The holidays have come and gone, but they have left you a little something behind... or maybe a slightly bigger behind! Personal trainer Erik Habel gives us a good workout that is somewhere between high-speed yoga and sumo training... Get the lead out! (video copyright dpa)

This very funny and very fast animated version of "Puss in Boots" is both fun and educational to watch. NOTE: This video uses antiquated forms of German such as Eure Majestät which are roughly equivalent to "Thy Majesty" in Shakespearean-Era English, but have been translated for ease of understanding into modern English. Viel Spaß beim Lernen!

There was a lot of excitement on the red carpet in front of the Festival Hall of the Frankfurt Music Fair, as stars like The BossHoss, Silbermond and Frida Gold came to show their appreciation for the music industry professionals behind the scenes and also to celebrate with them. Enjoy!

Barbara leads the class into some examples of relative clauses, but then has to give the class a refresher course in modal verbs. Luckily they pass with flying colors! Viel Spaß beim Lernen!

Construction is the biggest source of political corruption in the world, and here a case in point: the existence of hermit Friedmunt Sonnemann is being threatened by the construction of an elevated Moselle River overpass, that according to critics is neither wanted nor needed by the inhabitants. (video copyright dpa)

DJ Ötzi, the Austrian entertainer and pop musician, gives a heart-wrenching performance here in a duet with singer Kate Hall.

Piggeldy wants his big brother Frederick to show him how to ride a roller coaster, but instead winds up with a flying lesson, just like the old expression "if pigs could fly..." Enjoy!

Yabla star reporter (and future hip-hop dancer) Diane and her special guest Franca give us a tour of the verb brauchen (to need). Diane is sure that quitting her stressful office job to pursue a career in hip-hop dancing is a great idea, but luckily Franca is a bit more sceptical. Viel Spaß beim Lernen!

Here's more from comedian Günter Dudenhöfer. According to the program's host, he's the Palatine region's best "Büttenredner" [carnival] orator since Helmut Kohl. A "Bütt" is a barrel in which the orators usually stand while airing the latest "dirty laundry" of the powers that be. Viel Spaß!

Another delightful animated fairytale, this time Hans Christian Andersen's beloved "The Ugly Duckling," again featuring narrator Bastian Pastewka. Enjoy!

Today, Piggeldy the curious little piglet, sees a supersonic airplane for the first time. But quite to his dismay, he doesn't only see it, but rather he also hears its deafening roar. Also available as App.

Louis and Elias of the street band Guaia Guaia are about as close to The Big Lebowski's "The Dude" as you could expect any pair of twenty-something German guys to be. Watch this video as an excercise in learning to chill out and live free! Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen! (video copyright dpa)

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)