My German Nightmare (and How You Can Avoid It: TELC B1 Writing)

Okay, deep breath. Moving to Germany was amazing. Seriously, the culture, the food, the sauberkeit… it was everything I’d hoped for. But let’s be honest, the bureaucracy? Absolutely brutal. And that’s where my TELC B1 Writing goal came in. I needed to write a proper request for information to a potential employer – a company called “Müller & Sohn” – and I needed to do it well enough to actually get a foot in the door. Trust me, I felt the pressure!

The Problem: I Just Kept Saying “Ich Nicht”

My first attempts were… embarrassing. I was so worried about making mistakes that I was just mumbling and apologizing constantly. I ended up with a very short, awkward email in German that translated roughly to, “I don’t know what to ask.” Ich nicht became my constant companion. I realized I needed to understand the structure of a request and, crucially, learn the right phrases.

Understanding the Goal: TELC B1 Writing – What Are They Looking For?

The TELC B1 Writing exam asks you to write a formal letter or email. In my case, it was a request for information, specifically about a job opening as a ‘Werkstudent’ (student assistant) in the marketing department at Müller & Sohn. They wanted to see if I could:

• Express my interest clearly
• Ask specific questions politely
• Use correct business German vocabulary
• Structure my writing logically

Crafting the Email: A Realistic Example (and My Mistakes)

Here’s the email I eventually wrote. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than my initial, panicked draft.

• Betreff (Subject): Bewerbung als Werkstudent – Marketing

• An: bewerbung@mueller-sohn.de

Sehr geehrte/r Herr/Frau [Name – I didn’t know it, so I used “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren”],

Ich schreibe Ihnen, um mein Interesse an einer Stelle als Werkstudent im Marketingbereich bei Müller & Sohn auszudrücken. Ich habe Ihr Unternehmen über Ihre Webseite kennengelernt und bin sehr von Ihrer Arbeit beeindruckt.

Ich möchte gerne mehr Informationen über die konkreten Aufgaben, die Anforderungen an Bewerber und die Vergütung erfahren. Könnten Sie mir bitte mitteilen, ob es derzeit offene Stellen gibt und welche Qualifikationen Sie von potenziellen Mitarbeitern erwarten?

Ich bin ein/e engagierte/r Student/in der [my university name] und verfüge über gute Kenntnisse in [mention a relevant skill – e.g., Social Media Marketing].

Vielen Dank für Ihre Zeit und Mühe. Ich freue mich über eine positive Rückmeldung.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

[My Name]

[My Contact Information]

Notice how I started with a formal greeting: “Sehr geehrte/r Herr/Frau…” – Very important! I then clearly stated my purpose. I included a sentence about why I was interested. I asked specific questions – “Welche Qualifikationen erwarten Sie?” (What qualifications do you expect?). I ended with a polite closing: “Mit freundlichen Grüßen.”

Common German Phrases for Requests (and What Not to Say)

Here are some phrases I found really useful:

• “Ich hätte gerne weitere Informationen…” (I would like to have more information…) – Better than just saying “Ich will Informationen!” (I want information!)
• “Könnten Sie mir bitte…?” (Could you please…) – This is polite.
• “Was sind die genauen Anforderungen an…?” (What are the exact requirements for…?) – Avoid overly informal language.
• “Ich bin an… interessiert.” (I am interested in…) – Useful for expressing your enthusiasm.

Things I didn’t say (and nearly did): “Ich habe keine Ahnung!” (I have no idea!) – Too blunt! And definitely don’t use overly casual language like “Hey!” – it’s a business email!

A Small Misunderstanding (and How I Fixed It)

I asked about the “Vergütung” (payment) but I didn’t specify how much I was expecting. I quickly realized my mistake when I got a response asking, “Wie viel Gehalt erwarten Sie?” (How much salary do you expect?). I had to quickly learn that it’s polite to provide a range, even if it’s a broad one. I explained that I was open to discussion.

Final Thoughts (and a Little Encouragement!)

Writing in German was definitely challenging, especially at first. But don’t be afraid to make mistakes! It’s part of the learning process. Focus on clear communication, using the right phrases, and always be polite. And most importantly, practice! The more you write, the more comfortable you’ll become. Ich glaube an Sie! (I believe in you!). Now go get that job!

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