My Struggle with German – and Why I’m Trying to Write About Robots

Okay, so here I am. Moved to Berlin six months ago after a complete career change – wanted something new, you know? It’s amazing, really beautiful and full of life, but let’s be honest, learning German has been…a Herausforderung. (A challenge!) Before coming, I thought “Okay, lots of people speak English. It’ll be fine.” Famous last words!

The TELC B1.2 Writing Exam – A Big Fear

My boss at the café where I now work, Herr Schmidt, keeps saying I need to improve my writing. Apparently, for some paperwork and even just making sure I can understand all the emails, it’s important. He told me about this exam, the TELC B1.2 Writing. I was terrified. The prompt is always something like “Explain how AI could change society,” which sounds incredibly complicated, especially when you’re still trying to figure out how to order a Kaffee (coffee) without accidentally saying “Ich brauche einen Schuss Wodka!” (I need a shot of vodka!).

My First Attempt – A Complete Disaster!

So, I started studying. Lots of online exercises. But then came the actual writing task. I panicked and wrote this massive paragraph about how robots would take alle jobs (all jobs) and everyone would be poor. It was…over the top. And incredibly dramatic. My colleague, Maria, read it and said, “Das ist sehr… emotional! (That’s very… emotional!) You need to be more objective. Think about the positiven sides as well.” I felt so stupid. I even asked her, “Aber warum ist das so schwer? (But why is this so hard?)!” She just smiled and said, “Weil du noch üben musst!” (Because you still have to practice!).

Understanding ‘Gesellschaft’ – It’s Not Just Robots!

The biggest problem was understanding what ‘Gesellschaft’ meant. I kept thinking of it as just “society” – a fancy word. But then my Oma (grandma) explained it differently. She said, “Gesellschaft bedeutet, wie wir miteinander leben, wie wir Entscheidungen treffen, und wie wir unsere Zukunft gestalten.” (Society means how we live with each other, how we make decisions, and how we shape our future). Suddenly, I realised the question wasn’t just about robots, it was about how they would change our lives – with people making choices.

I started trying to write a more balanced explanation. Here’s a little piece I managed (it’s still not brilliant, but better!):

“Künstliche Intelligenz könnte die Gesellschaft auf viele Arten verändern. Einerseits könnten Roboter Aufgaben übernehmen, die für Menschen gefährlich oder monoton sind. Das könnte die Arbeitsbedingungen verbessern und mehr Zeit für Kreativität und Bildung schaffen. Andereinseitig… die Frage ist, was passiert mit den Jobs? Werden wir alle arbeitslos sein? Es ist wichtig, dass wir uns auf diese Fragen vorbereiten und neue Wege finden, um im Leben erfolgreich zu sein. Vielleicht werden wir mehr an Forschung oder Kunst arbeiten.” (Artificial intelligence could change society in many ways. On the one hand, robots could take over tasks that are dangerous or monotonous for humans. This could improve working conditions and create more time for creativity and education. On the other hand…the question is what happens with the jobs? Will we all be unemployed? It’s important that we prepare ourselves for these questions and find new ways to be successful in life. Perhaps we will work more on research or art.)

Useful German Phrases I’ve Learned (and Still Mess Up!)

Here are a few phrases I keep using, even if I sometimes get them wrong:

• “Wie funktioniert das?” (How does that work?) – I asked this to the barista when he explained the new coffee machine.
• “Ich verstehe nicht.” (I don’t understand.) – This comes out a lot, especially when Herr Schmidt is explaining things too quickly.
• “Es tut mir leid, können Sie das bitte wiederholen?” (I’m sorry, can you please repeat that?) – My go-to phrase after Maria corrects me!

Tips for TELC B1.2 Writing – From a Total Beginner

Okay, so here’s what I’ve learned so far, hopefully helpful for anyone else struggling:

1. Don’t Overthink It: Seriously. Stop trying to write perfectly on the first attempt. Focus on getting your ideas down.

2. Structure is Key: Make a clear introduction, body paragraphs with examples, and a conclusion. I learned this after Maria pointed out my essay was just one giant block of text!

3. Use Examples: Don’t just talk about robots taking jobs – give specific examples. Like, maybe you could use the example of self-driving cars and how that might change transportation or parking.

4. Be Balanced: Present both positive und negative (positive and negative) aspects. Remember what Oma said about “Gesellschaft.”

5. Practice Makes Perfect: Seriously, write something every day, even if it’s just a few sentences.

My Next Goal: Writing an Email to Herr Schmidt

My next goal is to actually use this knowledge. I want to write a professional email to Herr Schmidt explaining my ideas about how AI could help the café – maybe suggesting he look into using AI for inventory management or customer service chatbots. I know it’s going to be scary, but I’m determined to get better at writing in German. Und vielleicht, nur vielleicht, werde ich eines Tages sogar einen guten Job bekommen! (And maybe, just maybe, one day I will even get a good job!)

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