#2%20TELC%20B1%20-Sprechen-TEIL2-44-Themen-23-LSG

Overview of Telc B1 Speaking Part 2 Topics

This document serves as an exhaustive study guide for the Telc B1 Speaking Exam, specifically focusing on Part 2 (Sprechen - Teil 2). It contains summaries, viewpoints, and sample dialogues for $44$ distinct topics used for candidate discussions.

Topic 2: Working Hours (Arbeitszeiten)

Person A: Mr. Klausen ( $55$ years old), Soldier / Business Owner
- He is his own boss and owns a clothing store.
- He has no regulated working hours.
- He works on evenings and weekends.
- He takes very little vacation ( $Urlaub$ ) but does not complain because the business is running well.
Person B: Frau Haffner ( $43$ years old), Veterinarian
- She currently works part-time ( $Teilzeit$ ), specifically in the mornings ( $vormittags$ ).
- She spends the rest of her time on housework and caring for small children.
- She plans to return to full-time ( $ganztags$ ) work in a few years when the children are grown.
- Her husband supports her in this decision.
Discussion Points & Candidate Arguments
- Health Concerns: Candidate M argues that one should not work more than $8$ hours a day, as it endangers health.
- Work-Life Balance: Some people work too much for money and eventually collapse ( $umfallen$ ) because they neglect their health.
- Life Choice: For some, life without work is boring; they work until they are "dead tired" ( $todm61de$ ).
- Side Jobs: A student candidate mentions they take a German course until $16:00$ and then works a mini-job as a waiter in a caf65 to meet people and earn money independently of parents.

Topic 3: Money (Geld)

Person A: Enrico Sammer ( $34$ years old), Optician
- He is a thrifty ( $sparsame$ ) person.
- He only buys necessary items and avoids expensive or superfluous things.
Person B: Nicole Streidel ( $25$ years old), Florist
- She uses her entire salary for shopping.
- She buys everything she likes, regardless of necessity, following the philosophy of "you only live once."
Discussion Points & Candidate Arguments
- The Middle Way ( $Mittelweg$ ): Trung suggests that while saving is good, there are times to enjoy life and open the wallet ( $Geldb56rse 52ffnen$ ).
- Investing in Efficiency: Trung spent a lot on a new computer to avoid waiting minutes for files to load.
- Retirement Planning: Huong saves money in the bank because one never knows what the pension ( $Rente$ ) will be later.
- Future Goals: Wished-for items include a small car, a trip to Dubai, and nice clothes.
- Global Crisis: Note of concern regarding high taxes being spent on weapons of war instead of social needs.

Topic 4: Transformation after the Pandemic

Person A: Thomas M61ller
- The pandemic deeply influenced life; he now pays more attention to health and stays in contact with family and friends.
- Companies introduced flexible working options, which he sees as a positive sign that society can accept change.
Person B: Nicole Bachmann
- Relocated from the city center to the countryside for safety and quiet.
- Priorities shifted from career/success to health, family, and quality of life.
Free Conversation Highlights
- Health is now the top priority for many.
- Regular sports and healthy eating have become personal habits since the pandemic started.
- The "escape" from stressful city life to rural areas is a major trend identified in magazine articles.

Topic 5: Future Plans (Zukunftspl41ne)

Person A: Jana ( $16$ years old), Student
- Wants to marry eventually but needs a flexible partner because she wants to live in different countries.
- Ambition: Complete the Matura and study medicine (inspired by her mother who is a doctor).
Person B: Max ( $17$ years old), Student
- Wants three children and is willing to stay home to care for the household.
- Interested in environmental protection ( $Umweltschutz$ ) and wants a well-paying job.
Free Conversation Highlights
- Career vs. Family: One candidate (Khoa) prefers focusing on engineering studies and traveling the world over early marriage.
- Travel with Children: A debate ensues about traveling with children; one argues it is stressful ( $anstrengend$ ) as you must watch a $5$ -year-old brother, while the other enjoys activity-filled family trips twice a year.

Topic 6: Moving Out and Living Alone

Person A: Carsten Daubner ( $18$ years old), Apprentice
- Moved out on his $18$ th birthday into a cheap one-room apartment with a small kitchen and bath.
- Goal: Independence and standing on his own feet. His parents now support him with rent money.
Person B: Jenny Groh ( $21$ years old), Student
- Prefers living at home. She has a large room, a garden, and more space compared to a small apartment.
- Her mother lends her a car for the long commute to the university.
Discussion Points
- Pros of Living Alone: Complete freedom (coming/going anytime), quiet environment for better concentration while studying.
- Cons of Living Alone: Responsibility for cleaning, shopping, and cooking after long lectures can be exhausting.

Topic 7: Traveling (Reisen)

Person A: Klaus Schmidt ( $31$ years old), Customer Advisor
- Travels nearly $100,000\,km$ per year for work via company car or plane.
- The novelty has worn off; he now finds constant hotel stays boring and tedious ( $l44stig$ ).
Person B: Stefanie Berger ( $24$ years old), Student
- Travels as much as possible.
- Lives with friends abroad to save on hotel costs; uses trains as they are cheaper for students.
Free Conversation Highlights
- Skill Sets: Speaking English is highlighted as essential for global travel and adaptation.
- Preference: One candidate finds packing and unpacking bags annoying and prefers the comfort of their home city.

Topic 8: Family

Person A: Nadja Beckmann ( $36$ years old), Employee
- Lives in a small village; deep family connections. Enjoys spending time with her sister's family and parents.
- Has two children and wants a third.
Person B: Anton Meyer ( $34$ years old), Manager
- Lives alone, enjoys freedom, takes energy for his career. Is currently single and has not found the "ideal partner" yet.
Free Conversation Highlights
- Blood is thicker than water: The argument that family is the ultimate support system during bad days.
- Chosen Family: The opposing view that friends can replace family in many aspects and provide more freedom.

Topic 9: Health (Gesundheit)

Person A: Carsten Martens ( $23$ years old), Employee
- Believes he is too young to care about health. He is naturally slim and too tired for sports after work.
Person B: Silke Bauer ( $21$ years old), Student
- Non-smoker, active in a gymnastics club ( $Turnierverein$ ), and jogs regularly.
- Her weakness: Sweets and cake.
Free Conversation Highlights
- Nutrition: Importance of avoiding greasy and fried foods.
- Motivation: Using friends as gym partners to stay motivated to train. In the dialogue, Candidate B suggests Candidate A play soccer on weekends to overcome post-work fatigue.

Topic 10: Group Travel (Gruppenreisen)

Person A: Sabine Klostermann ( $33$ years old), Office Clerk
- Enjoys group travel for the social company and the presence of a tour guide to show sights.
Person B: Jens M61hle ( $39$ years old), Physicist
- Prefers traveling alone to avoid fixed programs. He likes to decide spontaneously when to sleep or what to visit.
Discussion Points
- Flexibility: Comparison of group tours to a "school trip" ( $Schulausflug$ ) versus the freedom of being one's own boss.

Topic 11: Living in the Big City (Wohnen in der Gro57stadt)

Person A: Anna Schudt ( $32$ years old), Musician
- Moved to Berlin for the culture, diverse people, and $24/7$ events. Asserts work for musicians is only found in big cities.
Person B: Uwe Meister ( $36$ years old), Civil Servant ( $Beamter$ )
- Lives in the country; enjoys his garden and fresh air. Finds the city too loud and hectic.
Dialogue Observations
- Village life is praised for nature and community ("everyone knows everyone"), while city life is praised for the proximity of the university and nightlife.

Topic 12: Mobility and Transportation

Person A: Ilona Peters
- Gave up her car $2$ years ago. Uses bicycles (including a transport bike) for errands and moving.
- Argues cycling is cheaper, healthier, and better for the environment.
Person B: Hans Kleinschmidt
- Bank employee who needs a car to visit customers outside the city.
- Finds car driving synonymous with freedom and independence, despite traffic jams and high gas prices.
Key Statistics/Policy Mentioned: In London, one must pay $5\,Pfund$ to enter the city center; Candidate A suggests city centers should have a speed limit of $30\,km/h$ .

Topic 13: Home Office Pros and Cons

Person A: Thomas Weber
- Benefits: Flexibility, time saved by not commuting, and a more relaxed working environment.
Person B: Anne M61ller
- Drawbacks: Social isolation, lack of professional/private life separation, and technical problems.
Debate: Virtual meetings are suggested as a fix for isolation, but the "blurring" of cooking and working remains a challenge for self-organization.

Topic 14: Television (Fernsehen)

Person A: Claudia Volke
- Likes news, documentaries, and movies. Enjoys the large selection of modern programs.
Person B: Ramona Weber
- Sold her TV last month. She felt it made her passive and nervous. Now she listens to the radio and reads newspapers.
Free Conversation Highlights
- The rise of YouTube as an alternative to the $150$ German TV channels.
- The popularity of "Cooking Shows" for learning new recipes, contrasted with a hatred for war movies and sports broadcasts.
- Mentions of the Tolino E-book reader as a modern alternative to screen time.

Topic 15: Living in the City or Countryside

Marcel K52stner ( $25$ years old, Student): Desires short commutes and recreational/cultural offerings. Currently in a one-room city apartment.
Ilona Schmidt ( $40$ years old, Teacher): Moved to a village for her son, Tim. Enjoys a house with a garden and low rent, but dislikes the dependency on a car.
Discussion: Living in a shared apartment ( $Wohngemeinschaft$ ) outside the city is common during student years due to high rent in the city center.

Topic 16: Marriage/Wedding (Heiraten/Hochzeit)

Marie Ode ( $28$ years old): Dreams of a large $3$ -day wedding with over $70$ guests.
Martin ( $43$ years old): Has lived with his partner for $8$ years without a wedding; feels no need for a formal ceremony.
Gender Perspectives: Discussion on how women often view weddings emotionally/romantically (using the heart), while some men see them as a formality that changes little besides a name.

Topic 17: Eating (Essen)

Sabine Helbog ( $26$ years old): Eats quick snacks (salad/fruit) during brief lunch breaks; cooks warm meals for family in the evening.
Jens Schneider ( $24$ years old): Eats in the canteen ( $Kantine$ ) with colleagues to be social; avoids cooking alone at home.
Workplace Reality: In Germany, employees often only have a $30$ -minute lunch break, leading to high consumption of fast food or "finger food."

Topic 18: Shopping (Einkaufen)

Juliane Teubert ( $18$ ): Limited budget (apprentice); spends mainly on personal items (cosmetics, jewelry) while living with parents.
Paul Kr61gel ( $27$ ): Goes to a wholesale market ( $Gro57markt$ ) once a week with a list from his wife to avoid buying unnecessary things.
Environmental Concerns: Huong avoids online shopping to prevent delivery vans from polluting the environment.
Market Culture: Discussion of weekly markets ( $Wochenmarkt$ ) featuring fresh goods from "the Turks," fish/meat in small portions from "the Arabs," and bakeries on wheels.

Topic 19: Buying a House vs. Renting

Andrea Wegmann ( $35$ ): Bought a house $6$ years ago because rent was too high and children needed space to play.
Lina M61ller ( $23$ ): Prefers a single room; does not want to be tied down as she may move abroad for work.
Financial Breakdown: Homeowners face costs like property tax ( $Grundsteuer$ ), sewage ( $Abwasserkanalsteuer$ ), insurance, and maintenance ( $Standhaltung$ ), which renters also pay indirectly through utility bills ( $Nebenkostenabrechnung$ ).

Topic 20: Smartphones in School

Ann-Mai H61bner ( $39$ , Teacher): Uses them as a learning tool for immediate internet research, movies, and images.
Christian Bergner ( $41$ , Father): Views them as a major distraction; claims messages ruin concentration and screen time hurts children's eyes.
Suggested Policy: Use phones only for geography or history research; otherwise, store them away unless the school provides tablets.

Topic 21: Online Grocery Shopping

Tobias Kr44mer ( $27$ ): Prefers physical markets to see the goods and talk to vendors.
Irina Kovalcik ( $25$ ): Shops online at midnight to save time and avoid checkout lines.
Delivery Services Mentioned: Bofrost, Rewe, MyTime, Wolt, Uber Eats, Motatos.

Topic 22: Better Living (Interior Design)

Bernd Rischer ( $46$ , Architect): Values antiques and modern designer furniture; loves order and tidiness.
Julia Lochner ( $23$ , Hairdresser): Cares about comfort and quality/durability, not appearance.
Practical Tip: The "Sch52ner Wohnen" brand of wall paint is expensive but offers high-quality coverage and less dripping.

Topic 23: Lifelong Learning (Lebenslanges Lernen)

Karsten Dressel ( $26$ ): Wants to stop learning after his degree to focus on family and leisure.
Lena Weise ( $32$ ): Argues the world changes too fast to stop learning; constantly takes courses to refresh knowledge.
Language Learning: Emphasis on mastering the language of the country where one plans to build a future.

Topic 28, 30: Internet Usage in Germany

Key Statistics:
- $61\%$ of Germans use the internet daily.
- Over $60\%$ of those aged $10-54$ are daily users.
- Among those $55+$ years old, every second person ( $50\%$ ) is online daily.
- Only $16\%$ of seniors use it less than once a week.
Shopping Habits:
- Most frequently purchased: Clothing and Shoes ( $1$ st), CDs and DVDs ( $2$ nd), followed by Consumer Electronics.
- Germans spend nearly $4,000,000\,Euro$ (4 million) on clothes online.

Topic 31: Internship Abroad

62m61t Bayramai ( $18$ ): Sees it as a gut opportunity to learn work processes, cultural tact, and improve language skills.
Ines Huber ( $20$ ): Criticizes the lack of pay and high travel costs. Argues that if one wants to work in Germany, German firm experience is more relevant.