My German Adventure: Cracking the TELC B1.2 Writing – Recommending Places!

Okay, so here I am, six months in Berlin and still feeling like a total newbie when it comes to actually talking about things. But my job at the software company is going well, and honestly, I’m determined to improve my German, especially for this TELC exam. They said the B1.2 Writing task – recommending places to visit – was a good one to focus on, and you know what? It’s actually really useful! I’ve been practicing, and I wanted to share what I’ve learned with anyone else who’s feeling just as overwhelmed as I did at first.

The Task Explained (and My Initial Panic!)

The task is basically this: You get a brief – let’s say someone wants to visit Germany for a week and you have to suggest three places, giving reasons why they should go. When I first saw it, my immediate reaction was panic. “Three places? Reasons? Formal German?!” I pictured myself crafting some ridiculously complicated sentences with subjunctive moods – ugh! But then I realised, the examiners aren’t looking for perfect grammar (though it helps!), they’re checking if you can communicate clearly and give useful advice.

My First Attempt & A Hilarious Misunderstanding

I decided to write to a friend who was thinking about coming to Germany. Here’s what I wrote – keep in mind, this is before any corrections:

“Sehr geehrte Frau Müller,

Ich schreibe Ihnen, um Sie zu empfehlen, Orte in Deutschland zu besuchen. Ich denke, Sie sollten Rothenburg ob der Tauber besuchen. Es ist sehr schön und historisch. Außerdem sollte man München besuchen, weil es viele Biergärten gibt. Und schließlich, Sie könnten auch Bremen besuchen. Bremen ist eine gute Stadt mit vielen alten Häusern.”

(Dear Mrs. Müller, I am writing to you to recommend places to visit in Germany. I think you should visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It is very beautiful and historical. Furthermore, you should visit Munich because there are many beer gardens. And finally, you could also visit Bremen. Bremen is a good city with many old houses.)

I sent it off feeling…proudish? Then my colleague, Steven, read it and said, in this incredibly serious voice, “Ach du lieber Gott! ‘Sie’?! You have to use Sie when writing like this! It’s so…so formal!” He was completely right. I’d used the formal “Sie” for everything – even the greetings and sign-off. My German teacher, Frau Schmidt, told me it felt a bit stiff, like a business letter, not a friendly recommendation. Lesson learned: balance is key!

Useful Vocabulary & Phrases

Okay, let’s get practical. Here’s some vocabulary I found really helpful for this task, and phrases that actually sounded natural:

• Ein Muss: (A must-see) – “Der Bodensee ist ein Muss!” (Lake Constance is a must!)
• Es lohnt sich…: (It’s worth it…) – “Es lohnt sich, nach Neuschwanstein zu fahren.” (It’s worth visiting Neuschwanstein Castle.)
• Ich empfehle Ihnen…: (I recommend you…) – “Ich empfehle Ihnen, den Rhein zu besuchen.” (I recommend visiting the Rhine).
• Für Geschichtsinteressierte…: (For those interested in history…) – “Für Geschichtsinteressierte ist Bamberg eine gute Wahl.” (For those interested in history, Bamberg is a good choice.)
• Es gibt dort…: (There’s there…) – “Es gibt dort viele traditionelle Restaurants.” (There are many traditional restaurants there).

And don’t forget simple phrases to explain why you’re recommending somewhere: “weil es sehr schön ist,” (because it is very beautiful), “da es historische Sehenswürdigkeiten gibt” (because there are historical sights) and “es ist ein toller Ort zum Entspannen” (it’s a great place to relax).

Building My Recommendations – More Realistic Examples

Let’s look at some examples of how I would actually write it, aiming for B1.2 level:

“Hallo Lisa,

Ich habe gehört, du planst eine Reise nach Deutschland! Das finde ich super! Ich möchte dir ein paar Orte empfehlen, die ich selbst toll fand.

Zuerst würde ich dir Rothenburg ob der Tauber empfehlen. Es ist total romantisch mit seinen verwinkelten Gassen und dem alten Rathausplatz. Es lohnt sich, einen Spaziergang zu machen und vielleicht ein Stück Lebkuchen zu kaufen – es ist wirklich ein Muss!

Dann solltest du unbedingt München besuchen. Da gibt es viele Biergärten, in denen man gut dasüberspringt, und natürlich den Englischen Garten. Für Kunstinteressierte gibt es auch die Pinakotheken.

Und für einen entspannten Strandtag empfehle ich dir den Bodensee. Dort kann man segeln, schwimmen oder einfach nur am Seeufer liegen.

Ich hoffe, diese Tipps helfen dir weiter! Viel Spaß bei deiner Reise!

Liebe Grüße,

[Your Name]”

(Hello Lisa, I’ve heard you’re planning a trip to Germany! That’s great! I’d like to recommend some places that I found really cool myself. First, I would recommend Rothenburg ob der Tauber to you. It is totally romantic with its winding alleys and the old Rathausplatz. It’s worth taking a walk and maybe buying a piece of gingerbread – it’s truly a must-see! Then you definitely should visit Munich. There are many beer gardens where you can have a good time, and of course, the Englischer Garten. For art lovers, there are also the Pinakotheken. And for a relaxing beach day I recommend the Bodensee. You can sail, swim or simply lie on the lakeside. I hope these tips help you further! Have fun on your trip! Best regards, [Your Name])

Notice how I used more conversational language (“total,” “definitely”), added details, and explained why I was recommending each place. Using phrases like “Es lohnt sich” really helps to sound authentic.

Final Thoughts & Practice Tips

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes! It’s part of learning. Focus on communicating your ideas clearly – that’s what the examiners are looking for. Try writing recommendations for different types of travellers – someone interested in history, someone who wants a relaxing holiday, someone who loves nightlife. And most importantly, practice speaking about your recommendations out loud to get used to using the vocabulary and phrases naturally. “Ich hoffe, das hilft dir!” (I hope this helps you!).

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