My First Attempts at Talking About TV in Germany – And Why It’s Harder Than I Thought

Okay, so, I’ve been living in Munich for six months now, and let’s be honest, while I can order a Bier and say “Bitte,” actually talking about things…well, it’s been a challenge. Especially when it comes to, you know, everyday stuff like TV. I’d imagined it would be easy – “Ich mag Stranger Things!” – and everyone would get it. It’s not. It’s…complicated. This week, I finally managed to have a proper conversation about it with my colleague, Klaus, and I realized just how much I need to work on expressing my opinions and using the right connectors in German.

The Initial Disaster: A Misunderstanding About Dark

The first attempt was… a disaster. I’d been watching Dark on Netflix (which, thankfully, I can still access here!) and I was really into it. So, I approached Klaus at the coffee machine and, brimming with enthusiasm, said: “Dark ist… sehr…düster, nicht wahr?” He looked at me blankly. Then he asked, completely seriously, “Düster? Aber es ist doch ein Liebesfilm!” Turns out, I’d completely misinterpreted “düster” (dark). He thought I was saying it was a romance! I felt my face turn red. I quickly corrected myself: “Nein, nein, Dark ist spannend und gruselig! Aber ich bin vielleicht etwas…überoptimistisch.” (No, no, Dark is exciting and scary! But I’m perhaps a little…optimistic.) It highlighted a huge problem: I’m relying too much on direct translations from English and not understanding the nuances of German expression.

Opinions and Connectors: “Ich finde…” and “Aber…”

After that, I started paying a lot more attention to how people actually talk about TV. I realized that just saying “Ich mag…” isn’t enough. People want to know why you like something. I’ve been trying to use “Ich finde…” (I find…) a lot. For example, I was talking to my friend Sarah about Tatort (the German crime drama) and I said, “Ich finde die Fälle sehr gut gemacht und die Schauspieler sind toll.” (I find the cases very well made and the actors are great.) It felt much more natural and gave her a chance to respond.

Another crucial connector is “aber” (but). It’s used constantly when expressing opinions. “Ich mag Die Sendung mit der Maus (the children’s show), aber meine Schwester findet sie langweilig.” (I like Die Sendung mit der Maus, but my sister finds it boring.) It’s a fundamental part of conversation, and I’m still struggling with the timing and frequency.

Vocabulary – Beyond “Gut” and “Schlecht”

It’s also important to realize that “gut” (good) and “schlecht” (bad) aren’t always the best words to use when discussing entertainment. Sometimes, people will use words like “spannend” (exciting), “unterhaltsam” (entertaining), “innovativ” (innovative), or “langweilig” (boring). I’ve been making a conscious effort to expand my vocabulary related to TV. For instance, instead of just saying “Diese Serie ist schlecht,” I can say “Diese Serie ist nicht sehr spannend.” (This series isn’t very exciting.)

A Small Victory (and More Confusion!)

Yesterday, I was discussing How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) with a few new people in the bar. I was able to actually express my opinion, “Ich finde es lustig und verrückt!” (I find it funny and crazy!) and even used “aber” a couple of times to explain why I thought it was good, even though it was a bit ridiculous. That felt…good.

However, when I tried to explain that I thought the acting was “überzeichnet” (exaggerated), nobody seemed to understand. They kept asking, “Überzeichnet? Was meinen Sie genau?” (Exaggerated? What do you mean exactly?). It’s a reminder that my German needs a lot more work, especially when it comes to expressing more complex thoughts and opinions.

Moving Forward – Small Steps, Big Goals

I know I have a long way to go. I’m starting to keep a little notebook where I write down useful phrases and expressions related to TV. I’m also trying to listen more carefully to native speakers and pay attention to how they form their sentences. It’s frustrating, definitely, but also incredibly rewarding when I manage to express myself effectively. Maybe next time, I won’t accidentally suggest that Dark is a romance film! Zum Glück (luckily), I’m learning, one confusing conversation at a time.