My Struggle (and Small Victories!) with TELC B1 Writing: Describing My Course

Okay, so here I am, six months in Berlin, and honestly, getting through the day is a triumph sometimes. But I’m really starting to feel the pressure to actually use the German I’m learning. The biggest hurdle? The TELC B1 Writing exam. Everyone keeps saying it’s a key to opening doors – needing it for a work permit extension, for example. And the prompt keeps popping up: “Describe Your German Course.” Ugh.

The Initial Panic

When I first saw that prompt, I just froze. My brain went blank. It’s one thing to order a Kaffee mit Milch (coffee with milk) confidently, but to actually write about my learning experience? It felt…weirdly formal. My first attempt was a chaotic mess of sentences, probably riddled with grammatical errors I hadn’t even realised I was making. I ended up scrapping it completely. I felt like a total idiot. Seriously, that initial feeling of panic was intense. I nearly gave up before I’d even started properly.

The First Conversation – A Hilarious Disaster

My tutor, Frau Schmidt, was incredibly patient, which I really appreciated. She suggested we practice describing my course verbally first. We started:

“Also, erzählen Sie mir bitte, was Sie an Ihrem Deutschkurs gut finden und was nicht.” (Also, tell me please, what you find good and what not in your German course.)

I started rambling, saying things like, “Es ist…es ist gut. Aber… manchmal ist es schwierig. Die Lehrerin ist… okay. Ich mag die Grammatik… manchmal.” (It is…it is good. But…sometimes it is difficult. The teacher is…okay. I like the grammar…sometimes.)

She gently corrected me. “Michael, you’re using ‘manchmal’ too much! It’s like you’re constantly saying ‘sometimes.’ Try to be more specific. For example, ‘Ich mag die Grammatik, weil sie mir hilft, die Sätze zu verstehen’ (I like the grammar because it helps me understand the sentences).” See? Suddenly, it felt less like a dry academic exercise and more like, you know, actual communication.

Building My Vocabulary – Key Phrases

Frau Schmidt helped me build a list of useful phrases. Things like:

• “Der Kurs ist sehr hilfreich, weil…” (The course is very helpful because…)
• “Ich habe Schwierigkeiten mit…” (I have difficulties with…)
• “Ich finde es toll, dass…” (I find it great that…)
• “Das Hauptziel des Kurses ist…” (The main goal of the course is…)
• “Ich lerne viel über…” (I learn a lot about…)

I started writing down these phrases in my notebook, repeating them over and over. Even now, I find myself automatically reaching for them. It’s amazing how a few key phrases can make a massive difference.

A Realistic Example – My Attempt (And Frau Schmidt’s Feedback)

Okay, here’s a little snippet of what I actually wrote (before Frau Schmidt cleaned it up – which was a huge relief!):

“Mein Deutschkurs ist… okay. Ich lerne Deutsch, aber es ist manchmal schwer. Die Lehrerin ist nett, aber die Grammatik ist sehr schwierig. Ich mag die Übungen, aber manchmal verstehe ich sie nicht. Ich brauche mehr Hilfe. Ich denke, der Kurs ist gut, weil ich jetzt ein bisschen Deutsch sprechen kann.” (My German course is… okay. I learn German, but it is sometimes difficult. The teacher is nice, but the grammar is very difficult. I like the exercises, but sometimes I don’t understand them. I need more help. I think the course is good because now I can speak a little German.)

Frau Schmidt’s feedback was brilliant: “Michael, this is a good start, but it’s a little repetitive. Instead of saying ‘Ich brauche mehr Hilfe,’ try ‘Ich benötige zusätzliche Unterstützung.’ Also, add a specific example. For instance, ‘Ich habe Schwierigkeiten mit dem Perfekt, weil ich die Konjugation nicht immer richtig im Kopf habe.’ (I have difficulties with the perfect tense because I don’t always have the conjugation in my head.)”

The Little Things That Matter

It’s not just about perfect grammar; it’s about showing understanding and enthusiasm. I realised I was being too negative. I’m learning! I’m making progress. Describing my course isn’t just about pointing out the challenges; it’s about highlighting what I am enjoying.

“Ich schätze es sehr, dass der Kurs die Möglichkeit bietet, mit anderen Lernenden zu interagieren. Die Gruppenarbeiten sind sehr nützlich, um meine Sprechfähigkeiten zu verbessern.” (I really appreciate that the course offers the opportunity to interact with other learners. The group work is very useful to improve my speaking skills.)

My Takeaway – Keep Practicing!

Honestly, the TELC B1 Writing exam still feels daunting, but I’m starting to feel more confident. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to practice, practice, practice. And to not be afraid to make mistakes. Frau Schmidt’s patience and feedback have been invaluable. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and order another Kaffee mit Milch… and maybe write a little paragraph about it! “Der Kaffee ist sehr lecker, weil…” (The coffee is very tasty because…)

Does anyone know a good online resource for German vocabulary related to learning?