Conquering the TELC B1 Writing: Change Event Plans – My Struggle & What I Learned

Okay, deep breaths. Moving to Berlin was amazing, right? The culture, the food, the everything. But let’s be honest, the bureaucracy is… intense. And right now, I’m facing a particularly stressful bit: I need to change the plans for a small gathering I’ve organized for my colleagues – a Kaffeetrinken (coffee drinking) to celebrate a successful project. It’s all part of needing to demonstrate I can handle everyday German, and the TELC B1 Writing exam keeps popping up as something I need to nail. Specifically, they’re testing our ability to write formal event plans, and that’s what I’m focusing on.

The Problem: My Initial Email Disaster

I started with what I thought was a brilliant email. I wanted to inform everyone that the location had changed, and I had a new time. I used all the fancy words I’d learned – “hiermit”, “betreffend”, “in Bezug auf” – and it came out sounding completely stiff and, frankly, a little intimidating. Here’s a snippet of the original (and utterly embarrassing) email:

“Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

hiermit möchte ich Sie über eine Änderung der betreffenden Veranstaltung informieren. Aufgrund unvorhergesehener Umstände ist der Veranstaltungsort von der Cafe Einstein in der Friedrichstraße in die Cafe Müller in der Auguststraße geändert worden. Die neue Uhrzeit ist ebenfalls 15:00 Uhr. Ich bedanke mich für Ihr Verständnis.”

My colleague, Klaus, looked at me and said, “Wow, that sounds like you’re writing a legal notice! Nobody writes like that.” He was right, of course. I felt my face turn red. It was so formal, so… robotic. I realized I needed to understand what the examiners at TELC were actually looking for.

Understanding the TELC Expectations

The TELC examiners aren’t looking for perfect grammar (although good grammar is helpful!). They’re assessing if you can communicate clearly, politely, and appropriately for a formal event plan. They want to see you can use the right phrases and vocabulary. Here’s what I’ve learned from the exam guidelines and from people who’ve taken it:

• Formal Tone: Always use “Sie” (formal you) – never “du.” This is crucial.
• Clear Information: State the original plans, the change, the new plans, and the reason (briefly).
• Politeness: Use phrases like “bitte” (please), “entschuldigen Sie” (excuse me), and “vielen Dank” (thank you).
• Specific Details: Include the full address, the time, and any relevant instructions (e.g., “Bitte pünktlich sein” – please be on time).

Practical Phrases & Examples for Change Event Plans

Let’s look at some actual phrases I can use, and how I’m practicing them. I’ve been using a German phrasebook and practicing with Klaus, who’s surprisingly patient.

• To announce the original plan: “Wir hatten geplant, das Kaffeetrinken im Cafe Einstein zu veranstalten.” (We had planned to hold the coffee drinking in the Cafe Einstein.)
• To explain the change: “Leider gibt es Probleme mit der Küche im Cafe Einstein.” (Unfortunately, there are problems with the kitchen at the Cafe Einstein.) – Note: Keep the reason brief and polite.
• To introduce the new plan: “Deshalb haben wir das Kaffeetrinken in die Cafe Müller verlegt.” (Therefore, we have moved the coffee drinking to the Cafe Müller.)
• To request confirmation: “Bitte bestätigen Sie Ihre Teilnahme an dem neuen Termin.” (Please confirm your attendance for the new date.) – Important for confirming availability.
• To apologize for the inconvenience: “Ich entschuldige mich für die Unannehmlichkeiten.” (I apologize for the inconvenience.)

My Second Attempt – A Much Better Email

After Klaus’s feedback and a lot of practice, I wrote a second email. This one feels much more natural and confident.

“Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

ich schreibe Ihnen, um Sie über eine Änderung unserer geplanten Kaffeetrinken zu informieren.

Ursprünglich hatten wir das Kaffeetrinken im Cafe Einstein geplant, jedoch gab es leider eine kurzfristige Problematik mit der Küche.

Deshalb haben wir das Kaffeetrinken nun in die Cafe Müller in der Auguststraße am [Datum] um 15:00 Uhr verlegt.

Bitte bestätigen Sie Ihre Teilnahme an dem neuen Termin.

Ich entschuldige mich für die Unannehmlichkeiten.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

[Mein Name]”

It’s still formal, but it’s much more approachable!

Next Steps – Practice, Practice, Practice!

I’m planning to write several more email drafts based on different event changes – a postponed meeting, a cancelled workshop, even a last-minute venue swap. I’m also going to focus on using the phrases and vocabulary I’ve learned in real-life situations. Maybe I’ll actually need to change the plans for something!

The TELC B1 Writing: Change Event Plans feels less daunting now. It’s not about being a perfect German speaker; it’s about communicating clearly and politely. And honestly, that’s a skill I can definitely develop. Wish me luck! Ich drücke Ihnen die Daumen! (I’m wishing you luck!)