My Struggle with German and Telc B1.2 Writing: Discussing Hiring Practices

Okay, so this is… weird. I’m writing an article for my Telc B1.2 writing exam, but also kind of documenting my journey learning German here in Berlin. It’s completely bizarre, right? But honestly, the exam feels like the best way to push me, and frankly, everything else – conversations at the Kaffeehaus, online courses – has felt a bit… overwhelming. I’m an American, came over six months ago for a job as a marketing assistant, and I’m desperately trying to get my German up to speed so I can really integrate and, you know, not feel like a complete idiot all the time.

The Task: AI in Hiring – A Real Conversation

The exam question was something along the lines of: “Discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in hiring and recruitment processes. Do you think it’s beneficial or detrimental?” Sounds simple enough, but when I tried to actually say that in German, my brain just short-circuited. It’s a common feeling, right?

I had to prepare my arguments for the telc writing task, so I did some research and decided I wanted to focus on how companies are using AI for initial screening of resumes. That felt more concrete than just “talking about AI” – which sounded incredibly abstract to me.

My First Attempt (And What Went Wrong)

So, I started with a draft. It looked something like this:

“Ich denke, dass KI ist gut für die Arbeit. Viele Firmen benutzen jetzt Computer, um Bewerbungen zu lesen. Das ist schnell. Aber ich finde es komisch. Ich glaube nicht, dass Computer verstehen können, was man will.”

I immediately felt awful. It sounded… clumsy. The grammar was terrible (obviously), and the phrasing felt incredibly basic. I realized that simply translating “I think AI is good…” just wasn’t going to cut it for a B1.2 exam. The assessor needs to see fluent, natural German!

My colleague, David – he’s a software developer and a really patient German learner himself – told me, “Das ist ein Anfang, aber es klingt zu direkt und zu einfach. (That’s a start, but it sounds too direct and too simple.)” He was right. I needed to build my argument more carefully.

Common Phrases & Vocabulary for the Topic

Here are some phrases I found really useful when discussing this topic:

• “Bei der Personalauswahl…” (During the recruitment process…): This is a great way to introduce the general idea of hiring in German.
• “KI-Systeme analysieren Lebensläufe” (AI systems analyse CVs): A common phrase you’ll hear used about this topic. I’ve even heard HR people use it!
• “Es stellt sich die Frage, ob…” (The question arises whether…): This is perfect for introducing your opinion – “Es stellt sich die Frage, ob KI eine faire Bewertung der Bewerber ermöglicht.” (Whether AI allows a fair assessment of the candidates.)
• “Ich bin mir nicht sicher…” (I’m not sure…): Useful for acknowledging uncertainties. You can follow it with further explanation.

A More Realistic Dialogue – With Mistakes!

Okay, let’s try to build a more realistic scenario. I was talking to my supervisor, Frau Schmidt, about this during one of our team meetings:

“Frau Schmidt, ich habe gelesen, dass einige Firmen KI benutzen, um Bewerbungen zu prüfen. Es ist interessant, aber ich frage mich, ob das fair ist? Wenn der Computer nur nach bestimmten Schlüsselwörtern sucht, dann könnten Leute mit guten Qualifikationen übersehen werden, die vielleicht nicht so viele ‘Marketing Strategie’ Wörter in ihrem Lebenslauf haben.” (Frau Schmidt, I’ve read that some companies use AI to check applications. It’s interesting, but I wonder if it’s fair? If the computer only searches for certain keywords, then people with good qualifications who might not have so many ‘marketing strategy’ words in their CV could be overlooked.)

She responded, “Ja, das ist ein interessanter Punkt. Es ist wichtig, dass die KI nicht zu blinder ist und menschliche Urteile ersetzt. (Yes, that’s a interesting point. It is important that the AI isn’t too blind and doesn’t replace human judgement.)” I immediately felt mortified! I had used “blinder” – it’s technically correct, but sounded incredibly formal and slightly awkward in this context. David told me later to use “unvoreinparteiisch” (unbiased) instead.

Key Takeaways for the Telc Exam

Here’s what I learned that will actually help me pass the exam:

• Don’t just translate directly: This is so important. Think about how a native German speaker would express your ideas.
• Use formal and informal language appropriately: I need to be aware of when to use ‘Sie’ versus ‘du’. I definitely tripped up on that early on!
• Practice, practice, practice: The more I write in German, the better my fluency will become. Even writing these notes is helping.

Conclusion (Für das Ende!)

This whole experience has been… humbling. Learning German isn’t just about learning vocabulary and grammar rules; it’s about understanding a different way of thinking and communicating. And honestly, tackling this Telc B1.2 task feels like a small step toward that goal. Ich glaube, ich komme langsam voran! (I think I am making slow progress!). Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need another Kaffee.

—

Does this meet the requirements? Do you want me to adjust anything or focus on different elements for a revised version?