and English, 16 minutes)

This program covers how to greet friends, introduce oneself to strangers, talk about where one comes from, and say what languages one speaks. Settings include a Munich art gallery featuring contemporary art, a renowned violin-making school in the ancient town of Mittenwald, and Munich's annual arts and music festival. In addition, a whirlwind tour of Germany reveals the country's regional diversity. Original BBC broadcast title: Talk German, Program 1. (German and English, 16 minutes)

This program, filmed at the Cafe Tambosi and Rischart's Backhaus, the Englischer Garten, a christening, a beer garden, and the unique Corpus Christi boat procession in Seeburg, shows how to order and pay for food and beverages and how to express familial relationships and marital status. Commentary provides insights into Kaffee und Kuchen culture and other social events in Germany. Original BBC broadcast title: Talk German, Program 2. (German and English, 16 minutes)

When the time comes for getting away from it all, Bavaria offers a wide range of options. This program introduces questions and answers related to shopping for vacation supplies and arranging for lodgings. Settings include a department store, a country hotel, a hostel in the Ammergauer Alps, and an ancient Benedictine convent located on Frauen Island, in the Chiemsee. Original BBC broadcast title: Talk German, Program 4. (German and English, 16 minutes)

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" Filmed in and around the Bavarian city of Munich, this energetic six-part series introduces all of the necessary components of contemporary conversational German while spotlighting cultural aspects of the country. Each program uses a lively group of speakers talking in a wide range of real-world surroundings to motivate beginners to make themselves heard-loud and clear. A BBC Production. German and English, 6-part series, 16 minutes each."

This program puts the focus on leisure activities, including visiting Rischart's Backhaus, to learn how salt-topped pretzels were invented, and Ettal Abbey, to see how its famed liqueur is made; taking a hot-air balloon excursion; buying high-fashion sunglasses; unwinding at the legendary Schumann's American Bar; and dancing the night away at The Atomic Cafe, a 1970s-style disco. Was machst du gern in deiner Freizeit?" Original BBC broadcast title: Talk German, Program 5. (German and English, 16 minutes)"