My Journey to Explain Accessibility with German – TELC B1.2 Writing

Okay, so I’m here in Berlin now, about six months after moving from London. It’s amazing, really vibrant and full of life, but let me tell you, learning German has been… a challenge. Especially when it comes to writing! My TELC B1.2 writing exam is looming, and the task they gave us was: “Explain how AI helps people with disabilities.” Sounds serious, right? I’ve been spending my evenings trying to put some thoughts together, and honestly, it’s forcing me to really think about how technology can actually make a difference in everyday life.

The First Hurdle: Understanding the Request

The first few days were just overwhelming. I kept getting lost in translations – “Assistenz” versus “Hilfe,” you know? I remember telling my colleague, Markus, at the bakery, “Ich brauche Hilfe bei der Erklärung! Wie sagt man ‘AI’ auf Deutsch?” He laughed and explained that “KI” is the most common term, but it’s not as simple as just swapping words. It’s about understanding why they want me to explain this. The examiner wants to see if I can articulate a clear explanation in German, which is more than just translating phrases.

My First Attempt – A Little Awkward

I tried writing an email to my supervisor, Frau Schmidt, explaining how AI could assist someone with mobility issues. I started really enthusiastically and wrote something like: “Die KI ist super! Sie kann helfen, wenn man nicht laufen kann!” She replied back immediately, very politely, saying, “Das ist sehr interessant, aber vielleicht etwas zu direkt? Vielleicht können wir es anders formulieren?” That was a tough pill to swallow. I realized I needed to be more nuanced. It wasn’t just about the obvious – ‘if you can’t walk.’ There were so many layers!

Real-Life Conversations and Useful Phrases

I started spending more time observing people in public spaces. I noticed an elderly gentleman, Herr Lehmann, using a cane – quite frequently. I wanted to understand how AI could help him. So, I asked him (in my very broken German) “Entschuldigen Sie, Herr Lehmann, wie könnte KI Ihnen helfen?” He explained that he sometimes struggles with navigation and remembering routes. That’s when I realised I needed to talk about things like GPS apps! I started using phrases like: “Eine KI-App kann…” (An AI app can…) and “Die Navigation wird besser…” (The navigation becomes better…).

Examples from Daily Life – Deutsch, Please!

Let’s look at some practical examples. I was talking to a friend, Lena, who’s learning sign language with an app. She explained that the app uses AI to translate spoken words into visual signs, which is brilliant for her. I could say: “Lena benutzt eine KI-App für die Gebärdensprache. Es ist sehr hilfreich!” (Lena uses an AI app for sign language. It’s very helpful!).

Another time, I was reading about a visually impaired student using screen readers with AI that described images on websites. I thought to myself – “Wow, that’s incredible!” and I could say: “Ein blinder Student benutzt eine KI-basierte Bildschirmlese-Software, um Bilder zu beschreiben.” (A blind student uses an AI-based screen reader software to describe images.)

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

One thing I realised I kept doing was overcomplicating things. I started with phrases like “Intelligente Maschinen” – which sounds really impressive but isn’t necessarily the best way to explain it simply. It felt overly formal and a little intimidating. I needed to focus on clarity, not sounding like an engineer. Also, using too many complicated adjectives! “Die KI ist unglaublich intelligent und hochmodern” just felt…wrong.

My Revised Explanation – Feeling More Confident

I’ve been working on rewriting my explanation for the TELC exam. Here’s what I’m aiming for: “KI kann Menschen mit Behinderungen helfen, indem sie beispielsweise Navigations-Apps verwendet oder die Sprache in Gebärdensprache übersetzt. Das macht viele Dinge einfacher und zugänglicher.” (AI can help people with disabilities by, for example, using navigation apps or translating speech into sign language. That makes many things easier and more accessible.)

It’s still not perfect, but it feels much better! I’m practicing speaking these phrases aloud, and trying to really focus on conveying the message, rather than just reciting words.

Next Steps – Keep Practicing!

I know I have a long way to go with my German, especially when it comes to writing. But this task has been incredibly valuable – forcing me to think about real-world applications of AI and how technology can genuinely improve lives. Now I need to keep practicing these phrases, build my vocabulary around accessibility and disabilities (like “Barrierefreiheit” – Accessibility), and, most importantly, not be afraid to make mistakes! Ich glaube an mich! (I believe in myself!) Anyone else struggling with their TELC exam, don’t give up!

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