French

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LEARNING FRENCH AND CRACKING TEF FOR CANADA

(Created in consultation with Dr. Dolly Setia, PhD in French Literature)

HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED AND WORK INVOLVED?

● It gives you an additional 30 points for French as a second language and 12 points with a CLB 7.
In all it fetches us 62 points and one can max-out to 74 with a CLB 9.
● That’s easier said than done!
● An upper intermediate level in French (equivalent to DELF B2) is needed to appear for TEF
Canada. A minimum of 600 hours of French learning as per the DELF standards is needed to
reach this level.
● If you have a level equivalent to DELF B2, then you need 3 to 4 weeks prior to the test date.
● If you are a complete beginner, then you need to reach an upper intermediate level.
● As such there are no formal TEF Canada courses offered by institutes. You need to train yourself
for it as per DELF standards upto DELF B2 level.
● For 600 hours of French learning/DELF B2 takes about 1.5 years if done at an extensive pace
(depending upon the course being offered).

HOW TO START LEARNING?
2 ways of doing it – joining an institute OR self-learning..

1. JOINING AN INSTITUTE
o You can check the nearest Alliance Française institute or can visit their website to
enquire about onsite and online DELF programs as per your level. They also provide
intensive courses as well.

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o They follow a textbook designed to work on all 4 competencies (L,R W,S) and suitable for
classroom teaching. The teachers are DELF certified and experienced. The interaction and
communication is better as learners can engage in role-plays, which

improve, speaking. While you learn a language there are many other aspects of the
culture, which needs to be understood. Lots of cultural activities are also a part of
learning at these centers.
o To check the nearest center (https://afindia.org/). There are country specific sites.
o Also Alliance française is the official TEF Canada Test center. Just like British Council is for
IELTS


2. SELF STUDY PLAN at an INTENSIVE PACE will take from 8 to 9 months with Binge studying. It
means over 3 hours of French learning each day with a proper direction, resources and strategy
to attain 600 hours in 8 to 9 moths.
o Working on pronunciation from the very beginning.
o BOOK: Attacking grammar first for TEF Canada to save time (Book: Tata McGraw-Hill,
Complete French Grammar by Annie Heminway) – Buy from Amazon here
o To supplement your grammar learning download the mobile app Duolingo (Download on
App Store & Play-store). The exercises are easy and designed in such a way that it boosts
your confidence. It supplements your grammar learning and help improving listening and
phonetics as well. Suggested to do the Duolingo tree and stories while preparing for TEF
Canada.
o TEXT BOOK to be consulted throughout to follow the DELF standard while learning
French (Édito, Methode de français A1, A2 and B1 by Germain & Charlotte Salone,). The
level of the books is good so with the third level only you are almost equivalent to upper
intermediate level i.e., DELF B2. These are 3 books, 1 for each level (Buy A1 | Buy A2 |
Buy B1)
o Find a SPEAKING PARTNER preferably with a superior level or a native to help you
practice conversing in French. There are many apps that help you find a native speaker to
practice as in hellotalk ( https://www.hellotalk.com/.)
● Here you can learn a language by chatting with native speakers around the world.
(Many exercises are also there)
o ONLINE RESOURCES For improving the vocabulary and listening visit
www.tv5monde.com (click on the learn French section. It helps!). The exercises are on
contemporary topics and aids in building vocabulary in different domains. Here you can
choose level specific exercises.
o Also visit https://savoirs.rfi.fr/ You find a lot of learning content by topic, by culture or by
different types of exercises DELF (different levels) or TCF.

REPEAT the grammar book and textbook 2-3 times. But do not repeat the Duolingo app exercises.
PRACTICE SPEAKING with a partner and move on to TEF specific preparation (next page).




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I AM GOOD WITH FRENCH; HOW DO I PRACTICE FOR TEF?

TEF specific preparation is needed only 3 to 4 weeks prior to test date once you have acquired an upper
intermediate level (equivalent to DELF B2). You just need to refer to just 2 things here:
o Book : Test d'evaluation de Francais - 250 activites: Livre (French) by Sylvie Pons (Buy on
Amazon)
o Website: www.Prepmyfuture.com is an official online preparation (in partnership with the
PARIS-IDF Chamber of Commerce) site to check mock-tests. One can even buy modules here.
You can familiarize yourself with the pattern of the test.

TEF FORMAT & WHAT’S EASY / TOUGH?

o You have two options to write TEF Canada: e- TEF or paper based TEF (But writing part for both
cases is paper based and e- TEF is any day better!)
o Like IELTS, TEF Canada also has 4 sections.
● Listening: 40 minutes / 60 questions (MCQs) /360 points [249-279 minimum to get CLB 7)]
● Reading: 60 minutes/ 50 questions (MCQs) / 300 points [207-232 minimum to get CLB 7)]
● Writing: 60 minutes/ 2 topics (one of 80 words article completion and another 200 words
Writing your viewpoint) / 450 points [310-348 minimum to get CLB 7)]
● Speaking: 15 minutes/ 2 topics (first is a formal situation about enquiring and asking
questions and second an informal situation on convincing your friend for something) / 450
points [310-348 minimum to get CLB 7)

LISTENING AND READING is usually not too difficult because it is a multiple-choice test. Just like for
IELTS, the more you practice, the better you get at it.

However, the active parts, WRITING and SPEAKING, are a bit more difficult. WRITTEN French has many
rules and you need to know some grammar structures to succeed this part. The SPEAKING part is also a
part where you cannot fake it. You will need to interact in a daily life situation in the two sections (both
formal and informal), so proper structures and addressing the examiner in the right way is needed. The
way you make structures and use grammar is important. Also the phonetics are judged here. Since this
oral part is the most difficult (you don’t have time to think, you should be spontaneous). You will need
to practice and make several simulations before taking the TEF Canada Test. It can be a good idea to
practice your oral French with a speaking partner.