My German Struggle: Tackling the TELC B1 Writing – Recommending a Friend

Okay, so here I am, Liam, six months in Berlin. I’m working as a freelance translator, which is amazing, but honestly, the biggest hurdle right now is German. Not the work itself – I’m getting pretty good at translating technical manuals – but everyday conversation, and especially, the TELC B1 Writing exam. They want me to write a recommendation for a friend, and it’s… stressful. It feels so much more important than just saying “Hallo!”

The Brief & My Initial Panic

The exam materials said something about “writing a convincing recommendation for a friend based on your experiences.” I immediately panicked. What does “convincing” even mean in German? How do I sound like I genuinely believe in my friend? I spent the first few days trying to memorize phrases from a textbook, and it felt so… fake. I was staring at a blank page, completely lost.

My colleague, Markus, kept saying, “Liam, relax! It’s just writing. Think about Ehrlichkeit – honesty!” Easier said than done when you’re worried about failing.

The Conversation – Practicing the “Empfehlung”

The key, I realized, was understanding how Germans actually talk about recommending people. I was helping my landlord, Herr Schmidt, choose a new handyman, and I listened carefully. He didn’t just say, “Ich empfehle ihn!” (I recommend him!). He said, “Er ist sehr zuverlässig und hat gute Erfahrung. Ich bin mir sicher, dass er Ihre Probleme lösen wird.” (He’s very reliable and has good experience. I’m sure he’ll solve your problems.)

I started practicing with my friend, David. I asked him, “David, erzähl mir doch mal, warum du mich empfehlen würdest?” (Tell me, why would you recommend me?). He laughed and said, “Na klar, du bist immer für einen Kaffee da und du sprichst sehr gut Englisch. Du bist auch sehr hilfsbereit.” (Of course, you’re always there for a coffee, and you speak very good English. You’re also very helpful.)

I wrote down phrases like: “Ich finde, er ist sehr kompetent.” (I think he’s very competent.) and “Er hat eine positive Einstellung.” (He has a positive attitude.) Hearing them spoken aloud felt much more natural than reading them from a sheet.

My First Draft – A Disaster (and a Learning Opportunity)

I sat down to write my recommendation for my friend, Sarah, who’s looking for an internship. My first draft was… horrific. It was overly formal, full of complicated phrases I didn’t fully understand, and honestly, it sounded like I was trying too hard.

Here’s a snippet: “Ich schreibe Ihnen hiermit, um meine uneingeschränkte Empfehlung für Miss Sarah Müller auszusprechen, basierend auf meiner persönlichen Kenntnis Ihrer Fähigkeiten und Ihres potenziellen Einsatzes…” (I am writing to you here to express my unconditional recommendation for Miss Sarah Müller, based on my personal knowledge of your skills and your potential deployment…). Ugh. Seriously?

Markus read it and said, “Liam, das ist zu kompliziert! Die Leute verstehen dich nicht. Mach es einfach!” (That’s too complicated! People won’t understand you. Just make it simple!). He was right.

Simple German, Real Recommendations

I scrapped the whole thing and started again. I focused on using the phrases I’d learned from Markus and from my conversations with David.

I wrote something like this: “Ich kann Sarah nur empfehlen! Sie ist eine sehr fleißige und engagierte Studentin. Ich habe sie in der Uni kennengelernt und sie hat immer gute Ideen. Außerdem ist sie sehr freundlich und arbeitet gut im Team. Ich glaube, sie würde in deinem Unternehmen sehr gut passen.” (I can only recommend Sarah! She’s a very diligent and committed student. I met her at university and she always has good ideas. Besides, she’s very friendly and works well in a team. I think she would fit very well in your company.)

It wasn’t perfect, of course, but it felt genuine.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases for the Exam

Here’s a little list of useful phrases I’ve been picking up:

• Ich empfehle Ihnen… (I recommend you…)
• Er/Sie ist… (He/She is…)
• Ich finde, er/sie… (I think he/she…)
• Er/Sie hat… (He/She has…)
• Ich bin mir sicher… (I’m sure…)
• Er/Sie passt gut zu… (He/She fits well with…)
• Es ist wichtig, dass… (It’s important that…)

Final Thoughts – Don’t Overthink It!

The TELC B1 Writing exam, especially this recommendation task, isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing you can communicate clearly and confidently in German. Don’t get bogged down in grammar rules. Focus on using natural phrases and expressing your genuine opinion. And remember what Markus said: Ehrlichkeit! Honestly, just be yourself and try to write like you would talk to someone.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go have that coffee with David. And maybe practice recommending him to the world!