Talking About TV and Movies in Germany: My First Few Months

Okay, so I’ve been in Berlin for six months now, and honestly, one of the things I’ve found the most difficult, beyond the whole bureaucracy thing, is just…talking about what I watch. It seems ridiculously simple back home, right? “I watched The Crown last night” or “Did you see Spider-Man: No Way Home?” But here? It’s a whole different ballgame. I quickly realised I wasn’t just speaking a new language; I was navigating a completely different culture of media consumption.

The Initial Confusion – “Was schaust du?”

The first few times someone asked me, “Was schaust du?” (What are you watching?), I panicked. I defaulted to trying to translate my reaction, which, let’s be honest, was usually just “It was good!” which, in German, isn’t really a helpful response. My first attempts felt awkward and forced.

I remember having a conversation with my colleague, Thomas, about the weekend. He asked, “Hast du am Wochenende was gesehen?” (Did you see anything interesting over the weekend?). I blurted out, “Ja, Der Club war gut!” (Yes, Der Club was good!). Thomas just stared at me. It turned out Der Club is a German football team, and he was talking about a film. Massive misunderstanding. I wanted to crawl under the table.

Essential Vocabulary for Media Talk

So, I started collecting phrases. Here are a few that have been lifesavers:

• Was schaust du? (What are you watching?) – The most basic.
• Ich schaue… (I watch…) – Followed by the show or movie.
• Ich mag… (I like…) – To express enjoyment.
• Ich hasse… (I hate…) – Equally useful!
• Es war super/toll/spannend! (It was great/awesome/exciting!) – Standard reactions.
• Ich habe es nicht verstanden. (I didn’t understand it.) – Crucial if something is complicated!
• Kannst du es langsamer sagen? (Can you say it slower?) – Seriously, this has come in handy a lot.

Talking About Streaming Services

Germans love their streaming services. I quickly learned that Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ are huge. I’ve been trying to use them more, but the conversation often shifts to recommendations.

“Hast du etwas Neues auf Netflix gesehen?” (Have you seen anything new on Netflix?) is a very common question. And my answer, “Ich schaue gerade Stranger Things,” (I’m currently watching Stranger Things), isn’t always enough. They want details! “Oh, Stranger Things? Ist das gut? Hast du die erste Staffel gesehen?” (Is it good? Have you seen the first season?)

Common German Phrases & Reactions

• “Oh, du schaust X?” (Oh, you watch X?) – Often accompanied by surprise or a questioning tone, like they think it’s a strange choice.
• “X ist doch total überbewertet!” (X is totally overrated!) – A very common opinion, especially regarding American films. I’ve started hearing this a lot.
• “Da muss ich doch rein!” (I have to see that!) – Said enthusiastically when someone recommends something.

My Own Mistakes & How I’m Learning

I still make mistakes. Last week, I was telling a group of people about this amazing French film I saw, and I accidentally said “Ich schaue gern französische Filme” (I like to watch French films). They looked at me like I was crazy! Apparently, “französische Filme” are considered a bit… pretentious. Oops.

I’m learning that context is everything. It’s not just about saying the right words; it’s about understanding the underlying social cues. I’m starting to realize that there’s a real appreciation for German cinema and television, too, which is great to know.

Resources I’m Using

• DW Learn German: They have a fantastic section on everyday German conversation.
• YouTube channels: Searching for “Deutsche Unterhaltungen” (German Conversations) on YouTube has been helpful.
• Just asking! Seriously, the best way to learn is to just jump in and start talking, even if you make mistakes. Most Germans are incredibly friendly and patient.

Right now, my goal is to be able to comfortably discuss what I watch without feeling like I’m completely lost in translation. It’s a slow process, but I’m getting there, one Was schaust du? at a time. Ich glaube es! (I believe it!)