A discussion of teaching culture through the use of films focuses on how German Cinema films can be used successfully as a required extracurricular activity in German second-language-instruction. This kind of extracurricular activity is seen as a two dimensional educational experience. From the students' point of view, everything about seeing a German film conspires against enjoyment: the language, the prospect of having to write a critique, and the strangeness of the plot and characters. The instructor's reaction to the students' reaction to the film forms the other half of the educational experience: the teacher must assume an "American" point of view to deal with the apparent culture shock. American students' reactions to German cinema reveal cultural differences, and the medium of film challenges their ability to analyze those differences. (Author/MSE)