My German Adventure: Tackling TELC B1.2 with a Family Photo

Okay, so here I am, a few months into living in Berlin. It’s amazing, really – the food, the history, the people… but honestly, learning German has been hard. I’m aiming for the TELC B1.2 exam, and I’m starting to feel a little overwhelmed. I thought I’d share what I’ve been doing, focusing on a really specific picture from the exam – a family using different digital devices at home. It seems silly, but it’s actually been surprisingly helpful.

The Picture and the Panic

The picture shows a mum, a dad, and two kids – a boy and a girl – all absorbed in their tablets and phones. The boy is playing a video game, the girl is video-calling her friend, and the parents are probably checking emails or something. The prompt asks you to describe what you see and what you think the family might be doing. Initially, I just panicked. I knew some German, but putting it together to describe a scene felt… unnatural. I started trying to translate everything literally, which, as you can imagine, didn’t work.

First Steps: Building Basic Vocabulary

I started with the basics. I made a little list of words related to the picture: Tablet, Smartphone, Computer, Video Game, Video Call, Email, Family, Children, To play, To watch, To talk. I even learned how to say “He’s playing” (Er spielt) and “She’s talking” (Sie spricht). It sounds so simple now, but at the time, it felt like a huge mountain to climb.

Practicing with Simple Dialogues

Then, I started building simple dialogues. Let’s say someone asks me: “Was machen die Kinder?” (What are the children doing?) I could actually answer now! “Der Junge spielt ein Videospiel. Die Tochter telefoniert mit einer Freundin.” (The boy is playing a video game. The daughter is talking to a friend.) I practiced this out loud over and over. I even made a silly version with my cat, Moritz, pretending to play a game.

Real-Life Misunderstandings (and the Awkwardness!)

The biggest surprise was how often my attempts to describe things went hilariously wrong. I tried to tell a colleague, Lars, that I saw “ein Mann mit einem Handy” (a man with a phone). He looked at me completely baffled. I realised I needed to be more specific. “Ein Mann mit einem Smartphone und einer E-Mail” (A man with a smartphone and an email) sounded so much more natural to him. It’s about understanding the nuances!

Using “Ich glaube…” (I think…) – And Learning to Guess

Another key thing I’ve found is using “Ich glaube…” (I think…). It’s perfect for adding a bit of speculation when you’re not 100% sure. For example, when describing the image, I could say, “Ich glaube, die Mutter versucht, eine Nachricht zu schreiben” (I think the mother is trying to write a message). It’s a way to show you’re engaging with the scene, not just reciting facts.

Talking About Family Habits (and Their Devices!)

My flatmates have been helpful too. I was chatting with Julia the other day, and she told me her family always watches Netflix on their tablets in the evenings. “Wir schauen jeden Abend Netflix auf unseren Tablets” (We watch Netflix every evening on our tablets). That gave me a really concrete example to use when describing the family in the picture. It’s not just about describing what’s in the picture; it’s about relating it to real-life situations.

Looking Ahead for TELC B1.2

I’m starting to feel a little more confident. I’m using the picture as a constant reference point. I’m going to practice describing similar scenes – a café, a park, a train station – to build my skills. I’m also focusing on the vocabulary related to technology and family life. The TELC B1.2 exam isn’t just about knowing the words; it’s about being able to use them to talk about everyday things. I might still make mistakes, but at least now I have a plan, and a family photo to keep me on track! Viel Glück! (Good luck!)