Overview of main topics in Level One:

• The employment situation in Germany
• The Abitur
• Housing and furniture
• Celebrations and festivals
• Health and illness
• Vacations
• Cultural information on Vienna and Zurich
• Clothing
• School life
• The concept of the Arbeitsgemeinschaften

Episode (Folge) 1: Arbeitslos (Unemployed)

In episode 1, Professor Di Donato introduces viewers to the series format and the approach. We also meet Marion Koslowski, whom Professor Di Donato has brought to the United States to help him develop a German coarse. Through their interaction and in the mini-drama, we learn about her family. Marion’s father, Heinz Koslowski, is a former steel worker who has been unemployed for over half a year. Though he is receiving unemployment benefits, he desperately wants a job to support his family: his wife Vera, his son Lars, and his daughter Marion. A neighbor complains that no one needs old steel workers. The only recourse is unemployment benefits or moving away. Later that evening, Vera tells Heinz that the Schuberts, another family in the neighborhood, moved away because they couldn’t find work. She shows him an ad for a job as a maintenance man for an apartment building in Cologne. Heinz is not enthusiastic about the suggestion.

Episode 1 introduces greetings and vocabulary for family members. Professor Di Donato gives an overview of the Fokus Deutsch video course.

Episode 2: Kein Geld (No Money)

Professor Di Donato introduces German-speaking guests who appear in the series and comment on the various cultural topics presented. In the mini-drama, Marion comes home late for dinner. Her brother Lars tells her that the family may move to Cologne and that her father is applying for the job as building maintenance man. Marion gets very upset at the thought of having to leave her boyfriend Rüdiger and her school. Next year she will be taking her Abitur, a series of university entrance exams. Money is tight in the Koslowski household. Vera Koslowski thinks twice about going to the hairdresser, and, although Lars needs new tires for his bike, he knows he’ll have to do without them for now. Despite these problems, the family promises to stick together.

Episode 2 introduces expressions for apologizing, for inquiring about a job, and for teasing (insulting) someone. It also introduces the concept of the Abitur. Professor Di Donato ends with some advice for watching the Fokus Deutsch episodes.

Episode 3: Wie geht es Papa? (How’s Papa Doing?)

We first see Marion in the apartment rented for her in Boston. She’s reading a note from Professor Di Donato who asks her to look over the lesson plan for the third episode. Marion picks up the script for Episode 3, picks up the telephone and dials. She glances at her script every once in a while as she speaks. She is, in fact, rehearsing her lines for the Fokus Deutsch series.

In the mini-drama, Heinz Koslowski gets the call from Cologne. He and his wife, Vera, meet Herr Becker, his new boss. Heinz signs his work contract and he and Vera see their new apartment. In the meantime, Marion and Rüdiger discuss the move. Rudiger can’t go to Cologne because he has just begun an apprenticeship. At home, Marion digs in her heels and says that she won’t move. Her brother Lars suggests she move in with the Mertens, a family in the neighborhood whose daughter had moved away leaving a spare room available. Marion’s father doesn’t like the idea at first, since Marion is still under 18, but he is swayed by Vera. Back in Boston, at the airport, Marion meets a young woman. The two talk about her "role" as Marion in the Fokus Deutsch course.

Episode 3 introduces vocabulary dealing with housing and furnishings and expressions of describing, objecting to something, and making a suggestion.

Review Episode (Wiederholung) 1 contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 1 – 3.

Episode 4: Der Umzug nach Koln (The Move to Cologne)

In the mini-drama, Marion is somewhat sad because moving day has arrived and she knows she’ll be left behind. Heinz and his son Lars pick up the truck for the move to Cologne. As they pull up to load their furniture, they are surrounded by their neighbors who are there to help. Vera Koslowski is sad to leave the house where they’ve lived for so long and Heinz gives his pet pigeons to his neighbor Karl. The family says its good-byes to the neighbors and to Marion and starts off for Cologne. When they arrive at the apartment building where they will be living, they all look up. Lars remarks that they’ll really be living high up. Friends help them to move into the new apartment, and by the end of the day they are all exhausted. Heinz and Vera wonder how Marion is doing. In this episode, Marion also explains the Abitur in detail, and we meet a number of German speakers who state where they are from and talk about their homes or apartments. We also see various sites in the city of Cologne.

Episode 4 also introduces vocabulary for housing and for expressing assurance, exhaustion, and saying goodbye. Several guest speakers describe their homes.

Episode 5: Das Karnevalsfest (The Mardi Gras Celebration)

In the mini-drama, Marion’s parents settle into their new life in Cologne. After a week, Heinz Koslowski seems happy with his work. He meets Herr Necker in the basement and talks about the mess left by the former maintenance man: about twenty old umbrellas lying around. Heinz Koslowski says he’ll take care of it. Later that day, he calls the Sperrmüll (a truck that picks up old furniture and other items) to have the umbrellas hauled off, but forgets to put them out on the street for pick-up. Days later, Marion’s parents help set up tents and tables outside the building for the Karneval celebration.

Back in the Boston studio, where the Fokus Deutsch series is being filmed, Marion is dressed up in a costume to illustrate the Karneval celebration. Being the only one in costume, she feels uncomfortable. In presenting the story of the Karneval, she decides to introduce a dramatic effect by building in a downpour that threatens to end the party. This is the first point in the series where Marion takes an active role to influence the outcome of the story.

Back in the mini-drama, the Karneval celebration proceeds with merriment, but suddenly a downpour looks as if it will ruin the whole event. Heinz had an idea: Vera, Lars, and he get umbrellas from the basement and save the day. The celebration can continue under the protection of the umbrellas. Toward the end of the episode, we learn about the celebration of Karneval and also hear how German speakers celebrate some of their favorite holidays and festivals.

Episode 5 also has three guest speakers describe their favorite festivals.

Episode 6: Der Unfall (The Accident)

In this episode, Professor Di Donato and Marion continue with the story of Marion Koslowski and her family. Marion would like to leave Lars and Rüdiger out of the picture, but Professor Di Donato insists that they be included. Marion wants more action in the story and comes up with the idea of including a motorcycle accident.

In the mini-drama, Marion’s parents rush back to Rheinhausen where they take a taxi to St. Bertha’s hospital. They are so upset at what has happened that they leave the flowers behind in the taxi. After some time and a few scary moments they eventually find Marion. She and Rudiger have had an accident but neither is seriously injured. Her mother wants her to come to Cologne for a while and perhaps go on a short vacation with her. In the meantime Marion had already told Rudiger that she would move to Cologne with her parents since the Mertens’ daughter Ruth wants to return to her parents house.

In Episode 6, Professor Di Donato and Marion talk about the concept of luck and discuss German hospitals. The episode also focuses on expressions for asking the name of someone you are looking for, giving directions, and asking someone how they are doing. Several guest speakers also talk about when they are afraid or worried.

Review Episode 2 contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 4 – 6.

Episode 7: Der Urlaub (The Vacation)

In this episode, Professor Di Donato and Marion continue to develop Marion’s story. They decide to focus on a trip that Marion and her mother will take. Marion and Professor Di Donato go back and forth about where she and her mother should go. Should it be someplace warm and exotic, or perhaps for skiing in the Italian Alps? Should it be to a city such as Vienna or Zurich? Or should it be a trip where they can enjoy nature? They decide that Marion and her mother should go to the island of Rügen off the northeast German coast in the Baltic Sea.

In the mini-drama, as Marion and her mother are packing, Marion laments that she has nothing to wear. Marion’s father and her brother Lars will stay behind. Heinz surprises his son Lars with two tickets to Saturday’s soccer match. They see Marion and her mother off at the train station.

Episode 7 also presents vocabulary for clothing and expressions for wishing someone a good trip and expressions for complaining. Marion and Professor Di Donato discuss the concept of vacation and several guest speakers tell where they like to go on vacation.

Episode 8: Auf der Insel Rügen (On the Island of Rügen)

General Description

In this episode, Professor Di Donato and Marion are trying to decide how the story should proceed. Marion would very much like to meet someone and perhaps do some typical tourist things such as taking photos or taking a sailboat ride. She’d also like to have an adventure.

In the mini-drama, Marion and her mother are met at the station by Michael Händel, the son of the owners of Pension Ingeborg, where Marion and her mother will be staying. Michael’s mother, Frau Händel, shows them their room and afterwards they set out to explore the island. Michael runs into Marion and her mother, and he and Marion go off together. He offers to take Marion on a sailboat ride. They get into the sailboat and go out to sea where they get stuck because the wind has died down.

Back with Professor Di Donato, Marion thinks this is a very romantic ending to the story, but she can’t decide where the story is going. She finally decides to end the episode with two poems, both having to do with the water, one by Goethe and one by Bettina von Arnim. We see the lone sailboat out on the sea as the sun sets behind it. What will become of Marion and Michael?

Episode 8 also includes expressions for wishing someone a pleasant stay, getting someone’s attention, warning someone about something, and asking someone how they like a place. It also presents a collage of German Romantic painting as well as that of the Renaissance and Expressionism.

Episode 9: Abenteuer und Liebe (Adventure and Love)

Marion begins this episode with a review of her family’s story up to the point where she and Michael are lost at sea. In recounting the adventure, she gives it a little ironic twist and exaggerates a number of the events.

In the mini-drama, Vera Koslowski is worried and goes to Michael’s mother to see if she had heard anything more about Marion and Michael. Mr. Händel enlists the help of a neighbor, Jan Klier in finding the two. In the meantime, Marion and Michael are trying to keep warm on the small sailboat.

Back in Boston Goethe Institut, where Professor Di Donato and Marion are working, Marion thinks it would be interesting to turn the story into a big romance. Professor Di Donato, however, won’t let her go that far with it. Instead, he wishes to see a resolution to the story.

In the mini-drama, Herr Händel and his neighbor finally come upon the missing boat and rescue Marion and Michael. But Professor Di Donato isn’t satisfied with the story Marion has put together. At this point, the guest speakers interrupt the story to give their opinion of Marion and her story. Back in the mini-drama, Michael and Marion say good-bye to one another at the train station and Marion invites him to visit her in Cologne. She also promises to write to him.

Episode 9 also includes several guests speakers who comment on the story line and say what they think about Marion.

Review Episode 3 contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 7 – 9.

Episode 10: "Die Wespe" ("The Wasp").

In this episode, Marion writes a new story of Michael, who has written an article for his high school newspaper "Die Wespe." In the Goethe Institut, we see Marion standing at a photocopier with a copy of "Die Wespe" and she shows Professor Di Donato Michael’s article that takes issue with a certain instructor’s (Herr Bolten’s) unfair grading practices. The professor remarks that the article is going to cause a lot of trouble for Michael. Marion thinks Michael should have a girlfriend in this episode and writes Silke into the script.

In the mini-drama, when Michael’s classmates see him at school, they comment on how great his article is. Herr Bolten, who is just entering the school, finds a copy of "Die Wespe" and reads the article about himself. He gets upset immediately and storms off to the principal’s office. Herr Lenzen, the principal, wants to speak to Michael. In the meantime, Silke and the other classmates are talking about Michael’s dilemma. Michael eventually returns to the classroom, and Silke asks him how things went in the principal’s office. The students all agree that they have to support Michael. After all, he only wrote what they all think.

Back in Goethe Institut, Marion, too, is concerned that Michael may be punished for what he wrote. She wants the students to demonstrate. Professor Di Donato thinks this might be going a bit too far, but Marion counters that many students in Germany are politically active. Marion and the professor compromise on an appropriate ending to the story.

In the mini-drama, Herr Lenzen wants Michael to speak to Herr Bolten about the article, and Herr Bolten agrees. Professor Di Donato is happy about the ending, and he and Marion end up reminiscing about their school days while looking at a class picture of Professor Di Donato. Marion decides she wants to inject some spice into their story: a love triangle perhaps?

Episode 10 also represents expressions for expressing outrage, apologizing for interrupting someone, complimenting a person, and coming to terms with a problem. Two guest speakers also talk about their school experiences.

Episode 11: Ein Liebesdrama (A Love Story)

At the beginning of this mini-drama, Michael and his father are repairing a boat. Michael tells his father that he and Silke have a test in Math for which they are going to study together. A letter arrives from Marion for Michael. As he begins to read it, Silke arrives. When they go up to his room, Michael takes off his jacket and the photos that came along with the letter fall out of the pocket. He quickly gathers them up and puts them away, even though Silke asks to see them. Michael’s father then calls Michael to help him with the boat. When Michael runs outside to help, Silke finds the letter from Marion and begins to read it and look at the photos. She storms out of the house, passing Michael and his father on the way.

Back in the Goethe Institut, Professor Di Donato wants to know what Marion wrote in the letter. She doesn’t particularly want to talk about it and, instead, wants to move on to the review of the story. After the review she and Professor Di Donato talk some more about school, favorite subjects, taking tests, and so forth. This offers a segue to the guest speakers who also tell about their favorite subjects in school. Professor Di Donato wants to know if Silke will forgive Michael for his indiscretion. Marion remains coy, enjoying her role, being able to change people’s lives with a little letter. Marion predicts that the next episode will have tears, dancing, and a happy ending.

Episode 11 also presents expressions for asking someone about something, asking someone to start getting to work, and expressing surprise. Several guest speakers also comment on their favorite school subjects.

Episode 12: Silke (Silke)

In this episode, Marion begins to tell a little fairy tale, in which she reviews the story between her and Michael. Whenever she begins to embellish the events, Professor Di Donato calls her bluff. Professor Di Donato wants to know how the story continues after Silke has stormed off.

In the mini-drama, we find Silke in her room crying, upset at what happened between her and Michael. She decides to go off to the disco to dance her troubles away. The next day at school Michael’s friends think he and Silke are no longer a couple, because they saw her alone at the disco. Michael catches up to Silke and the two of them discuss Marion. Michael explains that Marion meant nothing to him and that she lives far away in Cologne anyway. Michael and Silke reconcile.

Back with Marion in Boston, Professor Di Donato mentions that Silke and Michael weren’t wearing helmets when they rode away on the bike. Marion says that this isn’t required in Germany. Marion isn’t happy with the way the story is going. She wants to write about more important issues in Germany and not concentrate on a silly love story. She asks Professor Di Donato if he would mind her leaving now and if the lesson plan would suffer if she were to leave. He assures her it will be fine if she leaves and then turns to the audience to say that Marion has a lot of talent but that she is sometimes too much of a perfectionist.

On the way home, Marion stops at the library to get some books. When she returns to her apartment, she and her sister discuss how the story is going. Marion wants to do some more reading in order to move the story in a different direction. She wants to deal with issues such as problems of youth at school or the situation of the elderly in Germany. She feels that the character of Marion is unimportant and so she wants, instead, to deal with reality in Germany. Her sister asks what Professor Di Donato will think about these ideas. The episode ends with Marion’s sister telling her it’s time for dinner and with both of them thinking about their parents.

Episode 12 also presents expressions for telling a fairy tale.

Review Episode 4 contains the uninterrupted mini-dramas from Episodes 10 – 12.