My Adventures in German: TV, Music, and “Finden”

Okay, so, it’s been six months since I moved to Berlin. Six months of trying to navigate a new language, a new culture, and, let’s be honest, a serious dose of imposter syndrome. I’m still stumbling over everything, but I’m getting there, one awkward conversation at a time. And one of the biggest hurdles has been actually talking about things – like, you know, expressing my opinions. Turns out, the German way of doing it, using “finden,” is a whole different ballgame.

The Problem with “Finden”

For a long time, I just nodded along when people asked me what I thought about a new TV show or a particular band. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing! “Finden” is used to express opinions, but it’s not just a simple “I like…” It feels… heavier. It implies a judgement, a reason behind the opinion. When I first tried to use it, it just felt forced and unnatural.

Let’s look at a simple example. I was chatting with Sarah, a colleague, about the new series “Dark.” She asked, “Was findest du von ‘Dark’?”

I blurted out, “Ich finde es gut!”

Sarah paused, looked at me strangely, and said, “Ach, das ist eine sehr allgemeine Aussage. Kannst du sagen, warum du es gut findest?” (Oh, that’s a very general statement. Can you say why you find it good?)

It was brutal! I hadn’t explained why I liked it. I just…found it good. It felt incredibly basic.

Practical Phrases & Real Conversations

The key, I’ve realised, is to actually explain your reasoning. It’s not enough to just say “Ich finde…” Here are some phrases that have been really helpful:

• Ich finde es interessant, weil… (I find it interesting because…) – “Ich finde es interessant, weil die Story so komplex ist.” (I find it interesting because the story is so complex.)
• Ich finde es gut, weil… (I find it good because…) – “Ich finde die Musik gut, weil sie sehr atmosphärisch ist.” (I find the music good because it’s very atmospheric.)
• Ich finde es toll, weil… (I find it great because…) – “Ich finde das Album toll, weil die Texte sehr tiefgründig sind.” (I find the album great because the lyrics are very profound.)
• Mir gefällt es, weil… (I like it because…) – This is a slightly more casual way to express your opinion.

TV Show Discussions – My First Success!

I was at a Stammtisch (regular meeting) with some other expats the other week. We were talking about the new German music show on Arte, “Musik Heute.” Someone asked, “Was hältst du von der Sendung?” (What do you think of the show?)

This time, I felt a bit more confident. I took a deep breath and said, “Ich finde die Sendung sehr informativ, weil sie verschiedene Genres von deutschen Musikern präsentiert. Und ich finde, die Moderatoren sind sehr sympathisch.” (I find the show very informative because it presents different genres of German musicians. And I think the presenters are very friendly.)

The reaction was completely different! Everyone nodded and agreed. It felt…good. It wasn’t just a statement; it was a genuine opinion.

Music Opinions – A Little More Sensitive

Music is a trickier topic in Germany. People are very opinionated about their favourite bands, especially older ones. I once told a guy at a concert, “Ich finde Kraftwerk sehr gut!” (I find Kraftwerk very good!)

He stared at me, utterly bewildered. Then he explained, “Du musst etwas mehr sagen! Die Leute mögen Kraftwerk nicht so sehr! Du musst sagen, was du an ihnen magst – die Elektronik, die Atmosphäre, die Innovation…” (You have to say something more! People don’t like Kraftwerk that much! You have to say what you like about them – the electronics, the atmosphere, the innovation…)

It was a huge wake-up call! It’s not enough to just like something; you need to articulate why.

Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes!

Honestly, I still mess up. I’ve definitely had some awkward silences and confused looks. But the more I practice, the more comfortable I’m becoming. The important thing is to keep trying. Don’t worry about saying the “right” thing perfectly at first. Just start expressing your opinions, even if they’re a little clumsy. And remember, people are generally more interested in hearing your perspective than judging you.

My goal now is to keep using “finden” and “mir gefällt” – and maybe one day, I’ll be confidently arguing about the merits of electronic music with a German band fan!

Do you want me to give you some more example dialogues or focus on a specific aspect of expressing opinions in German?