Introduction

Through a variety of extracts from German television’s most popular shows, students are offered an exciting and sometimes surprising insight into the culture of German-speaking countries. In addition, some of the extracts were filmed in Germany and Austria especially for Channel Hopping.

The presenter, Patricia Pantel, is a popular youth radio presenter in Berlin. She takes a lighthearted look at some of the crazier elements of German life as well as presenting features on sport, music, the environment, former East Germany, Turkish immigrants, teenage problems as well as a weekly photo love story. Each programme ends with a special word of the week followed by a recent hit from the pop world. The music selected throughout the series reflects the diversity in German, Swiss and Austrian pop music today.

The comedian, John Moloney presents a weekly slot entitled "Deutschland – seltsam aber wahr" in which he takes a whimsical look at the more bizarre elements of German culture such as the fascination with Baywatch or the obsession with joining clubs and organisations.

Key vocabulary is provided on screen before most of the extracts, but the teacher can decide how much more to provide.

Each of the five programmes lasts twenty minutes.