My First Stumble with TELC B1 Writing: Responding to a Comment

Okay, deep breath. Let’s be honest, learning German isn’t always a smooth ride. I’ve moved to Munich six months ago, landed a job as an English teacher (ironic, right?), and I’m trying to get my TELC B1 Writing certificate. It’s proving to be a surprisingly stressful process, especially when it comes to the ‘respond to an online comment’ section of the exam. It feels so…real. I’m not just writing an essay; I’m actually responding to someone. And that’s where things got tricky.

The Scenario: A Facebook Post

It all started with a post on the local expat Facebook group, “München Mit Uns” (Munich With Us). A woman, Sarah, was complaining about the terrible service she’d gotten at a small Biergarten near the Englischer Garten. She wrote: “Anyone been to Zum Schwarzen Kameel lately? The service was schrecklich! Waited an hour for my beer and the waiter was so rude. Seriously considering going elsewhere next time.”

The prompt for the TELC exam was: “Respond to Sarah’s comment.”

My Initial Response – A Disaster

My first attempt was… well, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty. I panicked. I wanted to be helpful, to offer sympathy, but I went way overboard. I wrote:

“Oh Sarah, that’s terrible! I am so, so sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience! It’s absolutely unacceptable for a restaurant to take an hour to serve you a beer and for the waiter to be rude. That’s really unprofessional and I feel so bad for you. I think you should definitely complain to the manager! You deserve better! Honestly, it sounds awful and I can only imagine how frustrating it must have been. You’re right, maybe you shouldn’t go back there! Ganz ehrlich, it sounds awful!”

I felt like a total idiot as I finished typing. It was way too much. Way too…everything. My German teacher, Herr Schmidt, later told me it sounded like I was reading a dramatic movie script.

What Herr Schmidt Told Me (and What I Learned)

“Alice,” he said, adjusting his glasses, “you’re using viel words. The TELC exam isn’t about overflowing with emotion. It’s about being clear, concise, and appropriate. Sarah is venting, she needs sympathy, but she also needs a reasonable response. Your language was… ‘überwältigend’ – overwhelming. ”

He gave me a few key pieces of advice:

• Start with an acknowledgement: A simple “Das tut mir leid zu hören” (I’m sorry to hear that) is perfectly fine. It shows you understand her frustration.
• Be direct, but polite: “Ich finde es sehr ärgerlich” (I find it very annoying) is better than a lengthy outpouring of feeling.
• Suggest a solution (briefly): “Vielleicht solltest du mit dem Manager sprechen” (Maybe you should talk to the manager) is practical and helpful.
• Keep it short! The examiners are looking for a response that fits within the allocated time.

A Better Response – Practice Makes Perfect

After Herr Schmidt’s feedback, I tried again. This time, I focused on just the essentials. Here’s what I wrote:

“Sarah, das tut mir leid zu hören! Es ist wirklich ärgerlich, wenn man lange auf ein Bier warten muss und der Kellner unhöflich ist. Vielleicht solltest du mit dem Manager sprechen. Ich hoffe, es wird besser nächstes Mal.”

(Sarah, I’m sorry to hear that! It’s really annoying when you have to wait a long time for a beer and the waiter is rude. Maybe you should talk to the manager. I hope it will be better next time.)

It felt…lighter. More natural. And, crucially, I could have answered questions about it within the time limit.

Useful Phrases to Remember

Here are some phrases that have been really helpful for me:

• “Das tut mir leid zu hören.” – I’m sorry to hear that. (Always a good starting point)
• “Das ist ja schrecklich!” – That’s terrible! (Use sparingly – it can sound overly dramatic)
• “Es ist wirklich ärgerlich.” – It’s really annoying. (More appropriate for everyday conversation)
• “Vielleicht solltest du…” – Maybe you should… (Offering a suggestion)
• “Ich hoffe, es wird besser.” – I hope it will be better. (Ending on a positive note)

My Next Steps

I’m planning to do more practice exercises focusing specifically on these ‘online comment’ prompts. I need to get better at managing my tone and keeping my responses concise. Honestly, the whole experience has been a great reminder that it’s not just about perfect grammar; it’s about communicating effectively – and sounding a little less like a dramatic movie character! Ich bin sicher, ich werde es schaffen! (I’m sure I’ll manage!) Now, I think I’ll go order a Radler (beer with lemonade) – and maybe try Zum Schwarzen Kameel again… cautiously.