In traditional carnival style, the village idiot - portrayed by comedian Günter Dudenhöfer - misspeaks, twists his words all around and gets all mixed up. In the process, however, he leaves various social institutions and current trends in his wake handsomely lampooned. Viel Spaß dabei!

Two businessmen shake hands, have a meeting, and both fall ill the next day. What did they do wrong? According to this report, they should have kissed each other on the cheek instead of shaking hands! A doctor in Berlin also tells us about the effectiveness of herbal teas... Gesundheit! (video copyright dpa)

Singer-songwriter Mark Forster writes minimal pop songs with smart, existential lyrics and really catchy hooks. Enjoy! Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen!

Barbara tries to get the students to talk about what they don't like about Germany, but the only thing they can come up with is the lack of free water in restaurants and cafes. Barbara, however, admits that when she is in the US, she misses German bread. Meanwhile Jacob, Casie, and Stephanie sort out the meaning of sich kümmern um. Viel Spaß beim Lernen!

This wonderful animated version of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "Rumpelstiltskin" features the many guises of narrator Bastian Pastewka. "Rumpelstiltskin" seems to have some very ambiguous morals: Lying to the powerful about your daughter is good? Marrying a powerful man is good, even if he is a swine? Never give a rich woman with a baby a second chance? See if you can figure it out!

Yabla's own Diane shows us the German terms for the most important parts of the body with the help of her friend and assistant Franca.

Actor Matthias Schweighöfer stars in this music video from German band Silbermond, which was reportedly inspired by the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen!

How can you tell if fresh fruits and vegetables are good or not? Chef Tolga von Klein from the Kochhaus restaurant in Berlin has some excellent tips. Guten Appetit!
(video copyright dpa)

Though the Bach Cantatas have some very old-fashioned spellings in German (such as adding an "et" to the end of third person singular verbs instead of just a "t"), the language is still easily understandable, and the music is among the most beautiful ever created. Enjoy!

Barbara notices that Ian seems to have forgotten how to count in German, and then before the class can get started on relative clauses with verbs and prepositions, Mia and Liz make a great effort to explain sich gewöhnen an. In the end it's all laughs and high-fives! Viel Spaß beim Lernen!

Despite one couple whose idea of a romantic Valentine's Day is to visit the German Constitutional Court, Yabla star reporter Diane still manages to find some people with some more traditional ideas of love. What are you doing with your loved one this Valentine's Day?

The next time you are waiting for your baggage at Frankfurt Airport and feel something sniffing the back of your leg, remember to be polite: it may be an official from the German Customs — in the form of a highly trained dog! A dog trainer from the German Customs explains what qualities they look for in their future canine employees. (video copyright dpa)

The three women from Hamburg who are the Die Heiterkeit are the closest thing to the Velvet Underground you are likely to hear out of Germany these days: very cool, restrained, minimal, a bit gothic, and… they rock! Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen!

When a lot has happened, there is a lot of talk, but a lot of it is useless. These ladies and gentlemen, however, came prepared with something to say! (video copyright dpa)

Barbara bravely leads the somewhat sullen class (late night perhaps?) through an excellent lesson in constructing relative clauses with prepositions, and is not convinced when Mia claims that they are fertig. Whatever could she mean by that? Viel Spaß beim Lernen!