My First Hotel Nightmare (and How I Almost Passed B1.1)

Okay, so I’ve been living in Munich for six months now, working as a software tester. It’s amazing – the work is actually interesting, and the people are generally friendly. But let’s be honest, the German language… it’s a beast. I’m really trying to get my B1.1 TELC certificate, and I’m focusing on practical situations, which is why I wanted to write about this. It all started with the hotel.

The Situation: Checking In

I’d booked a family room at the “Hotel Sonnenblick” for a weekend trip with my cousin, Sarah, and her family. The picture on the website looked lovely – bright, airy, and definitely family-friendly. When we arrived, though, it wasn’t quite the same. It was a little older, a little… dusty. But the receptionist, a woman named Frau Schmidt, was perfectly nice.

The picture in the TELC B1.1 exam showed a family checking in, and I realised I needed to be able to handle this scenario confidently.

The Conversation: My Initial Panic

The whole thing started with me completely freezing. Frau Schmidt asked, “Guten Tag! Haben Sie eine Reservierung?” (Good day! Do you have a reservation?) And I just stared at her! My brain went blank. I mumbled something about “Reservierung” and then completely lost the thread.

Sarah, thankfully, jumped in. “Ich habe eine Reservierung für drei Personen,” she said, clearly. “Für das Familienzimmer.” (I have a reservation for three people. For the family room.)

Frau Schmidt looked relieved. “Ah, ja! Dann können wir Ihr Zimmer vorbereiten.” (Ah, yes! Then we can prepare your room.)

Then, I tried to say something like, “Wie spät?” (What time?) – I’d heard it in a language lesson, and thought it would be useful. But I said it with such a desperate tone, and Frau Schmidt looked slightly confused. She pointed to the reservation form and said, “Die Check-in-Zeit ist 15:00 Uhr.” (The check-in time is 15:00.)

I completely forgot that “Check-in” was a word! I just repeated, “Fünfzehn Uhr?” (Fifteen o’clock?) sounding utterly bewildered.

Key Phrases I Struggled With (and How to Avoid Them)

There were a few phrases that tripped me up completely. Here’s what I learned:

• “Haben Sie eine Reservierung?” – This is the most important one. Practice saying it out loud! Seriously, I repeated it dozens of times.
• “Check-in” – It’s actually a word! Don’t just assume everyone understands “Wie spät?” in this situation.
• “Das Familienzimmer” – Knowing this phrase, or even just knowing that there was a family room, helped me understand the situation.

Dealing with Misunderstandings – And My Embarrassment

After that, things got a bit chaotic. I kept asking questions like, “Wo ist das Zimmer?” (Where is the room?) even though she’d already shown me the key. I felt so silly!

Frau Schmidt patiently explained, “Das Zimmer ist oben, im dritten Stock.” (The room is upstairs, on the third floor.) I mumbled, “Ober…” (Upstairs…) and then completely forgot the word “Stock.” Sarah quickly corrected me, and I felt my face burn with embarrassment.

Small Victories & What I Took Away

Despite the initial panic and a few awkward moments, I managed to check in successfully. I asked for the Wi-Fi password ( “Wie lautet das Passwort?” – What is the password?), and even managed to say “Danke schön!” (Thank you very much!) correctly a few times.

The biggest thing I realised was that it’s okay to make mistakes. Frau Schmidt was incredibly patient and helpful. More importantly, I started to feel a little more comfortable with the basic phrases.

Practicing for the TELC B1.1 Exam

This whole experience really highlighted what I need to focus on for the TELC exam. I need to practice common hotel phrases, like checking in, requesting information, and saying goodbye. I’m going to create my own mini-role-plays using flashcards with the key phrases written on them. I also need to be prepared to handle the unexpected – like my panicked “Wie spät?” moment!

If you’re also studying for the B1.1, I highly recommend using images like the one in the exam as a starting point to practice common dialogues. It’s a great way to get used to different situations and build your confidence. Good luck – and don’t panic!