What's on the television?
Was läuft im Fernsehen?
- Discuss different types of television programs.
- Discuss what you saw on television.
Explore everyday vocabulary related to television in German including terms like "der Fernseher" (TV), "die Sendung" (program), and phrases to discuss what's on the screen, enhancing your B1 conversational skills.
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Coming soon...
Don't see progress when learning on your own? Study this material with a certified teacher!
Do you want to practice German today? That is possible! Just contact one of our teachers today.
Overview of the Lesson: "What's on the television?"
This B1-level German lesson focuses on vocabulary and expressions related to television programs and media content. It helps learners describe what is currently showing on TV, discuss popular types of shows, and express opinions about them. The lesson also introduces useful verbs and nouns commonly used when talking about television, making it easier to engage in everyday conversations about entertainment.
Key Vocabulary and Expressions
- fernsehen (to watch TV)
- die Sendung (the program, show)
- die Nachrichten (the news)
- eine Serie (a series)
- der Film (the film, movie)
- die Dokumentation (the documentary)
- Ich sehe gerade (I am currently watching)
- Was läuft im Fernsehen? (What's on TV?)
- die Werbung (the advertisement)
- die Sportsendung (the sports program)
Lesson Content Highlights
The lesson teaches how to ask and answer questions about TV programming, describe genres and formats, and use time expressions related to TV schedules. It explains how to structure sentences talking about preferences and what is currently airing, for example: "Im Moment läuft eine spannende Serie."
Practical dialogues include conversations about recommendations and critiques of shows. You will also learn to use modal verbs and temporal phrases naturally in this context.
Comparing German and English TV-Related Language
While English speakers often say "What’s on TV?" the German equivalent "Was läuft im Fernsehen?" literally means "What is running on TV?" The verb laufen (to run) is commonly used for describing what is airing, which differs from the English use of "to be on." Phrases like Ich sehe gerade... correspond closely to "I am watching right now" and are essential for discussing ongoing viewing.
German separates "der Film" for a movie and "die Sendung" for any program or broadcast. Unlike English, where "show" is very general, German distinguishes formats clearly, important for precise conversation.
Useful phrases:
"Was kommt heute Abend im Fernsehen?" (What is on TV tonight?)
"Ich mag Dokumentationen über Geschichte." (I like documentaries about history.)
These lessons would not be possible without our amazing partners🙏
