My Struggle (and Small Victories) with TELC B1 Writing – Asking About a Course

Okay, deep breath. Moving to Berlin felt like stepping into a film – amazing, overwhelming, and utterly baffling at times. I’d always dreamed of living in Europe, and Germany seemed… solid. Practical. But then came the small, nagging thing that keeps popping up: my job. I’m in logistics, which is great, but they really, really want me to demonstrate my German writing skills for this new project. Apparently, a TELC B1 Writing certificate is the key. Honestly, the whole thing felt incredibly daunting. I could speak German, mostly, but writing properly? That was a whole different beast.

The TELC Website and My First Panic

I started with the TELC website, which was… intense. All the details, the regulations, the vocabulary lists. I spent a whole afternoon just trying to decipher what a ‘Konjunktiv II’ actually was. I felt completely lost. My German wasn’t bad, but it felt…formal. Like something you read in a textbook, not something you actually said.

Then, I decided I needed to contact them. I found the email address and nervously typed out my inquiry:

• “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

• Ich interessiere mich für die TELC B1 Writing Prüfung. Könnten Sie mir bitte Informationen über den Ablauf der Prüfung und die benötigten Unterlagen zukommen lassen?

• Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

• [My Name]”

It felt ridiculously formal, even though I was emailing a testing organization. I immediately regretted not using a slightly more casual tone. I even double-checked my German for typos – a surprisingly obsessive habit.

The Response and My First Conversation

Within 24 hours, I got a reply. It was perfectly polite, written in standard German, and… slightly intimidating. They requested I specify what I already knew and what I needed help with.

I replied:

• “Vielen Dank für Ihre schnelle Antwort! Ja, ich habe schon ein bisschen Deutsch gelernt, aber ich habe Probleme mit dem Schreiben. Ich brauche Hilfe bei der Formulierung von E-Mails und Berichten. Könnten Sie mir vielleicht ein paar Tipps geben?”

(Thank you for your quick reply! Yes, I’ve learned a bit of German, but I have problems with writing. I need help with formulating emails and reports. Could you perhaps give me some tips?)

The reply came back almost immediately: “Gerne! Wir können Ihnen einige Übungen und Ressourcen empfehlen.” (Gladly! We can recommend some exercises and resources.) This was huge! A little bit of support.

Practicing the Questions – A Real Dialogue

The next step was actually asking about a course. I decided to call the TELC office – it felt more proactive than just emailing. I stumbled through the initial greeting:

• “Hallo, ich möchte mich erkundigen, ob Sie Kurse zur Vorbereitung auf die TELC B1 Writing Prüfung anbieten.” (Hello, I would like to inquire whether you offer courses to prepare for the TELC B1 Writing exam.)

The woman on the phone, Frau Schmidt, was incredibly patient. She explained that they didn’t directly run courses, but they had a list of approved preparation centers.

“Also, die Prüfung besteht aus zwei Teilen,” she explained. “Zuerst müssen Sie einen Text schreiben, und dann haben Sie eine bestimmte Zeit, um ihn zu bearbeiten. Es geht darum, dass Sie Ihre Gedanken klar und präzise ausdrücken können.” (Also, the exam consists of two parts. First, you have to write a text, and then you have a certain amount of time to edit it. It’s about being able to express your thoughts clearly and precisely.)

I panicked slightly. “Oh, Gott! Das klingt schwierig!” (Oh dear! That sounds difficult!)

She laughed – a genuinely kind laugh. “Keine Sorge! Mit Übung werden Sie es schaffen.” (Don’t worry! With practice, you’ll manage.) She gave me some useful phrases to use when asking about prices and course content:

• “Wie viel kostet ein Kurs?” (How much does a course cost?)
• “Was beinhaltet der Kurs?” (What does the course include?)
• “Gibt es die Möglichkeit, einen Probetext zu schreiben?” (Is there a possibility to write a practice text?)

My Biggest Mistake (and How I Fixed It)

After the call, I immediately started drafting an email to one of the preparation centers. I was so proud of myself! I even used a slightly more sophisticated sentence structure. But… it was completely wrong. I’d used too many complex words, and the overall tone was incredibly formal and stiff. I completely butchered it.

I received a polite but critical response: “Ihre E-Mail ist sehr gut formuliert, aber sie klingt etwas zu steif und unnatürlich. Versuchen Sie, einen freundlicheren und weniger förmlichen Ton zu verwenden.” (Your email is very well written, but it sounds a little too stiff and unnatural. Try to use a friendlier and less formal tone.)

It was a huge blow, but also a valuable lesson. I realized I needed to practice writing in a way that felt natural, like how I would actually speak.

Next Steps – And My Goal

I’m starting to focus on writing practical emails and short reports – things I’d actually need to write at work. I’m also consciously trying to use more common, everyday German. My goal is to feel confident enough to schedule a practice test and, ultimately, pass the TELC B1 Writing exam. It’s a process, and it’s definitely not going to be easy, but I’m taking it one step – and one perfectly imperfect sentence – at a time. Ich schaffe das! (I’ll manage it!)