telc B1 Sprechen: the Redemittel to Drill for All Three Parts
The telc Deutsch B1 mündliche Prüfung is a paired exam with a short preparation time, in three parts: you and a partner get to know each other (Teil 1), discuss a topic and exchange opinions (Teil 2), and plan or decide something together (Teil 3). What lifts a mark here is reacting to your partner — agreeing, disagreeing, asking them to say more — not just delivering your own lines.
The phrases below are grouped by the part they belong to. Do not read them as a list — work them. Because this is speaking, drilling means saying each phrase out loud until it comes automatically.
How to drill this: cover the German column with your hand, read each cue, and say the phrase out loud before you check. Speaking phrases only work when they are automatic, so repeat a section until every cue produces its phrase without a look.
Teil 1 — getting to know each other (Kontaktaufnahme)
A short warm-up where you and your partner introduce yourselves and find some common ground. Keep it to a couple of exchanges, then hand the turn back — talking for the whole part costs you the interaction mark.
Darf ich mich kurz vorstellen? Ich heiße …
May I introduce myself briefly? My name is … — a natural, polite opener.
Ich komme aus … und lebe seit … in Deutschland.
I'm from … and have lived in Germany for … — a compact self-introduction (seit takes the dative).
In meiner Freizeit … ich gern.
In my free time I like to … — one shared-interest sentence keeps the exchange going.
Und wie ist das bei dir?
And how about you? — the turn-taking move; hand the floor back instead of monologuing.
Teil 2 — talking about a topic (über ein Thema sprechen)
You and your partner discuss a topic from a card and exchange opinions. Marks come from reacting to what your partner says — agreeing, disagreeing, asking for more — not only from stating your own view.
Ich bin der Meinung, dass …
I'm of the opinion that … — state your position (verb to the end after dass).
Da bin ich ganz deiner Meinung.
I completely agree with you there. — agree explicitly before you add anything of your own.
Das sehe ich anders, denn …
I see that differently, because … — disagree politely with a reason (denn keeps normal word order).
Kannst du das genauer erklären?
Can you explain that in more detail? — invite your partner to elaborate; a turn-taking move the examiner rewards.
Wie siehst du das?
How do you see it? — hand the turn back and keep it a real exchange.
Teil 3 — solving a task together (gemeinsam eine Aufgabe lösen)
You and your partner plan something concretely and reach a decision together — organise an event, sort out a schedule. The examiner listens for whether you actually negotiate and agree, not just list ideas side by side.
Sollen wir zuerst … besprechen?
Shall we discuss … first? — organise the task before diving into the details.
Ich würde vorschlagen, dass wir …
I would suggest that we … — the Konjunktiv würde makes the proposal softer and more natural than a bare command.
Was hältst du davon?
What do you think of that? — check with your partner before you settle anything.
Einverstanden, das machen wir.
Agreed, let's do that. — accept a proposal and move the plan on.
Dann sind wir uns einig.
Then we're agreed. — close the task by naming the agreement out loud.
Download the B1 Sprechen Redemittel sheet (PDF)Every phrase on this page on one printable page — cover the German column and say each one aloud.