My Struggle (and Small Victories) with TELC B1 Writing: Responding to Opinions

Okay, deep breaths. I’m officially stuck. Not in a ‘lost in the autobahn’ kind of way (thank goodness!), but stuck in a frustratingly specific corner of learning German: the TELC B1 Writing exam, specifically the part where you have to respond to someone’s opinion. I moved to Berlin six months ago, full of enthusiasm and the optimistic belief that learning German would be…well, easy. It hasn’t been. But I’m trying. And, honestly, sometimes I feel like I’m winning tiny battles. This article is about those battles, and the German I’m learning to fight them with.

The Scenario: The Coffee Shop Debate

It happened last week at ‘Café am Neuen Rathaus’ – my new favorite spot. I was nursing a Latte and reading a German newspaper (mostly just looking at the pictures, to be honest) when a guy at the next table started loudly discussing the new U-Bahn extension. He was arguing that it was a terrible idea, completely disrupting the area and ruining the atmosphere. He kept saying things like, “Das ist doch eine Katastrophe!” (That’s a disaster!) and “Die Leute werden es nicht mögen!” (People won’t like it!).

I wanted to politely disagree, explain that the extension was actually improving public transport, and offer a slightly more nuanced view. That’s the kind of task the TELC wants me to nail.

My First Attempt – A Complete Disaster

My initial reaction? To jump in and say, “Nein, Sie haben Recht! Es ist eine Katastrophe!” (No, you’re right! It’s a disaster!). Seriously? I immediately mirrored his negativity. I realized, in that moment, how much I was relying on simple translations and direct agreement. It’s easy to just repeat what you hear, but that doesn’t demonstrate an understanding of how to respond to an opinion.

A helpful barista, seeing my slightly panicked expression, later told me, “Das ist nicht die Antwort!” (That’s not the answer!). Wise words, indeed. I needed to learn how to build a more complex sentence, not just a simple affirmation.

Building a Response: Vocabulary & Phrases

Okay, so what did I need to say? The examiner wants to see you can acknowledge the original opinion, then offer a contrasting perspective. Here’s what I’ve been practicing, with some useful German phrases:

• Erstens… (Firstly…) – To introduce your first point.
• Ich verstehe, was Sie meinen. (I understand what you mean.) – A polite way to show you’ve heard them.
• Allerdings… (Nevertheless…) – Introducing a contrasting idea.
• Aber… (But…) – A classic, but use it carefully!
• Ich denke jedoch… (However, I think…) – Slightly more formal.
• Ich glaube, dass… (I believe that…) – Useful for stating your opinion.
• Im Gegenteil… (On the contrary…) – Great for directly challenging the opinion.

For example, after acknowledging his concern, I could have said something like: “Erstens, ich verstehe, was Sie meinen, dass die U-Bahn die Atmosphäre stört. Allerdings glaube ich, dass die Verbesserung des öffentlichen Nahverkehrs für die Stadt wichtig ist.” (Firstly, I understand what you mean about the U-Bahn disrupting the atmosphere. However, I believe that improving public transport is important for the city.)

Misunderstandings and Corrections – Learning from Mistakes

The biggest hurdle is the subjunctive mood – Konjunktiv. I kept getting tripped up trying to use it correctly. I overheard a German colleague, Thomas, correcting me, saying, “Verwende den Konjunktiv II, wenn du etwas hypothetisch oder indirekt formulierst!” (Use the Konjunktiv II when you’re expressing something hypothetically or indirectly!). He explained that when responding to someone’s opinion, you often need to soften your disagreement with phrases like “Wenn ich Sie hätte…” (If I had…).

Another time, I wrote, “Sie sind falsch!” (You’re wrong!). My tutor gently corrected me: “Es ist besser, zu sagen ‘Ich sehe das anders.’” (It’s better to say ‘I see it differently.’). It’s all about nuance!

A Small Victory (and a Bit of Relief!)

Yesterday, I was given a different scenario – someone complaining about the rising cost of rent in Berlin. I actually managed to craft a reasonably coherent response, using the phrases and vocabulary I’d been practicing. It wasn’t perfect, but it was my response, formed with my own understanding. I didn’t fall back on direct agreement or simplistic statements. I felt a surge of… relief, actually.

The biggest takeaway? This isn’t about flawlessly translating the English into German. It’s about communicating my opinion clearly and respectfully, showing I can understand and respond to another person’s view. And, importantly, it’s about accepting that I’m going to make mistakes – and learning from them. Weiter so! (Keep it up!)