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DELF tout public, junior, scolaire

Niveau B1

Je choisis le DELF B1 si je peux...▼

Je découvre l'examen▼

Je m'entraîne
Exemples de sujets - tout public
Exemple de sujet - junior/scolaire
Mes droits et devoirs
Informations pratiques
X

Compréhension de l'oral - B1
L’épreuve de compréhension de l’oral permet de vérifier les compétences du candidat en tant qu’utilisateur de la langue
pour recevoir et traiter un message parlé.

Dans cette épreuve, le candidat écoute des annonces publiques, des émissions de radio, des conversations, etc. Le
format du document audio varie selon le niveau.

Échelle du CECRL pour la compréhension générale de l’oral :


Peut comprendre une information factuelle directe sur des sujets de la vie quotidienne ou relatifs au travail en
reconnaissant les messages généraux et les points de détail, à condition que l’articulation soit claire et l’accent courant.
Peut comprendre les points principaux d’une intervention sur des sujets familiers rencontrés régulièrement au travail, à
l’école, pendant les loisirs, y compris des récits courts.
X

Compréhension des écrits - B1


La compréhension des écrits est une épreuve qui permet de vérifier les compétences du candidat en tant que lecteur. Il
doit lire des documents pour s’orienter, s’informer, suivre des instructions, etc. Les textes sont courts ou très longs, selon
le niveau du CECRL.

Échelle du CECRL pour la compréhension générale des écrits :


Peut lire des textes factuels directs sur des sujets relatifs à son domaine et à ses intérêts avec un niveau satisfaisant de
compréhension.
X

Production écrite - B1
L’épreuve de production écrite permet de vérifier les compétences du candidat à produire un texte en français. Les
activités de cette épreuve varient selon le niveau. Le candidat peut être amené à écrire un article, une lettre ou à faire une
synthèse.

Dans cette épreuve, les compétences en interaction écrite sont également évaluées. Les activités peuvent demander au
candidat de compléter un formulaire, d’écrire un message électronique pour répondre à quelqu’un ou d’élaborer un texte
voué à être publié sur un forum.

Échelle du CECRL pour la production écrite générale :


Peut écrire des textes articulés simplement sur une gamme de sujets variés dans son domaine en liant une série
d’éléments discrets en une séquence linéaire.

Échelle du CECRL pour l’interaction écrite générale :


Peut apporter de l’information sur des sujets abstraits et concrets, contrôler l’information, poser des questions sur un
problème ou l’exposer assez précisément.
Peut écrire des notes et lettres personnelles pour demander ou transmettre des informations d’intérêt immédiat et faire
comprendre les points qu’il/elle considère importants.
X
Production orale - B1
L’épreuve de production orale invite le candidat à produire un texte. Elle est composée d’activités prenant la forme d’un
monologue ou d’un exposé.

Dans cette épreuve, l’interaction orale est également évaluée. Le candidat doit communiquer avec le jury. Les activités
d’interaction orale prennent diverses formes selon le niveau : des échanges courants, des jeux de rôle, des débats, etc.

Échelle du CECRL pour la production orale générale :


Peut assez aisément mener à bien une description directe et non compliquée de sujets variés dans son domaine en la
présentant comme une succession linéaire de points.

Échelle du CECRL pour l’interaction orale générale :


Peut communiquer avec une certaine assurance sur des sujets familiers habituels ou non en relation avec ses intérêts et
son domaine professionnel.
Peut échanger, vérifier et confirmer des informations, faire face à des situations moins courantes et expliquer pourquoi il y
a une difficulté. Peut exprimer sa pensée sur un sujet abstrait ou culturel comme un film, des livres, de la musique, etc.
Peut exploiter avec souplesse une gamme étendue de langue simple pour faire face à la plupart des situations
susceptibles de se produire au cours d’un voyage.
Peut aborder sans préparation une conversation sur un sujet familier, exprimer des opinions personnelles et échanger de
l’information sur des sujets familiers, d’intérêt personnel ou pertinents pour la vie quotidienne (par exemple, la famille, les
loisirs, le travail, les voyages et les faits divers).

Posted by

u/theysaidsanspeine

6 months ago

Listening and reading practice for DELF B1

Advice

Hello hello!
I'm taking the DELF B1 in March, and although my listening comprehension is pretty good, I'd like to improve it. My
problem is that I don't listen to enough news/informational audio in French, so my formal vocabulary is lacking.
I am already listening to the Balades podcast. Inner French/Intermediate French podcast is a little too easy for me
now, and RFI Journal en Français Facile is too difficult for me (it used to be okay, unfortunately the new guy who is
doing the podcast, Loïc, speaks way too fast and always sounds like he hates his job, which has taken the joy out of
listening to it.) So any other recommendations would be very awesome! :)
As far as reading again I prefer not to read news and informative articles, but it seems like this is what the DELF is
focusing on. So I have been reading some articles at Le Figaro and Le Monde but the format of the websites make it
hard for me to concentrate on the articles, even though I use Adblock. Are there any other French websites for news
that aren't as flashy or media-heavy?
Thanks so much!
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level 1
dzcFrench

4 points·6 months ago

Hmm, the Balades and InnerFrench are too easy but RFI Journal en Francais Facile is too difficult? Hmm, I thought
RFI is right above the Balades.
Have you been listening to documentaires? YouTube has tons of documentaires that are about 1-2 hour long like
this one:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZeBeYjECkphMxk9We7dMg
The key is to find the first documentaire in the topic of your interests. After that it's easy to track down the others.
I haven't taken the DELF B1 but I'm taking classes at lingoda and I have to say the language at the beginning of B1
is normal but the language at the end of B1 is so different, so complex, so convoluted. I feel overwhelmed. I don't
know if the test will focus on the middle ground or toward the upper end of B1. If it gears toward the upper end, then
none of these resources prepare you for that.
level 2
theysaidsanspeine

1 point·6 months ago

Yeah, I was confused about RFI Journal en français facile's difficulty too. That's why I think it might be due to the
current newscaster. He sighs, speaks irregularly (some words are slurred together, others are elongated), interrupts
the other newscaster and speaks much faster than I remember from the last time I listened to RFI. I went back in
time a couple months and they were much easier to understand. Maybe I'll just work with the old podcasts. Or
maybe I'm just terrible at understanding news. :D
Thanks for the YouTube channel recommendation. It looks pretty good, actually. The level of speaking in that
documentary just about what I was looking for. That also reminds me of a French documentary series on YouTube
about historical figures like Louis XIV.
Continue this thread

level 2
theysaidsanspeine
1 point·6 months ago

Actually it looks like RFI went back to Romain Auzouy today, maybe they constantly switch the people who do it.
Anyway it's way easier to understand now! :)

Posted by

u/jordy123e

2 months ago

Any tips to pass DELF B1 listening?

Advice

Bonjour!
I'll be taking my B1 DELF exam (junior et scolaire) next week, and I'm looking for tips to improve my listening. I'm
not bad at understanding French, but I have trouble following along with the questions and listening at the same
time. I average about 60% on the listening activities, which really isn't great. It's the only part that I'm worried I might
fail. Are there are any tips on how to improve on this part of the exam?
Merci!
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level 1
olivereckert

6 points·2 months ago

I am afraid l to tell you that a week is in most cases not enough to improve your listening skills. But you could try a
hardcore approach like ajatt and listen to French basically 24/7 until the exam
level 1
mickypeverell

corrigez mes erreurs, s'il vous plaît2 points·2 months ago

maybe you wanna spend some time reading about french phonology
with features like enchaînement, liaison, syncope, elision and e muet/instable, the final pronunciation can be quite
brutal. take the example
Written: On a laissé la fenêtre ouverte.
Meaning: "We left the window open."
In isolation: /ɔ̃ a lɛse la fənɛːtʁ uvɛʁt/
Together: [ɔ.̃ na.lɛ.se.laf.nɛː.tʁu.vɛʁt]
level 1
an_average_potato_1

1 point·2 months ago

More listening. A week is not much, true. But if you can put in several hours a day, you can surely improve.
What to listen to, one week before the exam:
-the CD coming with your B1 coursebook.
-the CD coming with your DELF B1 preparatory book
-B1 stuff on sites like this one: https://savoirs.rfi.fr/fr
-something like this, if your library has it: https://www.cle-international.com/comprehension-orale-2-niveau-b1-livre-
cd-2eme-edition-9782090380057.html

Posted by

u/Usernameistaken96

B22 years ago

I'll be taking the DELF B1 at the end of next month. Anyone have any tips for me to
better prepare myself for it?

Discussion

Je prendrai le DELF B1 à la fin du mois prochain, qu’est-ce que je dois faire pour être mieux préparé ? Ce sera la
première fois que je prends un proficiency test de français. J’ai étudié le français pour 3 ans à l’universite. Ce qui
m’inquiet, c’est la partie de l’oral parce qu’il n’y a personne avec qui je peux pratiquer la langue, mais je traduis les
pensées de ma tête de l’anglais à français de temps en temps. En outre, je lis quelques articles sur LeFigaro
chaque matin et regarde les videos de 7jours pour 30 minutes par jour. À votre avis, je devrais faire quoi d’autre ?
Est-ce-qu’il y a un liste de vocabulaire specifique ?
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level 1
T4NKie

C13 points·2 years ago

Il y a des livres "Reussir le DELF B1/Reussir le DELF A2". A la fin de chaque livre, il y a un sommaire avec
beaucoup de mots. On pourrai faire les cartes memoires et peut-être on peut utiliser italki.com de faire les
excercices oraux aussi.
level 2
Usernameistaken96

B21 point·2 years ago

Merci! Ces livres sont disponibles à la bibliothèque de ma université, et j'empruntais le livre de B1, mais je vois qu'il
n'y a pas de sommaire :(
level 1
Comment deleted by user2 years ago

level 2
[deleted]

1 point·2 years ago

I agree with this. I just went to France and did a B1 level french class while I was there. I passed the test quite
comfortably so from what you have written and your learning habits, I think you will be fine. Just keep doing what
you're doing.
Bon chance!
level 1
TravellingRainGod

1 point·2 years ago

Writing is a big part so write something every day. Correct yourself and then check with friends or at least Google
translate.
level 2
Usernameistaken96

B21 point·2 years ago

Thanks for the tip! I try to at least write one entry in French per day on lang-8 :)
level 1
Superfluouspleonasm

B21 point·2 years ago

Hello! I took the delf B1 about half a year ago and passed, let me know if you have questions. I'd recommend going
onto their website, there are a couple delf B1 practice exams you can download, as well as audio samples for the
listening section. From my experience the practice exams were quite similar to the actual test.
level 2
Usernameistaken96

B21 point·2 years ago

What particular topics or themes could you be asked to talk/write about on the speaking and writing parts
respectively?

sted by

u/ticklystarlight

4 months ago

Question for those who have recently taken DELF B1

Advice

I'm in the US and will be taking the DELF B1 in Seattle very soon, so I'm practicing a lot. However, I've seen
differing information on old DELFs regarding the writing activity, some say it's 160 words minimum (no maximum)
and other information states that it's 160-180 words. This is kind of a concern for me because I tend to write 200-
240 words when I practice, and it seems overly complicated to try to hit a number between 160 and 180. What was
your experience with the DELF B1?
I have another random question, too. Was your listening exercise played over a speaker, or did you get our own
listening devices? I know every testing center is different but I'd still like to hear from other people. I have only taken
one official exam in my life (I was homeschooled), so I'm incredibly nervous and any advice will be incredibly helpful!
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level 1
thechadisgr8

FR - B1 | EN - N | Corrigez-moi SVP4 points·4 months ago

I did my B1 test about 6 months ago but I would consider my test a little unconventional because it didn't end up like
I expected based on sample exams for my teacher.
What I will say is this... Different exam offices function slightly differently. Audio comprehension for me was in a
classroom setting over 1 speaker, but I've heard of other examples where everyone gets their own headset.
For the writing task, try to stick within 10% of the suggested word count.
Become familiar with the grading sheet the examiner is using... This is literally how they grade you.
I'm no professor so please don't take what I say as gospel, this is just my experience and based on what I have
heard.
http://www.delfdalf.fr/delf-b1-sample-papers.html
Also watch this - it's pretty cheesy but I found it useful!! https://youtu.be/EaNqp4FXh-s
level 2
ticklystarlight

1 point·4 months ago

Thank you so much!


level 1
winterpeg_manisnowba

2 points·4 months ago

Took B1 DELF 10 days ago. If my memory serves me right, it just said 160 words minimum, no maximum. Also, on
the listening exercise, it was played via speaker but don't worry, they have to make sure that it is
audible/comprehensible at any part of the room so that should be none of your worries. Just focus on the exam.
Good luck!

Posted by

u/cookiedog_69

3 months ago

Advice regarding DELF B1

Advice

I'm planning on writing the DELF B1 in June 2019. I've learnt french grammar fairly extensively in school, so I
believe that knowledge would suffice. My writing and speaking skills however need some work.
I have issues with developing the French accent in particular. I do not have the funds to get formal training. Is it
possible for me to prepare for and write the exam on my own? I've tried out a few sample papers and I'm finding
them quite difficult. Which resources would you recommend I use to prepare?
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level 1
jlsolanol

3 points·3 months ago

Hello. You can get a B1 level book. They usually comprehend oral, writing, speaking and listening skills, once you
feel comfortable solving the books exercises and materials you should be fine. In my personal experience, when I
took the B1 it was way easier than I thought It would be, besides, consider that you approve the exam with 50/100. I
hope this helps.
level 2
cookiedog_69

1 point·3 months ago

I have Saison and Alter Ego for B1, would those suffice?
level 1
YoungBlade1

A23 points·3 months ago

For getting my pronunciation down, I like to practice using minimal pairs. Minimal pairs are words that differ by only
one sound, like vous and vu or mère and père. I recently found a site with videos that demonstrate minimal pairs.
You can repeat them during the video and listen to the difference to make sure you can tell when you get them right.
http://prononcer.net/category/in-english/minimal-pairs/
level 1
AgentMo4444

2 points·3 months ago

Issue developing a French accent?


Get some French audio, preferably with an accompanying text transcription.
Listen to a sentence. Or even one word. Repeat it out loud and try and emulate it perfectly. Do this for the whole
text. Do it for many texts until your accent is 👌
Trust me, people constantly think my French is better than it actually is because my accent is pretty good. And then
they start talking really fast and I'm like uuuuuuuh, quoi?
level 2
cookiedog_69

2 points·3 months ago

Okay, I'll definitely try this, thanks!


level 1
an_average_potato_1

2 points·3 months ago

I don't know about Saison, but Alter Ego B1 will certainly be useful. I'd say getting a preparatory book like Réussir le
DELF B1 (or a newer one, or perhaps two) would be the best course of action. It is definitely possible to pass
without such a book but you'll save yourself some points and stress by preparing with these.

For this exam and also your studies in general, I'd recommend the books published by CLE from the series
Progressive, the level intermédiaire is for you. Grammaire, Vocabulaire are great. Phonétique could be very useful,
given your struggles. The rest may be worth borrowing from a library but I don't think they bring as much new value
as the "main" ones. These books could supplement your Alter Ego in some areas, where it is lacking a bit (I found
books in this series a little bit chaotic, when it came to explaining and overviewing the grammar and vocab, but rich
in practical examples and also explaining some practical stuff other series don't go into much).

If you are on a very tight budget, I'd recommend definitely getting one DELF B1 preparatory book to complement
your Alter Ego with, and looking for some good quality free resources on what you find lacking in those two books. If
you're already good at grammar, it's awesome as it will save you some points and also stress. For reference, should
you have some doubts nonetheless, the Kwiziq library is free (unlike majority of the functions of the site) and really
high quality. Vocabulary is still manageable at that level with just the main coursebooks (I'd say the Progressif book
covers vast majority of all you're likely to need at that level though), but for example the +French courses by Eunoia
on Memrise Decks are an awesome free resource. For pronunciation, free sites
like https://www.podcastfrancaisfacile.com/apprendre-le-francais-gratuitementapprendr-e/phonetique-en-
francais.html can be useful too.
level 2
cookiedog_69

1 point·3 months ago

Thank you so much for taking the time to help out! These tips will help a ton :)
level 1
hexomer

1 point·3 months ago


s'il n'y a pas d'obligation, pourquoi ne pas essayer d'abord A2?
level 2
cookiedog_69

1 point·3 months ago

J'ai déjà écrit et réussi mon DELF A2!

Posted by

u/wfbpw

5 years ago

Self- taught DELF B1- Can I do it?

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level 1
wfbpw

1 point·5 years ago


Cool, thanks! I'm basically in the same boat... how did you find your french was after you had passed B1? I'm hoping
to go out and work in France soon afterwards and hope it is up to scratch!
level 2
Estre

English/Spanish/Catalan | Norwegian/French/Swedish

1 point·5 years ago

It felt great to finally have some sort of "proof" of my level. I wasn't sure whether to take B1 or B2, but I'm sort of glad
I just decided to go for B1 and get a good grade rather than just scrape by on the B2, which I'm aiming to take in the
future but is kind of on hold right now. I think that in a way, the test is harder than some people seem to think, and in
others it's not so bad. I felt like I made a bit of a mess of my speaking (I don't remember, but that may have been my
weakest grade in the breakdown, though still well above the pass), I couldn't remember some conjugations and a
few words I needed. But I think the key there was that I just kept on speaking, tried to word things differently and
communicated with the examiner rather than let it stop me.
I've been to France with this level of French and it was enough to get by (we had to, no one else in my family could
speak it), but the higher your level by the time you get there, the better. It'd probably take me a while to feel
comfortable working in France, though I probably could. It really depends what line of work you're going into, as
well. I have French-speaking friends that I can talk to, and I've been to France at least a dozen times, but it's very
different learning in a classroom or learning in your own than it is to have to use it in a number of situations you
haven't "practiced", so to speak. It kind of takes being put into the country to realize just how much vocabulary and
fluency you lack, so no matter how confident you feel in your level at the moment, it's likely to take a bit of a hit once
you get there, but your level should really improve once you're immersed and really making an effort to learn more.

Posted by

u/ridiculousrssndoll

L2 BA2 years ago

Looking for a vocabulary list for DELF B1/B2

Discussion

I'm looking for a (large and/or comprehensive) list of vocabulary associated with the B1/B2 levels, similar to what
you find for the GRE/ACT/SAT in the US. I've found a lot of resources so far for studying online, with small lists of 10
or so words each, but ideally I'd like to find something much larger.

I teach ESL (English as a Second Language), and I've learned through teaching that I learn better when I start with
a large list of vocabulary that I can break down into three categories: red = don't know this word at all, yellow = sort
of know this word, but maybe not well or can't use it, green = totally know this word and can use it. I like to focus on
about 10 words a week, with 4 red, 4 yellow, and 2 green. Having a large list at the start helps me to categorize the
terms and determine what order to study them in.

Does any such list exist? I've been looking for quite a while, and I feel that I'm not getting anywhere.
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level 1
nepheles

11 points·2 years ago

Here is a comprehensive vocabulary list for B1 vocabulary. I can't find the B2 equivalent, but this website has
themed vocabulary lists for different levels.
level 2
ridiculousrssndoll

L2 BA2 points·2 years ago

The PDF you included is a list of English words. I'm specifically looking for a list of French words. Does any such list
exist?
Continue this thread

level 2
Anas-K-

2 points·2 years ago

thanks alot this site is extreamly helpful


level 1
ErrorNow

1 point·2 years ago

I am currently in High School in the Netherlands. We use this book to prepare for our French
exams: https://www.bol.com/nl/p/hce-frans-examenidioom-vwo/1001004005493760 (Dutch site) I am not sure about
the level, but I think it is B1 or B2. The book consists of French words and their Dutch translations, but I can imagine
only the French words would be enough for you. If you want to check if out, I have put some of the lists on a Dutch
site used for learning vocabulary: wrts.nl/meneerdavid. The lists with 'examenidioom' in the name are from the book.

Posted by

u/Slowthugger

L2 Canada, B25 years ago

DELF B1 vs B2

Y a-t-il une grande différence (en difficulté) entre les deux tests?
Il faut que je prenne une décision entre le B1 et le B2. Est-ce que le B2 vaut plus "dans la vraie vie"? (est-il utile?)
Serait-il possible de faire mon B2 et si je ne réussis pas, faire mon B1? Y a-t-il des règles qui arrêtent ces choses-
là?
Avant que je prenne ma décision, je vais consulter mes enseignants. Mais je voulais avoir la vérité (parce que je
crois qu'ils vont dire n'importe quoi pour que je reste avec le français! haha) avant que je le fasse.
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level 1
FrenchCrazy

2 points·5 years ago

Here's some information for the difference between the two:


DELF B1 Exam
DELF B2 Exam
To me, the B2 exam doesn't look significantly more difficult than B1, but I'm not exactly sure what your level of
French is so there could be a difference. I think the B2 exam is more sought out in France than the B1, at least,
when I see applications for foreigners they state they want a B2 proficiency or higher (some say B1+ would work, it
depends on the task at hand).
I believe that if you fail the B2 then you do not receive a B1 certificate or anything like that (I could be wrong). Don't
fret though, you can always retake the exams at a later date and they do not expire.
My advice, study and shoot for the stars! Don't be like me and have to pay twice because you want to get a higher
level (I plan on doing C2 next year when I reside in France again).
level 2
Slowthugger

L2 Canada, B21 point·5 years ago

Thank you!!!!

Posted by

u/bdotren

2 years ago

DELF B1 vs B2 and another DELF question

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bdotren

1 point·2 years ago

Thanks. B2 is what my overachiever side was leaning toward, but I knew nothing about the test before I decided to
apply for this job, so I'm still trying to get a feel for everything, and it's good to have input from other people.
Sounds like I'd better practice my handwriting, too--mine is awful.
level 2
[deleted]

1 point·2 years ago

Oh, if it's for a job then definitely B2 (I don't think I read that the first time). Bonne chance, you can do it! :)
Don't worry about the handwriting, mine's pretty bad too. The thing is, it has to be done in blue or black pen, so be
sure you don't get too used to writing in pencil. There are just two longish writing sections, mine were letters I
believe. The rest consists of some written answers and multiple choice. Practice listening to podcasts or radio at low
volume just in case the exam-room speakers aren't very loud.
I have little advice for the debate section other than: You get 2 choices of topic. Pick the one you know most about
(this means keeping abreast of contemporary issues). Against all common advice, write out most of what you want
to say and try to organize it, then memorize your talking points. Then act like you're in the right when they ask you
questions, i.e. sound confident.
Be confident however because: You only need a 5/25 on any one of the four sections (speaking, writing, reading,
listening) to pass, and a 50/100 score total.
For example: 15/25, 15/25, 10/25, 10/25 passes. 20, 20, 5, 5 passes. 25, 25, 25, 0 does not pass.
Damn, I forgot how much prep this took. You might want to buy a prep book, I like Réussir le DELF myself. Totally
worth it. Practice exercises and tests that reflect the real exam.
If you have any questions about it, PM me. I'd love to help you out :)
EDIT: More info, wording fixes

Posted by

u/gc02

L1 habite en inde5 years ago

someone please help me with DELF B1!!! s'il vous plait!

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level 1
KaufPuff
3 points·5 years ago

You might want to be a little more speciphic


level 2
gc02

L1 habite en inde2 points·5 years ago

the oral part :\


level 1
YesNoMaybe

1 point·5 years ago

go here
level 1
RegisteredAtLunch

L3 (Pérou)1 point·5 years ago

off-topic but your flair, as of right now, indicates French is your mother tongue
level 2
gc02

L1 habite en inde1 point·5 years ago

french isnt my mother tongue. it's hindi.. i just need speaking practice.. rest grammar is good to go ..

Posted by

u/CestUnHibou

3 years ago

3 years ago I started teaching myself French and I passed C1 today!

The reason I decided to post this


I've always loved to read about other people's success. But the one thing I'm most curious about is what exactly
they had done to achieve it. So I decided to write a summary about how I got here. Hope you'll find it useful
somehow!
Year one: DELF B1
I used youtube videos, duolingo, various "beginner" websites to familiarize myself with basic stuff such as
pronunciation, verb conjugation and some A1 vocabulary.
Then I started reading novels. At first I could only recognize the six pronouns and some conjunction words but I
carried on and looked up any word necessary for me to understand what's going on while giving up on the
occasional long prose. By the end of my second novel, I no longer had to skip anything. I managed to read 8 novels
before the test.
For listening, I used RFI, which provides a lot of audio with transcripts. Looked up any unknown word and listened
until I could fully understand it without the transcripts. 3 audios a week until the DELF test.
For speaking I would just talk to myself (so yeah the first time I ever had a real conversation in French was in the
exam room. Even though I passed, this was super dumb of myself. Please don't do this). And finally for the test
preparation I used the book "Réussir B1" (I think), I just went through all the exercises and mock tests.
Year two: DELF B2
Reading: I just continued reading. Lost count of how many books I've read.
Listening: I started using "real world" material (not made for learners) like podcasts on France Inter every day.
Speaking: one month before the test I found myself a tutor. I spoke with him for two hours every week. I also
continued to talk to myself and record it.
Writing: same as the year before, I just bought a B2 preparation book and practiced writing using the exercises.
Year three: DALF C1
I've done pretty much the exact same thing. At this point French was just a normal part of my life, didn't feel like
studying. Except this year I was finally comfortable enough to watch French youtubers (somehow this kind of
unscripted, familiar French was harder than the news for me). I sat the exam last December and just received the
results saying that I passed!
That's it! If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Tell me about your success stories too!
Edit: grammar
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level 1
MatzeBon

34 points·3 years ago

Congratulations!
I'm in the beginning stages of learning french myself, so this is quite an interesting insight for me. Could you maybe
elaborate a little what kind of french books you read in your early beginnings? Children's books, young adult
literature, or just plain literature of your interest, without any selection regarding difficulty. Did you start by selecting
familiar books, or did you read new content? I think I'll try to start doing that as well. Let's see how that goes
Anyways I'm happy for your success and hope you keep going :)
level 2
seanc0x0

13 points·3 years ago

I'm also learning French (re-started last fall after a 20 year break since high-school French) and I've found reading a
great tool for improving quickly, especially vocabulary.
So far I've only read a few books, but the first French novel I read was 'Harry Potter à l'école des sorciers'. I found it
great for getting used to reading a larger text in French, since I didn't have to struggle with the story.
Since then I've been seeking out books from French-speaking authors, since I like to get the cultural aspects that
are less apparent in a translated work.
Continue this thread

level 2
CestUnHibou

5 points·3 years ago

Thanks :) I'll definitely keep going. I just picked a fantasy series that interested me actually. To be honest, it was the
desire to know how the story ends rather than the desire to improve my French that got me through the agony of
having to look up nearly every word. If I'd simply picked a book more suited for my level but not really interested me,
it wouldn't have worked as well for me in my opinion.
Continue this thread

level 1
nathan_NG

13 points·3 years ago

Wow, really impressive. Did you study fulltime? Or how many hours did you study every day?
level 2
CestUnHibou

8 points·3 years ago

I was in high school for these three years... so it was more of a part time study. I didn't read every day, but if I did
read it was mostly hours at a time. For listening I spent about 10-20 minutes every day, it depends on my schedule.
Continue this thread

level 1
dempseye

18 points·3 years ago·edited 3 years ago

Congratulations! For some reason I decided to translate your post into French as practice for myself. I might as well
post it. Here you go:
La raison pour laquelle j'ai décidé d'écrire ce message.
J'ai toujours aimé lire des commentaires sur les succès des autres. Mais j'étais curieux de savoir exactement ce
qu'ils avaient fait pour en arriver là. Alors j'ai décidé d'écrire un résumé de mes expériences. J'espère qu'il vous sera
utile.
Première année : DELF B1
J'ai regardé des vidéos sur YouTube. J'ai utilisé Duolingo et divers sites pour débutants pour apprendre les bases,
par exemple la prononciation, la conjugaison et plusieurs mots de niveau B1.
Puis j'ai commencé à lire des romans. Au début, je ne pouvais reconnaître que les six pronoms personnels et
quelques conjonctions, mais j'ai continué et j'ai cherché les mots les plus importants dans un dictionnaire pour me
donner le sens du texte. Quand je suis arrivé à la fin de mon deuxième roman, il n'était plus nécessaire de sauter
les passages difficiles. Je suis arrivé à lire huit romans avant l'examen.
Pour la compréhension orale, j'ai utilisé RFI parce qu'ils ont beaucoup d'enregistrements avec transcriptions, j’ai
regardé dans le dictionnaire pour tous les mots que je ne connaissais pas et j'ai écouté jusqu’à ce que je pouvais
comprendre l'enregistrement dans sa totalité sans référence à la transcription.
Pour mon expression orale, j'ai parlé avec moi-même. La première fois que j'ai eu une conversation en français était
dans la salle où l'examen avait lieu. Même si j'ai réussi, ce n’était pas très malin et je le déconseille vivement. Je
crois que j'ai utilisé le livre "Réussir B1". J'ai simplement fait les exercices et les examens blancs.
Deuxième année : DALF B2
Lecture : J'ai continué à lire. Je ne sais même pas combien de livres j'ai lus.
Écoute : J'ai commencé à utiliser de vrais enregistrements destinés aux Français, par exemple les podcasts de
France Inter.
Orale : un mois avant l'examen j'ai trouvé un tuteur et j'ai parlé avec lui pendant deux heures chaque semaine. En
plus, j'ai continué de parler avec moi-même et d'enregistrer ma voix.
Composition : comme l'année dernière. J'ai juste acheté un livre de prépa B2 et j'ai pratiqué la composition avec les
exercices.
Troisième année : DALF C2
J'ai fait à peu près la même chose. À ce point, le français était un élément tout à fait normal de ma vie. Je n’avais
pas l'impression d'étudier. J'étais finalement capable d'écouter des Français sur YouTube. Pour je ne sais quelle
raison, le langage informel et spontané est plus difficile à comprendre que les infos. J'ai fait l'examen en décembre
dernier et je viens de recevoir les résultats confirmant que j'ai réussi.
C'est tout! Si vous avez des questions, n'hésitez pas à les poser, et n'oubliez pas de me raconter vos propres
succès.
level 2
Brawldud

en (N) fr (C1) de (B2) es (A2)

2 points·3 years ago

alors j'aimerais savoir, à quel niveau peux-tu parler en français ? Tu sembles te débrouiller assez bien, vu que tu
peux traduire un tel poste.
Continue this thread

level 1
VMattyV
7 points·3 years ago

Wow, thats awesome! Do you live in an area where French is spoken at all?
level 2
CestUnHibou

3 points·3 years ago

Thanks! But nope, I live in a small Asian country.


Continue this thread

level 1
[deleted]

3 points·3 years ago

Wow congrats /u/CestUnHibou !


That is such a huge accomplishment.
I've always put reading on the back burner but feel like after reading this I should devote much more time to reading.
Did you see a huge impact on speaking/listening skills from so much reading? I would assume that reading
increases passive vocab which could help with listening, while reading proper grammar and sentence structure
thousands of times would certainly help with any aspect of output.
Thoughts?
level 2
CestUnHibou

5 points·3 years ago

I'd say the most benefit I got from so much reading is that after about 4 or 5 novels, it was easy to switch into French
mode (in which I think mostly in French) so it definitely helped my other skills by that. Speaking is a lot easier when
I'm in French mode and doesn't have to actively summon French into my brain.
level 1
annerevenant

6 points·3 years ago

Congrats! This is really encouraging, especially for someone who gets somewhat discouraged while reading French.
It's strange, some days I can read pages and pages with no difficulty but others I have to stop every sentence. It's
nice to know that I am actually doing something.
level 2
CestUnHibou

5 points·3 years ago

You are definitely improving. Don't give up! I went through a very similar stage as well.
level 1
fishiny

3 points·3 years ago

As someone trying to get from B1 to B2 in French, this was really helpful! Could you post a list of your 'real world'
French listening materials?
level 2
CestUnHibou

3 points·3 years ago

It's gonna be a bit hard for me to remember everything I've listened to but right now for example, Géopolitique on
France Inter, Harry Potter audio books, normanfaitdesvidéos (also cyprien, sqeezie, EnjoyPhenix) on youtube.
level 2
Avavva

Dutch N | English, French

1 point·3 years ago

RTS.ch has loads of radio programs. Personaly, I like to listen to CQFD when I'm in the mood for some science and
toMonumental for my history/archeology/travel fix. I think the Swiss speak a bit slower than the French as well,
which makes it a bit easier to understand for people in the intermediate stages.
level 1
[deleted]

3 points·3 years ago

Félicitations! This has really motivated me to get on with my French studies. :)


level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

Merci :)
level 1
ccc45p

3 points·3 years ago

Which novels did you read, in order?


How much time did you spend? (per day, per year, in total, any numbers would be useful)
Have you studied anything besides English & French?
level 2
CestUnHibou

6 points·3 years ago·edited 3 years ago


Here's what I can remember (I really should've kept a history of what I read): my first 1-12 books was a YA fantasy
series called Tara Duncan. I also read Harry Potter, the Maze Runner series, the Mortal Instruments series in
French. Most recent one was L'Écume Des Jours.
Edit: For the last two questions
From my other comment: "I'm not a disciplined person at all so unfortunately it ranges from no study at all to
spending the whole day in French. For the average day probably 15 minutes for listening and one hour for reading."
I also started to learn Russian, German and Italian at the same time. Sometimes I took breaks to study something
entirely different like Greek, Finnish and Hungarian.
level 1
CheesyHotDogPuff

3 points·3 years ago

How many hours did you spend per day practicing?


level 2
CestUnHibou

3 points·3 years ago

I'm not a disciplined person at all so unfortunately it ranges from no study at all to spending the whole day in French.
For the average day probably 15 minutes for listening and one hour for reading.
level 1
JIhad_Joseph

ENG N | FRA AB negative

3 points·3 years ago

Wow, this'll certainly put a fire under me to continue my french.


Are there any more audio sources you'd like to give us? And have you ever taken a look at lingvist?
level 2
CestUnHibou

3 points·3 years ago

EasyLanguage (they have French videos with subtitles, A2-ish) on youtube and France Bienvenue (familiar French
with transcripts, B2+) are two of my favorites.
Yeah I saw Lingvist last year. It looks cool! Unfortunately I saw it too late in the learning process. I think it's designed
for beginners?
Continue this thread

level 1
Thorn_in_my_side

2 points·3 years ago

Félicitations !
level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

Merci beaucoup !
level 1
vimali

English N | French B1 | Tamil A2

2 points·3 years ago

Congratulations! I'm trying to learn French myself, and I can't seem to find any good listening resources. You
mentioned that you used RFI in your B1 preparation. Where can I find their podcasts w/ transcripts? I think that
would be really helpful for me.
level 2
Damnachten

EN(N) ES (B?) FR (A2)

3 points·3 years ago

I've been using RFI's "Journal en français facile" which have podcasts and transcriptions.
Continue this thread

level 1
Guissok564

2 points·3 years ago

May I ask what books you read? I hear that many people say to read Harry Potter in French but is there anything
you would suggest?
level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

I would suggest you read whatever you love to read in your native language, because it's hard to keep going if
you're not invested in the story plot, at least for me.
Here's some of what I've read, from one of my comments on this thread:
Here's what I can remember (I really should've kept a history of what I read): my first 1-12 books was a YA fantasy
series called Tara Duncan. I also read Harry Potter, the Maze Runner series, the Mortal Instruments series in
French. Most recent one was L'Écume Des Jours.
level 1
amhum

English N, Français (DELF B1), Italiano (A1)


2 points·3 years ago

Félicitations ! This is a great achievement. After passing by DELF B1 in December 2014 I have done very little with
the language, instead focusing on work and dabbling in German (and most recently Italian).
This has given me the kick I needed to get back into studying French and push on to become more fluent and reach
the more advanced levels of the language. Of course, with a year of very little use my French needs some work to
restore it to B1 before continuing. :)
I'd like to ask - when you were watching videos in the language, were you using subtitles? Did you start with
subtitles on a video and then turn them off once you were able to catch everything? What was your approach?
level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

Do you mean youtube videos? As far as I can see, not many videos have subtitles, so no I didn't get to see subtitles.
But if the videos had them, I think I would've turned them on in the beginning. Good luck with your French studies :)
level 1
geoffball

English N | français B1

1 point·3 years ago

Great story. Congratulations!


level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

Thanks :)
level 1
quietandproud

CAT (N), ES (N), EN (C2), IT (B1), GER (B1)

1 point·3 years ago

When you say you read books do you mean books aimed to native French speakers or to French learners?
level 2
pedler

En(N) 한 (A2) Es(B1) ‫( العربية‬Heritage)

2 points·3 years ago

Seems like he means for native speakers, but I'd be curious to know too.
level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

Aimed for native speakers!


level 1
JS1755

1 point·3 years ago

Excellent!
level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

Thanks!
level 1
IAmTheKingOfSpain

En N | Fr B1 | De B2 | Zh B1

1 point·3 years ago

Impressive, and inspiring! I hope to buckle down and apply the same ambitiousness to my Chinese learning.
level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

Thanks and good luck with your Chinese too!


level 1
Brawldud

en (N) fr (C1) de (B2) es (A2)

1 point·3 years ago

Petite question: Pour combien de temps dirais-tu que tu as pratiqué chaque jour, spécifiquement dans la première
année ?
level 2
CestUnHibou

2 points·3 years ago

From my other comment:


I'm not a disciplined person at all so unfortunately it ranges from no study at all to spending the whole day in French.
For the average day probably 15 minutes for listening and one hour for reading.
J'espère que ça t'aidera !
level 1
Work-After

Sv, En, ትትትት, 汉语, Es

1 point·3 years ago

Interesting to see that going from A0 to B1 took as much time as B1 to B2, and B2 to C1.
level 2
CestUnHibou

2 points·3 years ago

Haha yeah, I have the French novels to thank for the huge boost from A0 to B1 I guess.
level 1
[deleted]

1 point·3 years ago

I love this. Fantastic achievement!


level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

Thanks!
level 1
[deleted]

1 point·3 years ago

Comment as-tu choisi tes romans au début? J'avais étudié la russe à l'université mais ça fait presque un an que je
ne l'avais pas touché. Je veux commencer encore mais je n'ai aucune idée comment choisir des romans à lire.
level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

Je suis simplement allée à une librairie française et ensuite j'ai choisi un livre qui m'intéressait. Pour le russe, j'ai
aimé Ночной дозор !
level 1
DistantPattern

1 point·3 years ago

how does one go about getting tested? I want to know what level my portuguese is at.
level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

For French you just go to your local Alliance Française. Sorry I don't know anything about Portuguese exams :p
level 1
elevul

L1:IT | C2:EN | B2:FR,RO | B1:NL | A1:JA,RU

1 point·3 years ago·edited 3 years ago

Congratulations!
I got to B2 in about a year (although, obviously, with the advantage of living in a french-speaking country), but I'm
starting to realize the jump from B2 to C1 is going to take way more time than I expected.
level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

Thanks! Wow B2 in a year, that's really fast!


I think for C1, it's not even about the language itself anymore, but how quick and how well you can function in a
professional environment in that language.
level 1
[deleted]

1 point·3 years ago

Do you recommend making flashcards in Anki for all unknown words? I'm learning Spanish and it feels really
tedious to go and do that after every text I read.
level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

I tried Anki once and didn't like it. To be honest I'm not a fan of flashcards in general. I know lots of people have
great success with them, but I do without them just fine.
So I guess it really depends on whether you work personally well with flashcards or not.
level 1
TaazaPlaza

EN/ትት N | ት/ትት/ት ? | 中文 HSK~4 |DE/PT ~A2

1 point·3 years ago

Wow! Congratulations! :D
As someone who's made up his mind to learn French to a high B1 by Dec, your story was really inspiring. :)
Hopefully, I'll be able to get my Chinese to a B1 as well, from the A2 level it currently is at.
Also, I must say, your English is impeccable for a Taiwanese high school student! How did you learn English?
level 1
Ennas_

NL N || EN ~C | SV/FR/DE ~B | ES ~A

1 point·3 years ago

Congrats!
level 2
CestUnHibou

1 point·3 years ago

Thanks!
level 1
rednblue525252

-4 points·3 years ago

Tabarnak! Quand j'me suis levé à matin y'avait du sang partout dans mon lit! J'ai checké dans mes bobettes pi j'ai
vu que j'avais pu de prépuce!

Posted by

u/Usernameistaken96

B22 years ago

Moving from B1 to B2

Discussion

J'ai récemment pris le DELF B1 et je projette de prendre le DELF B2 en novembre. Quels avis pouvez vous me
donner afin que je puisse franchir la frontière entre le B1 et B2. Les livres ou romains à lire, les émissions à
regarder, etc.?
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level 1
T4NKie

C110 points·2 years ago·edited 2 years ago

Romans: Bonjour Tristesse//Les particules élémentaires//Persepolis


Podcasts: French Voices//Transfert//Les pieds sur terre
Livres: Réussir le Delf B2// Alter Ego 4: Methode de Francais B2
Sites: TV5Monde Apprendre B2
level 2
Usernameistaken96

B22 points·2 years ago

Merci beaucoup !
level 2
koemaeda

1 point·2 years ago

Je suis aussi dans ce chemin, je vais les chercher !


level 1
DerekT03

1 point·1 year ago

Il y a des suggestions ici


: https://regardsurlefrancais.com/category/culture/litterature/https://regardsurlefrancais.com/category/culture/films/htt
ps://regardsurlefrancais.com/category/culture/television/
Mes préférés sont La vache et L'auberge espagnole (films), La part de l'autre et Oscar et la dame rose (romans) et
Webthérapie et Les rescapés (émissions).

14

Posted by

u/primeverdeen

6 years ago
American trying to get French Citizenship through marriage. Need DELF B1.

I am starting the process of getting my French citizenship through marriage. We have been married 15 years so no
problems there, and my spouse and kids are already all French citizens.
The problem for me has always been the language requirement. They now require a DELF B1 level exam diploma,
so I am starting my classes next week. Hopefully, with intense learning, I will be there by summer.
Has anyone gone through this process? We have found that the French Consulates are not very helpful, and finding
good information on the subject is tough.
Anyone that has gone through the citizenship process, or has experience with the DELF exam - comments would be
greatly appreciated!!
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level 1
smalstuff

7 points·6 years ago

I haven't done a DELF B1, but have done other French language tests. I used google.fr pour faire une recherche et
j'ai trouvé ces sites avec des examples: http://insuf-fle.hautetfort.com/archive/2012/03/22/se-preparer-au-delf-b1-en-
ligne.html http://www.ciep.fr/delfdalf/documents/DELF_B1.pdf I would suggest doing some of the practice tests,
getting someone in your family to correct them, and then finding out what your weakest points are. If you are having
trouble with oral comprehension, I would suggest taking public transit and eavesdropping on other people's
conversations, or listen to radio/videos and podcasts. That's one area your family won't be able to help you with
since you are used to their way of speaking.
It might also be a good idea to find someone who will trade some English tutoring for some French tutoring as your
family will also know what mistakes you make and consider them more normal.
When it comes to oral conversations tests, mention the things about yourself that you know how to talk about and try
to avoid mentioning the ones that you don't know as much vocabulary for. The evaluator is trying to find a subject
area you're interesting in, and will base the direction of the conversation off of what you say.
I hope this is a bit helpful, good luck!
level 2
aka317

L1, Lettres Modernes10 points·6 years ago


Completely unrelated (sorry OP) but did you notice that you wrote french uin the middle pf your answer or was it on
purpose?
Continue this thread

level 2
Pinneh

L1, PhD French Studies1 point·6 years ago

I used google.fr pour faire une recherche et j'ai trouvé ces sites avec des examples:
Holy code switching batman.
level 1
MrManjeet

L2 B2 Level3 points·6 years ago

I just received my DELF B1 certificate last week after studying for it in French class at my school. I had 100% in the
oral comprehension section because I find a great way to study is to watch French videos or listen to French
tv/radio. Finding people to converse with is even better.
Another thing, this site is golden: http://cavilamenligne.com/ Lots of activities to help you study a variety of levels of
French. I'm using it to help study French so that I might get my B2 next year. Best of luck with your B1!
level 1
francofjlc

L2 BA in French2 points·6 years ago

I actually was an intern at an Alliance française in France so I dealt with these tests fairly frequently. I would
definitely contact an Alliance française because they will help you out a lot.
Also note that you have the option between the DELF B1 and getting a B1 level on this test, which I've heard is
much easier to do than passing the DELF B1.
level 2
primeverdeen

1 point·6 years ago

Thank you so much for this. Are you sure that the TCF test is acceptable? It is really hard to get firm evidence of
this, although in the FAQ of what you post it sure seems like it is the case. But on my local consulate site (Miami),
they only mention DELF B1 by name.
I will attempt to contact them tomorrow. Can you expand on why you think the TCF is easier than the DELF? I really
appreciate it.
Continue this thread

level 1
joustswindmills

1 point·6 years ago


I suppose it depends where you live, but the Alliance Francaises are usually pretty good about the tests.
level 1
primeverdeen

1 point·6 years ago

Thanks for all the comments! It is so helpful because getting info from the consulate is like pulling teeth.
level 1
Biuku

1 point·6 years ago

Are you U.S. based right now?


I always find immersion helpful. A simple way to immerse yourself is to visit Quebec -- basically just north of NYC. In
Montreal and Quebec city, people will respond to your French in English. But if you could find a homestay in a small,
rural village, almost no one will speak a word of English. If you have some French, you will progress incredibly
quickly. Even 5 days will make a major difference if you spend them fully immersed, trying to construct sentences
from your limited vocab.

Posted by

u/synchronicityii

3 years ago

My push to become conversational and pass DELF B1: am I doing this right?

I've studied French on and off throughout my life: a year in high school, a couple of community college courses,
some sessions with a native tutor, and on-and-off self-study over the years. I'm determined to focus in and finally get
to the point where I'm comfortable conversing on most topics. (I've been close, and had some enjoyable
conversations with French people in the past, but they were quite simple in nature, and not easy for me.) I want to
be able to demonstrate my proficiency by passing at least DELF B1 by next summer.
My plan looks like this:
1. Finish the entire Duolingo tree (I'm at 37%), all the Mango coursework (I'm at U1, C8, L57), and 3,000 words
in Lingvist (I'm at 1,290).
2. Sometime next year, attend two weeks of immersion school with Alliance Française in Paris.
3. Return home and take the DELF exam.
At current rates, I'll probably finish 1) above sometime around the end of this year or not long thereafter. I'd like to
attend immersion school by the spring. I feel like I need to start thinking about a plan to transition from Duolingo-
Mango-Lingvist to immersion. For logistical reasons, local classes probably won't be possible.
For those of you who have finished the drill-type programs like Duolingo and gone on to become truly
conversational, what did the transition look like? In other words, what came between my 1) and 2)? What did you do
after you finished Duolingo or Mango (or whatever you used)? I'm especially interested in anything I can do on my
own, since I can fit that into my schedule more easily.
Merci bien!
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level 1
Kramalimedov

L1 France4 points·3 years ago

This sound like a solid plan.


And a realistic one, which is quite original for a self-teaching plan.
For having conversation with people, grammar is less important than vocabulary. If you understand all word in what
the guy said, you could most probably reconstruct the meaning even if there is some grammar point you don't know.
Same for people listening to you, if you use the right words, they will be able to get your point (look at posts on
reddit in English from non-native English speaker). For any professional or official use of the language thus
grammar is really important and mistakes will really lower your chance to pass the selections process and to get
contracts/jobs
One big difficulty to become conversational without living in immersion is to work on oral comprehension: being able
to follow a conversation between native at their normal speed is not that easy, even when you technically know all
words and all grammar points being used.
I recommand to train your oral comprehension before going to France. For that oral document from native speaker
(TV, radio and movie) will be your major tool. Videos are easier because you can get from the images stuff you
missed in the text. Start with subtitles in French and the try to remove them.
Last point, is to speak French. One of the biggest problem of self teaching is to have no-one with whom speak
French. In the beginning it's not really a problem. But the first time you have a real conversation with someone in
French, you will not be able to use 90% of what you learned in exercices. It's normal, but if you don't want that to
happend when you arrive in France, you have to pass this threshold before, by speaking with people in French
before. Skype or any other exchange tool can be usefull here
Summary :
 Continue your programs
 extend your vocabulary
 work on your comprehension
 find a way to have live conversation in French with real people
4

Posted by

u/ttzerui1

1 year ago

French B SL

Hey guys, does anyone know how does the French B SL course level compared to that of DELF B1? If one passes
DELF B1, what score can he get in SL? Or perhaps a comparison between HL and B2? (In terms of oral reading
and writing)
Thanks in advance.
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level 1
sahasb

Alumnus M17 | [40] 766 AA

2 points·1 year ago

I passed the DELF B1 and got a high 6 in French SL. I would say if you can pass the DELF B1, you're a strong 6+.
level 2
ttzerui1

1 point·1 year ago

May I ask for your passing grade in B1, if you wouldn't mind sharing? :) Thanks
Continue this thread

level 1
anesu-x

Year 1 | [message]
1 point·1 year ago

I've heard (from my school) of students going from A1- B1 in Ab Initio courses, so I'd assume that for French B SL
you'd get to a DELF B2 level. Do you have a GCSE in French?
level 1
arctrooperkatie

Alumni | [39]

1 point·1 year ago

I did B1 in my first year of French as did a couple other girls taking SL French. We all got around 70-80 marks, and
the SL girls are all at a 6-7 while I was at like a 5 in HL.
We're doing B2 this year, both myself and the SL girls. It's this weekend so I'll add something about whether we
pass it later lol.

Posted by

u/PerfectPhilosopher

3 months ago

DELF Exam

Hi! Is there any place I can practice for my DELF B1 exam? I really want to do well, but I dont really know the
specifics, so I'd really appreciate if anyone could help me obtain some study resources. Thanks!
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level 1
SDJellyBean

2 points·3 months ago

https://apprendre.tv5monde.com/en/exercices/b1-threshold
level 2
PerfectPhilosopher

1 point·3 months ago

Thank you!
level 1
mickypeverell

La société du mars plat1 point·3 months ago

when is it?
level 2
PerfectPhilosopher

1 point·3 months ago

I'll probably be taking it this June


Continue this thread

46

Posted by

u/Tilatayla

7 months ago

J'ai réussi le DEFL B1!

This last week I traveled 8 hours from my hometown to take the DELF B1 and I passed. I'm so thankful for this
community and I've put in so much hard work to come this far.
I started learning French 8 months ago and I'm already at an intermediate level. I've never taken any formal courses
and I've spent these months teaching myself. To me, this is one of my greatest accomplishments. And it really
shows that when you put effort into something you can achieve your goals.
I needed to pass this exam to be eligible for a program to teach abroad in France next year and now I'm well on my
way to achieve this goal.
Good luck everyone with your learning and don't give up, there are many times that I wanted to, but I pushed
forward. Thank you again for the countless conversations and discussions that have helped me become stronger
and stronger with my French!
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level 1
carmieeee

4 points·7 months ago

Congrats!
level 2
Tilatayla

2 points·7 months ago

Merci!
Continue this thread

level 1
Johan1710

3 points·7 months ago

Awesome! Keep being motivated!


level 2
Tilatayla

2 points·7 months ago

Ouais! Bien sûr!


level 1
SilverRidgeRoad

3 points·7 months ago

Great work. I'm in a similar place but I'm only 4 months in. What was your method? do you have people to talk to or
did you use italki or something like that?
level 2
Tilatayla

5 points·7 months ago

Yeah! Let me run you through my process as it developed over this 8 month period.
First, since I met people in Finland and lived with two Belgian flatmates for about a three month period, they taught
me the basics, hello, goodbye, goodnight, insignificant but it drew my interest.
After my studies in May I traveled to France and stayed with a friend in Paris for about a month. In Paris, I created a
list of about 200 verbs and conjugated them all in the present tense. Probably not the best way to go about this but I
practiced them for an hour every morning with flash cards before I went out into the city. All this while I learned
rudimentary grammar rules and got to the point of being able to navigate the city and ask questions.
Most of my skills was in speaking the language and my reading and writing have been the most neglected part of
my studies.
Once I returned to the states, I spent about a month settling back in and I din't have time to actively study. After that
month, I searched for communities online. I found these subreddits and jumped on discord to have vocal
discussions to learn more. I paired this with listening through the podcasts "Coffee Break French," and "Inner
French." I would also watch a lot of Peppa Pig to develop my vocabulary. I found Netflix wasn't that great though as
their subtitles didn't match to well with the dialogue. I also spent time each day to go though at least one lesson on
duolingo and memrise.
Later I purchased Harry Potter in French and began to read and highlight things I didn't understand. I would call my
french friends when they were available and speak only in french, this may or may not be available to you but you
should be trying to apply what you learn each week.
Oh and I also got plugged into HelloTalk to have some sweet text conversations with native speakers. I found this
very useful as it gives the user to correct errors and it matches you with another person looking to learn your native
language. A bit of an exchange.
Anyway, I hope this was helpful. If you have any specific questions please do ask or DM me and I can help as much
as I can.
Continue this thread

level 1
CanardLaque

3 points·7 months ago

FÉLICITATIONS !
level 1
HerculesMulligan17

3 points·7 months ago

Félicitations! D'apres vous, quel est the part plus difficile? Devez-vous parler avec une persone real? Je dois passe
l'examen au meme niveau donc merci!
level 2
Tilatayla

2 points·7 months ago

Merci!
Voici ce que j’ai trouvé le plus difficile dans l’ordre décroissant: Speaking, Writing, Listening, Reading
Et oui, j'ai parlé avec 2 personnes reals. J'ai parlé avec 2 personnes face à face, mais c'était plus comme un
monologue plutôt qu'un dialogue. Alors, tu as besoin d'un grand vocabulaire.
Si, j'était toi, je pratiquerais des examens précédents. Voici des liens:
http://www.delfdalf.fr/delf-b1-sample-papers.html
Je les ai utilisées et regardé des vidéos youtube plusieurs fois.
Continue this thread

level 1
Comment deleted by user7 months ago(More than 2 children)

level 1
eowynochi

2 points·7 months ago

felicitations!
level 1
SomethingOrSuch

2 points·7 months ago

I have a rather random question. Are you able to write somewhat of an academic text?
level 2
Tilatayla

1 point·7 months ago

I'd say I can write at a middle school level in French. I can make cohesive connections and such but I definitely write
like a kid. Given time constraints of the exam I tried to write as much as possible rather than trying to use the moat
suitable words. I would say the writing portion focuses more on grammatical structures and tenses.
I could write an academic paper given a few days certainly. And even then I would need some heavy proofreading
and editing.

PRÉPARATION AU TEST DE CONNAISSANCE DU FRANÇAIS POUR L'ACCÈS À


LA NATIONALITÉ FRANÇAISE (TCF ANF)

Le TCF pour l'accès à la nationalité française (ANF) justifie d'un niveau de français B1 dans le cadre d'une demande
d'acquisition de la nationalité française.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.preparation.tcf.so
Les titulaires des diplômes DELF B1, B2 ou du DALF C1, C2 sont dispensés du test, ainsi que les personnes ayant plus de 60
ans.
LIEU DE FORMATION :
Collège Padule- rue Paul Colonna d’Istria- 20090 Ajaccio
OBJECTIFS :
La formation vous permettra de vous préparer aux spécificités et modalités des épreuves du TCF (ANF).
CONTENUS :
La préparation comprend des entrainements correspondant aux deux épreuves obligatoires :
- compréhension orale (29 questions). Durée de cette épreuve : 30 minutes. Modalité de passation : salle d'examen
collective.
- expression orale (3 tâches). Durée de cette épreuve : 12 minutes. Modalité de passation : entretien individuel avec
un examinateur.
MÉTHODES PÉDAGOGIQUES :
Enseignement individualisé, Face à face, Formation de groupe, Parcours modulaire de formation
PUBLIC :
Individuels sans pré requis
DURÉE :
15 heures
DATES :
Les préparations sont programmées en fonction des inscriptions.
Entrée groupée dès 12 inscriptions
COÛT :
110 euros, Frais d'inscription à l'examen à la charge du candidat
FINANCEMENT :
Auto financement
PREPARATION AUX EXAMENS DELF ET TCF CARTE DE RÉSIDENT
Les DELF, proposés par le Ministère de l’éducation nationale, de l’enseignement supérieur et de la recherche, sanctionnent la
maîtrise des quatre compétences langagières. Ils sont valables sans limitation de durée et internationalement reconnus par les
ministères étrangers en charge de l’éducation.
Le TCF pour la carte de résident en France répondra aux nouvelles dispositions introduites par le ministère français de
l’intérieur (Décret no 2016-1456 du 28 octobre 2016 et Arrêté du 21 février 2018) fixant au niveau A2 (épreuves de
compréhension et d’expression orales et écrites) le niveau requis en français pour les postulants à l’obtention de la carte de
résident de longue durée.DELF : diplôme d'études en langue française
TCF Carte de résident
LIEU DE FORMATION :
Collège Padule- rue Paul Colonna d’Istria- 20090 Ajaccio
OBJECTIFS :
Préparation aux épreuves des examens TCF Carte de résident et DELF A1-A2-B1-B2, pour toute personne ayant
besoin d’une reconnaissance officielle de son niveau en langue française.
CONTENUS :
Les examens comportent 4 épreuves :
- compréhension orale
- compréhension écrite
- production orale
- production écrite
MÉTHODES PÉDAGOGIQUES :
Cours du jour, Enseignement individualisé, Face à face, Formation de groupe
PUBLIC :
Demandeurs d'emploi, Individuels, CPF, Salariés,....
DURÉE :
30 heures
DATES :
Le Greta propose de vous préparer à ces épreuves tout au long de l’année avec la possibilité de passer l'examen
dans notre centre agréé.
Les préparations sont programmées en fonction des inscriptions.
Entrée groupée dès 12 inscriptions
COÛT :
9 euros de l'heure, Frais d'inscription à l'examen à la charge du candidat
FINANCEMENT :
Auto financement, DIF - Plan de Formation, OPACIF / FONGECIF, Pôle Emploi,

Posted by

u/Jen_lib232

1 year ago

Intermédiaire français

Discussion

Hello everyone. I am planning to take up my delf b1 in September. Is there any way to improve my spoken part. I
speak French a little bit but I am not fluent in it. I think for the spoken part of b1 you must be fluent orelse it would be
difficult. I am really afraid. Is there any books for practising or app or any online website to improve my spoken
part?Plzz do help me.
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level 1
Hekanya

1 point·1 year ago·edited 1 year ago

B1 is "ok level", not "good", so don't worry about it. Though you could still learn the IPA.
level 2
Jen_lib232

1 point·1 year ago

Okay.
level 1
[deleted]

1 point·1 year ago

B1 is not a high level. It is about getting the message across in a reasonable and understandable manner.
Yes, get a few DELF B1 preparation books and do all the tasks. Focus especially on writing and speaking. It is a
good exercise to do the assignments with a stopwatch and learn how to manage your time.
Keep studying and practicing and it will be ok.
level 2
Jen_lib232

1 point·1 year ago

Thank you. Do you know any books focusing only on writing and speaking?
level 1
patlike

B21 point·1 year ago

The B1 speaking exam really isn't that hard. I did it in Paris last year. I had to present some ideas around a topic
(family holidays, I think), role-play being a customer in a hotel (there was a problem with my reservation) and
something else. You absolutely do not need to be fluent to pass. It's about fundamental communication.
level 2
Jen_lib232

2 points·1 year ago

Thank you!

Posted by

u/Gimbapji

7 months ago

DELF A2 verb conjugation and studying method.

Advice
Hello, my friend is currently studying DELF A2. I am French and wish to help her start studying delf a2 with the delf
a2 book. The problem is I realized there is no verb conjugation for exemple in the reading section, there is the verb
"habiter" but nowhere in the book they teach how to conjugate those. Is it just the way for A2 ? Does it focus on
understanding and basic making of sentences without learning to conjugate those verbs that they shows
unconjugated ? The conjugation part is maybe later in B1 ect ?? Ive no idea if she should look up conjugations
herself or just learn what the books tells her to.
We are having a hard time figuring out how to start studying this book. Even me as a french person i am a bit
confused. Whats the right method to start studying it ? in each "reading section" page for exemple there is a few
voca on top of the right page where the exercise is translated, but the exercise on the left page for exemple where
you have to link the activities the friends wants to do with the region journal activities announcements (first " reading
" exercise of the book) well..it doesnt only use the vocabulary advised to learn on the top of the right page. Is it on
purpose to make students do those exercise by guessing only with the few voca that they learned without
understanding exactly everything ?
Anyway i would love some help on what is the right method to study this book and this exam. Sorry for my english it
sucks, i hope i was enough clear about what im confused about ! Help would be much appreciated !
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theysaidsanspeine

13 points·7 months ago·edited 7 months ago

I'm not sure about the book you're using, because there are tons of DELF prep books from different companies.
However, it seems normal to me that the DELF A2 prep book does not cover conjugations for regular -er verbs.
Regular present tense conjugations should have already been covered very early on in the learning process. Also, a
DELF preparation book is not a grammar book or a teaching course, it is simply a guide to prepare your friend for the type
of questions she'll be asked in the actual exam. It assumes your friend has already learned French to the A2 level
with other materials or with a teacher. If your friend does not know how to conjugate habiter in the present tense, I'd
take it as a strong sign that the DELF A2 is above her level.
Does your friend have other learning materials to refer to? Otherwise, I'd recommend searching online for "French -
er verb conjugation". She also needs to buy a beginner French grammar book and work through that, if she's not
already doing so. If she doesn't want to spend money, she should check out a French grammar instruction website,
like https://www.lawlessfrench.com, which has lots of free articles and descriptions on how to conjugate common
verbs.
I am taking the DELF B1 soon and they expect me to know how to conjugate almost any verb in almost any normal
tense (present, past, future, conditional, subjunctive). So for A2 they should at least expect conjugation knowledge
of present tense, and possibly basic knowledge of passé composé, imparfait and futur simple.
I hope that explains why you're not seeing conjugation instruction. Good luck!
P.S. Your English doesn't suck, it's actually pretty great.
level 2
Gimbapji

1 point·7 months ago

This is really really helpful thanks a lot ! May I DM you a few questions when i am free (getting late in france) if you
dont mind ?
Continue this thread

level 1
MisterGoo

Native (Trusted helper)7 points·7 months ago

First of all, congrats on being the kind of humble person who doesn't think he can teach French just because he's a
native, and truly acknowledges his own shortfalls. That kind of people make the best teachers in the end.
Conjugations should have been done in the A1 level.

What is VERY important when preparing for a DELF exam is the "énoncé". Each word is important and if you train
your friend, you must test her EVERY TIME on that to check if she has really understood what she's asked to do.
Just so you know, "a répondu à la question posée", meaning you provided an answer RELEVANT to what was
asked already gives you points. Even if you write bullshit and garbage and gibberish, if it's relevant to what was
asked, you get points. So understanding EXACTLY what is asked is one of the key points of the DELF exam.
level 1
kkearny

C2, Paris2 points·7 months ago

Français facile est ton meilleur ami !! https://www.francaisfacile.com/exercices/exercice-francais-2/exercice-francais-


28956.php
Dispo pour des questions si besoin, je suis chez mes parents pour Noël aux US ;)
level 1
[deleted]

2 points·7 months ago

I don't know which book you're using because it seems to me most books are like this. I am studying french
currently and I realized that most books cannot work the way I want. They have few words every unit and they teach
limited grammar every unit. Maybe it is not for self-learning like I currently do. I am thinking get multiple books at the
same time..
level 1
[deleted]

2 points·7 months ago

Grammaire Progressive, niveau débutant That's the best grammar guide on the market for that level.
Of course your friend needs to conjugate while speaking and writing. That's what should have been covered in their
main coursebook, the DELF guide is more on the exam format and application of the knowledge.

Posted by

u/glaucousgau

1 year ago

B2/C1 essay examples

English is not my native language, and in the past, while preparing for Cambridge exams and IELTS, I was always
able to find different examples of writing (letters, essays, reviews, reports, proposals, etc.), both online and in
textbooks (as suggested answers). There were even books dedicated solely to that, for example, 'Successful
Writing' series. It helped me immensely, because this is how I like to learn things; in the beginning, it is way easier to
read and memorise some phrases and use them as 'shortcuts' than create sentences on your own (while you are
not that used to another language yet). There were plenty resources for that.
Now that I learn French, I can't seem to find enough materials like that for DELF B2/DALF C1, especially for essay
writing. I could find information about essay structure and also lists of connectors, though
(example: https://www.agirenfrancais.com/fle/ecrire-un-essai/). Just to make sure that you understand what I mean,
here is what I am looking for: https://delfdalfsevilla.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/exemple-de-production-c3a9crite-
delf-b1.pdf p. 4 and 5 — but this is B1, so what I am looking for is essays with a more sophisticated language.
I would be happy if you posted here links containing examples of DELF B2/ DALF C1 essays (or maybe real life
French essays/articles, phrases and structures from which can be adopted and used in writing. And if you know
French coursebooks with essays, please write down their titles.
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level 1
Pechkampiglet
1 point·12 months ago

self assessment grid


Could be useful to keep in mind :)
level 2
glaucousgau

1 point·11 months ago

Haha, well, thank you, although it is not quite what I am looking for.

Posted by

u/henrique0x0

Salvador, BA

1 year ago

Como conseguir B1 em francês em 3 meses?

Me ajuda, /r/brasil

Gente, há uma possibilidade de obter um intercâmbio bacana na frança através da minha universidade esse ano, e
eu tenho todos os pré-requisitos pra concorrer no edital exceto o idioma.
Preciso de conhecimentos suficientes para conseguir o diploma do DELF B1 ou TCF Capes (que parece ser o
mesmo nível de dificuldade) que ocorrerão em março.
Pessoal que sabe francês e principalmente aqueles que aprenderam francês sozinhos, como eu faço pra chegar de
quase nada a B1 em menos de 3 meses? Quais materiais utilizar? Quais sites? Existe alguma pro-tip?
Estou disposto a estudar 3h nos dias da semana, e um pouco mais durante os finais de semana e feriados.
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level 1
francisco_el_hombre

2 points·1 year ago

Uma coisa importante é imergir-se na língua em que você está aprendendo. Tente usar o francês sempre que
possível. Ao pensar, ao comer, ao assistir vídeos no YouTube, ao ouvir música. Pense que sua capacidade com a
língua é como um músculo. Quanto mais você usá-lo / mais colocar sobre pressão, mais ele se desenvolve e
quanto menos você usar, pior ele fica/chega a atrofiar
level 1
Cotopiro

1 point·1 year ago

Intensivissimo na Aliança Francesa. Eles não são baratos mas são bons, e geralmente são abertos a adaptar o
treinamento a suas necessidades e prazos.
Descarte estudar sozinho.
level 2
henrique0x0

Salvador, BA

1 point·1 year ago

Poxa cara, eu até conseguiria pagar o intensivo do primeiro nível, mas aí eu teria que negligenciar outros
investimentos bastante importantes... :c
Realmente vou tentar a sorte estudando sozinho.
Continue this thread

level 1
anselmocaramelo

1 point·1 year ago

Aprender um idioma sozinho? Tem gente que consegue, mas leva muito mais tempo e no fim fica um idioma com
erros grotescos. Aprender inglês o cara até consegue, estamos cercados de inglês (músicas, filmes, tv a cabo,
youtube), mas francês não encontramos tão facilmente. Minha sugestão, comece a estudar agora em algum curso
regular baratinho e tente os editais dos próximos anos.
level 1
arup02

São Paulo, SP

1 point·1 year ago

Duolingo e anki, talvez cosmopolite French tbm... Mas em três meses acho complicado.
level 2
henrique0x0

Salvador, BA

1 point·1 year ago

Tô usando por enquanto Memrise e Duolingo. Merci!

221

Posted by

u/retractatus

1 year ago

A0 to B1 French in 8 months: How I Immersed Myself

Discussion

I am sharing my experience to inspire those just starting out with French: it is totally doable if you stay dedicated and
consistent.
Today I received results from my first DELF exam. I got 81.50 out of 100.00 points on the B1 exam.
In May 2017, I started learning French knowing only a few basic concepts derived mainly from global popular
culture. I had attended French classes in primary school for one or two years, but it wasn't a serious part of the
curriculum and I never learned anything.
Here's an online assessment I took on May 19 2017 showing that I knew nothing, except for a few basics.
8 months later I sat for the DELF B1 exam and here is my result, received today.
What I did (in chronological order) to go from A0 - B1:
 I devoted most of my day to activities related to French.
 I spent an hour a day on Lingvist.com and finished the course.
 I took nearly every French assessment exam available online to get familiar with testable concepts.
 I read a lot of French language books that I've already read in English like Harry Potter, Mange Prie Aime,
Lolita, etc
 I downloaded, printed, read a lot of bilingual English-French books like Discours de la Méthode, Elles
Anthology, Paul Eluard Anthology
 I wrote down hundreds of interesting sentences that I found from books
 I listened to French audiobooks
 I listened to cool French music and memorised lyrics to songs I truly liked
 I followed all the tips from Steve Kaufmann
 After a few months of self-study, I decided to take the beginner class at my local Alliance Française. The
class showed me that even though I was good at self-study, it's important to do formal learning as well.
Between July and December 2017 I attended 3 classes at AF.
 At AF, I took all my classes very very seriously (even when they were dealing with easy subjects), I always
did homework, and I never missed any classes.
 At AF I put up an advert and found a French speaking friend to have conversations with.
 I learned about RFI and started doing the news comprehension quizzes every day.
 Most importantly, in all these 8 months I didn't even miss one day of French study. Of course, there were
many days when I didn't feel like studying, but I just played some French music or scrolled through French
Instagram, something lighthearted.
 Most most importantly, all these 8 months I was just having fun and doing what I really wanted to do.
Right now I just feel so happy to have my B1 result and I want to share this moment with all those who are starting
out on their language journey. Yes it is difficult but it is worth it: stay dedicated and be consistent.
If people have questions, I am happy to answer and to talk some more.
Please note that right now it is 19:00 PM in my time zone so if I don't respond quickly, it is perhaps because I've gone to bed
but I'll be back in the morning.
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level 1
Mesonit

C131 points·1 year ago

Congratulations, 8 months is super fast!


level 2
retractatus

5 points·1 year ago

Thank you. I know - I am also surprised.


level 1
blueskydaydream

A1? Corrigez-moi, SVP!10 points·1 year ago

Very cool. Thanks so much for sharing that site with the news articles and quizzes, I think it's going to be extremely
helpful.
Also, congratulations! You are truly inspiring and I hope to be in the same position someday
level 2
retractatus

5 points·1 year ago

Thank you! Those news quizzes are essential. I don't know how I would have learned to understand spoken French
without them.
People stress the importance of listening to spoken French, but I think that just listening isn't enough. You need to
continually test yourself to see if you truly understand what you hear.
level 1
Ratdogagility

6 points·1 year ago

This is inspiring. I started immersing myself a few months ago with Fluenz, Duolingo, etc and listening to French
Canadian radio in my car. I am noticing that several weeks ago I couldn’t even tell where one word ended and
another began, but now I am able to get the gist of the conversation. I also enrolled in AF classes which has been
great to force me to speak. My boyfriend is bilingual french and lives in Montreal (I’m from the Midwest US.) I’m a
speech pathologist by training and a linguist for fun, so I’m finding that to my advantage. I was in mtl for 2 weeks
over Christmas which improved my comprehension considerably. Thank you for your story.
level 2
retractatus

3 points·1 year ago

Wow, having a French speaking boyfriend!


I envy you here because I now realise that having real life French relationships is what's needed to truly speak and
understand the language.
Do you find it easy to engage in French with him or do you have to exercise a lot of discipline not to revert to your
English comfort zone when you talk to him?
Continue this thread

level 1
waldgnome

L26 points·1 year ago

I learned about RFI and started doing the news comprehension quizzes every day.
Oh man, thanks a lot! I was looking for some equivalent of what Deutsche Welle has for German. So good.
level 1
CriesOfBirds

4 points·1 year ago

Thanks for sharing this. It's good inspiration. Moreover it's really helpful to see how you achieved it. You mention
most of the day devoted to french. If you had to pin it down to a number, how many hours of active learning did you
per day?
level 2
retractatus

2 points·1 year ago

Generally it's something like this:


 30 minutes ultra focused French study (doing news quizzes on RFI or taking online assessments)
 30 minutes casual focus (reading interesting books, listening to world news)
 30 minutes relaxed, no real focus (music playing, scrolling through French social media)
Sometimes I do much more depending on my mood or the activity (watching a two hour Rohmer film with strong
focus, for example)

Hours in French classes at AF.
level 1
bhjohnp1

3 points·1 year ago

So I am extremely new to learning French, can someone explain just how big of a jump A0 to B1 is? Clearly it’s
massive, but I don’t know how to quantify it.
level 2
seniortrend

4 points·1 year ago

A0 is absolute beginner. The rest of the levels are described


here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_European_Framework_of_Reference_for_Languages#Common_refere
nce_levels
level 2
ardiunna

B13 points·1 year ago

Level B1 means that you can communicate easily on everyday situations and can do rather good in some not very
common ones. At school you get to B1 after 3 (7 h/week) to 6 years (2-3 h/week)
Continue this thread

level 2
retractatus

3 points·1 year ago

In my country, a B1 diploma is what's required to work in international organisations like the United Nations that
require French competence.
Practical examples of what B1 means in my real life:
 I can have a juicy discussion with an empathetic French speaker.
 I've had some interesting debates about linguistic nuances with my AF professor.
 I am currently reading Mange Prie Aime for pleasure. It helps that I've already read the book in English, but
still, I'm not struggling to understand the text.
 I recently watched an entire Rohmer film in French, no subs, and had a good time.
 I listen to French world news every morning as my only news source of the day.
 I follow French Youtubers recreationally. To be honest, I mostly just get the gist of their videos. Most of what
they're saying is over my head (too much slang, too fast) but I am still massively entertained and I get it.
Continue this thread

level 2
Romanos_The_Blind

B12 points·1 year ago

Look up the CERF rating system and the levels associated with it. Each level has fairly detailed descriptions
regarding what it means you can do.
level 1
n4kke

3 points·1 year ago

I don't really have anything to say other than I admire you, and I will adopt the RFI routine you mentioned.
level 2
retractatus

1 point·1 year ago

Thank you! I am also trying my best to always spend time on RFI in the morning, it's such a great resource.
level 1
Mentioned_Videos

3 points·1 year ago·edited 1 year ago

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level 1
lord31173

2 points·1 year ago

You're an inspiration!! thanks for sharing


level 1
chesscoach_R

2 points·1 year ago

Thanks for your contribution, it's great to see your dedication. If you don't mind me asking, why did you pick lingvist
to learn from? I played around with it a bit this morning since your recommendation but haven't found it doing
anything much different than duolingo/memrise which I'm currently using in tandem)
level 2
retractatus

6 points·1 year ago

I used Lingvist because it is simple and fast - it's easy to learn a lot if you spend one hour on it. Duolingo, to me, is
slow and kind of childish. One hour on Duolingo just isn't as productive to me.
I highly recommend Lingvist, but I guess it all comes down to personality and personal preferences.
I hear Lingvist will soon become a pay site, so better hurry if one wants to use it for free.
level 1
henrique0x0
B12 points·1 year ago

Hello! This is very inspiring!


I started learning French two weeks ago, and I'm taking private classes once a week too because I want to get a B1
level until March for exchange purposes. I'm Brazilian, so I guess it'll be easier for me than for english native
speakers to learn French.
Very thanks for sharing your journey!
level 2
retractatus

1 point·1 year ago·edited 1 year ago

I think the reason I learned French so quickly is because it is similar to English. I studied English at university, so I'm
very familiar with grammar nuances, sentence structures, and the history of English words. That helps a lot when
learning French.
So since you speak Portuguese it's going to be the same thing (but much much easier), especially if you have a
very refined understanding of Portuguese etymology and a wide vocabulary in sciences, arts, politics and history.
Continue this thread

level 1
KaraMoMara

2 points·1 year ago

Thank you for this! I just took the online assessment you did in the beginning and we got the exact same score, so
now I know where I'm beginning and what is possible for me. Very helpful-- I'm starting Lingvist next!
level 2
retractatus

1 point·1 year ago

That assessment is great and quite tough. I may take it again soon!
I regularly take online assessments. It's a nice way to learn a ton of super important things in under one hour.
There was a point where I was so obsessed that I'm quite sure I've actually taken nearly all the French assessments
available on Google - they are so, so useful.
level 1
haroonm4

2 points·1 year ago

Congratulations OP 8 months is phenomenal. I studied French in school for years never learnt to speak. This was
ten years ago and now I'm faced with a situation to ace the TEF exam this year. I'm using the memrise app for
starters to refresh my memory on verbs and vocabulary. Any advice for me? Thanks.
level 2
retractatus

3 points·1 year ago


You can do it!
My advice:
Reading every day
 Read enjoyable French books every day. Not textbooks or learning materials. But things you actually like. I
read a lot of literary fiction, academic philosophy, and some cookbooks.
 Join a French library in your community. My local Alliance Française has a good library.
 Read the French translation of books you've already read in your language.
 Find the audiobook of the text you're reading. Listen to the French audiobook while reading the French text.
Join a French grammar class
 Attend French classes to learn how to pass the exams
 Self study just isn't enough to teach you how to pass an official exam
 Talk to the professors about the areas you need to improve and strengthen
 Always do your homework and take your classes seriously (I noticed many people in my classes not doing
this)
Keep French real and relevant
 Again, avoid grammar books and choose useful French content like world news, popular culture, religion, and
your professional field.
 Listen to French language world news every day.
 Watch videos in French from your field of expertise.
 Practise your religion/spirituality in French.
 Keep up with your hobbies in French. For example, I love fitness so I watch French fitness youtube channels.
Try to have fun. Don't do anything that's boring - that's simply not a sustainable way to learn French. I'm always
looking forward to my French study because it revolves around books and hobbies that I'm already passionate
about.
Continue this thread

level 1
iamxmai

L4, B12 points·1 year ago

Impressive!
level 1
heureuse_ou_trisste

2 points·1 year ago

Congratulations!!! Am too in the same journey, currently in B1. Have exams in June. Will take some tips from you.
Thanks and congrats once again!!
level 2
retractatus

1 point·1 year ago

Thank you and all the best!


level 1
Jattwood

2 points·1 year ago

TL:DR You worked extremely hard and were consistently focused on your long term goal. Congratulations! That's a
massive achievement!
level 1
Irate-Swami

Correct me pls1 point·1 year ago

Your post is actually really inspiring, thanks for sharing.


I was wondering if you ever actively limited the content or discussions you would have in your native language
(which I assume is English). I try to immerse myself in French as much as I can, but sometimes there's a show I
wanna binge that I can't find in French dub (or it doesn't sound right in it like Narcos), or of course, I still read books
in English, and I'm wondering that in doing that I'm forgetting practically everything I learned from the French content
I consumed before.
level 2
retractatus

3 points·1 year ago

Yes, my first language is English.


What I do is first thing in the morning I spend time with French. I also have a rule to read French when I commute on
public transport. Besides that, I'm free to do whatever I want. This helps me feel not guilty about spending many
hours in English on Reddit :)
My view is that one should be balanced. Watch your shows in English and on the same day do some French
activities. Restricting oneself to only French content is unsustainable.
Continue this thread

level 1
rosenere

1 point·1 year ago

Can I ask how old you are?


level 2
retractatus

2 points·1 year ago

I am 28 years old.
Posted by

u/lanrayx2

1 year ago

Stopped taking French classes about a month a go what would help me not to forget.

Advice

Bonjour à tous, ça fait un mois que je sois entrée la classe français, après avoir passé l'examen DELF B1.
Il faut que je sache, que peux-je faire? Pour améliorer mon français, et pas oublié.
Merci en avance.
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level 1
OneOfTheBis

4 points·1 year ago

Regarder les émissions français et lire des romans


level 1
5nitch

2 points·1 year ago

Je recommande regarder Arte sur l’internet (c’est gratuit) et avec les sur titles et lire des romans. Si vous avez les
difficultés pour le passé simple pour des romans (ou je ne sais pas) je recommande les livres pour des personnes
qui apprendre/connaît français.
Maintainent je lire Jules Vernes simplifié pour B1 (cherche Amazon)
level 2
lanrayx2

2 points·1 year ago

Merci
level 1
[deleted]

1 point·1 year ago

Choisissez un roman que vous aimez et commencez a le lire en version française :) Je lis Harry Potter maintenant

CLOSE

Posted by

u/kiwigoguy1

L3 (A2)1 year ago

Just finished DELF A2 today - has anyone achieved B2 in two years time?

Advice

I just sat my DELF A2 today. Before I talk about other things, I would like to thank all for all the help and
encouragement you have given me. It didn't look too bad - I think none of us in our group will fail, but it wasn't that
easy to get great marks either.
I have a new question: there was a gentleman at the exam today who did B1 and he sat A2 this time last year and I
would love to replicate what he had done and more. Would my plan to achieve B2 be over ambitious if I juggle with
a full time job, plus some odd short courses learning other languages, or even professional development such as
economics (possibly at university extramurals level) or data analysis with R or Python?
My plan:
 Oct 2018: DELF B1
 Oct 2019: DELF B2
Thanks in advance.
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level 1
loot6

3 points·1 year ago

Probably best to just concentrate on one language at a time. What's your study method? Consistency and regularity
is key. Studying Monday an hour, Wednesday an hour and then two hours on Saturday is not as good as half an
hour every day.
level 2
ecspike

B21 point·1 year ago

I agree. I think post B1-B2 is the first time you should even consider another language. If the other languages are
close to French, you run the risk of always confusing the two and defaulting to French to fill in the gaps in the other
language.
Continue this thread

level 2
kiwigoguy1

L3 (A2)1 point·1 year ago·edited 1 year ago

Hi loot6, thanks for your tip. It makes sense to me. Long term I like to study German up to B1/B2. I like to take a
crash course on traveller's Italian next year as I have plans to visit Italy, but I'm not interested to learn Italian
seriously. I think I still stick with French first, as I could potentially convert this interest into something that helps my
career if I get serious enough.
With regards to studies, I struggle a lot with time when there are deadlines happening at work, but I normally assign
2 evenings (about 1 to 1.5 hours each) per week to finish my homework. It is probably not enough for B1 and B2, so
will aim for more exposures per week (spreading out evenly) rather than do it 1-2x each week.
level 1
Ashley8777

2 points·1 year ago

I think it's pretty hard to learn a language while working full time, you must make it a priority to study, but I think it's
much more pleasant to study languages after the basics. However I've heard the learning curve is flatter (ie more
time) the closer you reach fluency. I think you could do it if you study every day.
level 2
kiwigoguy1

L3 (A2)1 point·1 year ago

Thanks Ashley8777, I struggled at times when there were lots of deadlines happening at work or when I had other
commitment. I will stick to French for the time being until I feel more comfortable, unless I am forced to spend lots of
time to learn something else to help me find a job. :-)
level 1
cassis-oolong
B21 point·1 year ago

It’s totally possible but it depends on how much time you are able to dedicate to studying per week and how
consistently.
I was able to go from a mediocre A1 student to passing the DELF B1 with high marks in 8 months. In fact I was
already at low B2 according to my prof. But that was because I had plenty of time to study as I wasn’t working. Take
note that at B2 level you need to know your grammar close to perfect and know a LOT of vocabulary. For B1 take
that down a notch. It’s more lenient. Recordings used at the exam are at normal (i.e. fast for learners) speed as well.
level 2
ecspike

B22 points·1 year ago

The B2 recordings are brutal. Was not a fan of the recordings that you hear ONCE.
Continue this thread

level 1
kiwigoguy1

L3 (A2)1 point·1 year ago

Update to all: I received the A2 results. I passed with 85% (most are over 20, with only listening at 19/25. I know my
listening needs to be more focused, so I will be doubling effort on this).
Thanks to you all for your encouragement!

Posted by

u/ktbhey

1 year ago

Quick DELF question!

Advice

I'm planning on taking the DELF B1 test in a month. I don't think I'll be completely ready, but its only offered 3 times
a year where I live. So! My question is- is your percentage listed on the results/certificate or is merely a pass/fail? If I
only barely pass, will anyone know?
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level 1
IAddie

2 points·1 year ago

The percentage is listed on the certificate, and I believe that the individual parts' scores are listed too.
level 1
[deleted]

1 point·1 year ago

Yes, both the overall score and individual parts are listed. Which is great of one's information.
But don't worry, noone should ever care about it (noone has in my case), just having passed is the important thing.
The score is on the other side of the paper, so scans or one sided copies for CVs don't usually need to include it at
all.
Barely passing is still passing and success. From my observation and comments by americans, I think this is a bit
harder to accept for people educated in the US, as your big tests are meant to be mostly "easy" and the differences
are on the top. It is important whether you have 90% or 92%. Exams like DELF are different, vast majority of
learners at the level in question is not meant to have 90 points out of 100, perhaps not even 80. Getting the 50 still
means you are at the level and have no reason for feeling like an imposter :-) And it doesn't mean you cannot get a
better score in the next exam in a year or two (or more).
Don't worry too much. Study and do your best. Perhaps you'll surprise yourself by getting much more than 50 :-)
Good luck!
level 2
ktbhey

1 point·1 year ago

Cool! Thanks for this encouragement, thats what I was thinking. However, people keep giving me the side eye when
I told them I'm going to try it! I passed a practice test though so why not?

Just finished B1 Delf test. Is therr

Discussion
CLOSE

Posted by

u/lilvipa

B22 years ago

Just finished B1 Delf test. Is therr

Discussion

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level 1
lilvipa

B21 point·2 years ago

Désolé pour le titre, mais je voulais savoir s'il y avait une grille d'évaluation sur lequel l'examen porte. Merci
d'avance!
level 1
Moobs_like_Jagger

L2: français cadien1 point·2 years ago

C'est comme ça, ce que vous cherchez?


Si quelque chose d'autre, je ne sais pas sinon les clefs de réponse entières sont disponibles au public.
level 2
lilvipa

B21 point·2 years ago

Parfait. Trop gentil de vous! Merci!


level 1
cofios
L31 point·2 years ago

Je pense que peut-être tu as cherche pour quelque chose comme ça?


http://www.ciep.fr/sites/default/files/migration/delfdalf/documents/DELF_B1.pdf
Près de la fin de la pdf est un section << Grille d’évaluation de la production orale >>.

Posted by

u/sessycat101

4 months ago

Is the Delf worth it?

Discussion

Hey guys, would love some insight on this.. I am currently in level B1 in Marseille. If I finish the level with the
diploma from the school is that not good enough? Or do I need to take the Delf? I'm learning French to be able to
put it on my resume and actually work with it. Realistically I would like to complete my B2 so i won't be taking the
test anytime soon, just wondering if it is something I should strive for. I really hate exams so hoping that I don't need
to take it! If anyone has gone through something similar please let me know about your experience :)
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level 1
un_aristocrate

Native1 point·4 months ago·edited 4 months ago

I guess some employers mat require some sort of certification but I don't think it matters in most cases.
A simple phone interview is a way more interesting way to assess someone's fluency.
I remember going through the TOEIC test. It was a pain in the ass and I never mentioned it to any employer. Also
pretty quickly, my improving level in English rendered the test obsolete.
level 2
sessycat101

1 point·4 months ago


Yes exactly! That's what I was thinking. If I get an interview, someone will know my level and there will be no point
to the Delf certificate!

10

Posted by

u/get1nthevan

7 months ago

DELF DALF B2 Preparation

Advice

I signed up for the DELF B2 Exam at the Institut Français yesterday, but just learned that their preparation course is
already full, so I'll have to prepare on my own. Needless to say I'm a bit nervous.
Did anyone else here already take the test? How did you prepare for it? Was it difficult for you to pass it?
I would say I'm at B1 now but I have to pass B2 in order to get my bachelors degree (just passing is fine, so I need
>50%). I just hope that three months will be enough to prepare for it
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level 1
Jshsbsb

7 points·7 months ago

3 months? Bruhhh, you’ll be able to pass. No doubt.


level 2
get1nthevan

1 point·7 months ago

thanks man, i hope so


level 1
ticklystarlight
5 points·7 months ago

I have yet to sit the DELF yet, but I know there are lots of self-study and prep materials for the DELF. I recommend
searching Amazon -- the most popular study guides will be at the top. Any popular study guide will probably be very
helpful, what matters most is how much time and effort you put into practicing. Good luck!
level 2
get1nthevan

1 point·7 months ago

yeah i bought one of those study guides off amazon with some official example papers, they seemed quite popular.
some online lessons probably win't harm either.. good luck to you too!
level 1
dzcFrench

4 points·7 months ago

Lingoda.com has the certificate program. B2 has 75 lessons. So you can learn it in 2 and a half month. I would
recommend the group lessons. Learning a language requires interaction and with other students it helps to confirm
that you're at the level you think you are.
https://www.lingoda.com/en/french/courses/certificate/b2
I would sign up for the monthly membership though because it would allow me to jump ahead if I find the lessons
are easy and jump back if I feel I missed some specific lessons.
Use this code NMRVTU for $50 off.
level 2
get1nthevan

1 point·7 months ago

damn they're not cheap but looks like they might be very helpful. thanks for the advice, i'll give it a try

10

Posted by

u/get1nthevan

7 months ago

DELF DALF B2 Preparation


Advice

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level 1
get1nthevan

1 point·7 months ago

damn they're not cheap but looks like they might be very helpful. thanks for the advice, i'll give it a try
level 2
dzcFrench

2 points·7 months ago·edited 7 months ago

Oh, wow, you're lucky. They just announced their marathon. Basically you pay for the marathon as normal but if you
win, meaning you have a lesson every single day for 3 months, they give you your money back. So there is a good
chance that you can study for your DELF B2 for free.
https://www.lingoda.com/en/language-marathon/
level 3
get1nthevan

1 point·7 months ago

that sounds almost too good to be true lol


level 4
dzcFrench

2 points·7 months ago

It's not. One of my friends won it, and I'm in its current marathon. Hopefully I will win. I have 26 more days to go.
The problem for you right now is that the marathon won't start until Jan 21st. You may want to try the 7-day trial and
then see if you can buy some extra credits to hold you until the 21st, but I think they said you would be disqualified
for the marathon if you're a monthly subscriber. You may want to check with them on that.
level 5
get1nthevan

1 point·7 months ago

yeah that's the thing, my exam is in the end of february so i would need three months from today.. but i might sign
up anyway and just continue the lessons after the exam (if win).
in any case, i appreciate your help!
level 6
dzcFrench

2 points·7 months ago

Contact them to see if there is anyway you can study from now til the marathon. It takes them a day or two to
respond but they seem to try to accommodate.

Posted by

u/tsenyy

7 months ago

The IMPOSSIBLE DELF B2

Discussion

So it's been 4 months since I came in France. I started language course in a language school over 3 months ago.
Planning to take DELF B2 in June 2019 to enter a French university in 2019 September. I can understand most of
my teacher's speech but of course they don't talk like they're talking to francophones. I am going to take B1 course
in January. BUT i am afraid it won't be possible for me to pass B2 in June. I don't think I'll manage to pass the exam.
All of my four skills are somewhat lower-intermediateish. I can't really talk. I can't really write an essay for now. I
don't understand written texts well. My listening is bad. What should I do to pass B2 next year? Do you guys think I
can pass the test based on your experiences? Please give me some advice. At least I'll know if I'm aiming for
something impossible. Oh also I don't have any friend or someone so my speaking is not well enough tough it's
been 3 months in France.
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level 1
dzcFrench

6 points·7 months ago

You should join this marathon. If you take a lesson everyday for 90 days straight, you will win the marathon and they
give you your money back. So it's 90 hours of free lessons.
https://www.lingoda.com/en/language-marathon/
If you take 90% of the lessons in B1, they will actually give you a B1 CEFR certificate.
I'm in its current marathon and I have to say the program works. When I first started, I couldn't talk and I was so
nervous. That nervous feeling went away after a week. Then I started to ask questions and speak up. At this point I
understand about 90-95% of what the teachers say. It's an amazing feeling. I can listen to journal en francais facile
now.
If you take an hour or two before the class to go over the materials and answer all the questions seriously - give the
long answers instead of yes and no or something really short. Maybe another half an hour or an hour after the class
to review and do the homework. I'm sure you can pass B2 in June.
My advice is if you start to feel comfortable with B1.1, jump to B1.2, and when you feel comfortable there, jump to
B2. Don't wait to cover all the lessons. So between this marathon and your B1 course in real life, you should get to
B2 in the third month of the marathon.
I'm looking for someone to chat in french as well. If you don't mind someone who's also learning, I would love to talk
to you on a regular basis.
level 2
theysaidsanspeine

5 points·7 months ago

If you take 90% of the lessons in B1, they will actually give you a B1 CEFR certificate.
This is misleading, they can't give you an official certificate. The only way to get a legitimate B1 certificate for French
is to take the DELF B1 at one of the official testing centers.
Continue this thread

level 1
fulltea

C2 (France)1 point·7 months ago

Each rise in level normally takes a semester. It's certainly not impossible to reach B2 by the middle of next year, but
what are you planning on doing at university? I'm doing C1 now, C2 next semester and I'm hoping to join a licence
in the second year in September 2019. The grade you'll need to enter university will depend on the course. I'm going
to do language science, hence being able to skip the first year if I pass C2. I have a friend from the B2 course I did
earlier this year and he started his IT degree in September, the semester following his pass. He was only able to do
so because computing isn't text-heavy. He was doing economics in his home country, but had to switch because B2
isn't advanced enough (by any means) to do it in French.
I think it's important to realise that B2 means "independent," which means there'll be a lot you still don't understand.
Yes, in theory you can start degrees with B2, but everyone I've ever spoken to on the subject advises to achieve C1
at least. You don't really start approaching a true level of fluency until the end of the C1 courses, after the grammar
tuition is largely complete.
level 2
tsenyy

2 points·7 months ago

Well, the school precisely indicated that I need B2 diploma for French Licence. I plan to enter university September
2019 if I can pass my DELF B2 in June. I don't know my level yet but I will start B1 course in January. But of course,
it hasn't been long just 3 months since I started. Just wanted to know if it's a plausible aim. Thank you anyway.
Continue this thread

level 1
theysaidsanspeine

1 point·7 months ago

If you pass the B1 in January, I totally think you could pass the B2 in June. Six months is a long time in language-
learning -- if you apply yourself, work on French every day, and utilize DELF preparation materials, I think you can
pass the B2. It won't be easy, but it's possible. I've seen other language learners do the same thing.
If you want a better estimate, you can also meet with someone at the Alliance Française and they might be able to
help you determine how much work you need to do to get to B2.
I highly recommend Conversation Exchange (conversationexchange.com) for finding people to speak with. You can
chat online, talk on the phone or you can meet in person if you live in/near a big city in France. You might even
make some friends. :)
Good luck!
level 2
tsenyy

1 point·7 months ago

Thank you so much but what I meant by B1 was that I will take lessons of B1 not an exam. And also It will take time
to finish the B1 course.So I guess the time is nearly too tight :(( but thanks
Continue this thread

level 1
a-lot-of-sodium

🇺🇸 N, 🇫🇷 B-something??1 point·7 months ago

Hey, if you want to just talk in written French you can send me a private message and I'll be happy to chat :)
level 1
Usernameistaken96

B21 point·6 months ago

I took the DELF B2 (66.5/100) 5 months after the DELF B1 (80/100), definitely not impossible! Just dedicate a
certain amount of time each day to immersing yourself in the French language.

Posted by

u/BrokeDXBStudent

9 months ago

Find out DELF Level

Advice

Bonjour Redditors!
I want to write DELF, but I'm not sure which level is right for me. I studied French for 10 years in an Indian
curriculum school, so I know almost all french that comes under the syllabus (link attached below). My french
teacher claims I could attempt B1 easily, and even B2 with a stretch, but I can't find any diagnostic tests/samples to
be sure of my level. Any help in this matter would be amazing. Merci beaucoup!

Link for the syllabus: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZqfMd7yw3_fEXdoN4_cZNOt8C7bmZNuM/view (This is Year 9


and 10 syllabus, and those are the grammar topics I'm sorta confident in)
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level 1
gypsyblue

B23 points·9 months ago

It's not about how long you studied or how many words/grammatical features you know, but rather about your
competencies in the language. You can read the descriptions for each level here.
You can also look at the descriptions of the test content to see what level of French is expected. There are also
sample tests online (google) that you can try at levels B1 and B2 to gauge which one is more realistic. Personally I
think the gap between B1 and B2 is huge, so it should be clear once you have a look at the material.
Just from looking at the syllabus you provide, I would say B1 is more realistic. In the syllabus, the "long composition"
for writing is 80 words and informal, whereas in the DELF B2 exam it's minimum 250 words (if I recall correctly) and
very formal; for reading the syllabus also lists prose passages of 100-150 words whereas in the B2 exam you'd be
reading actual (i.e. unsimplified) magazine excerpts of 500 words+. So on that basis I'd say B1.
level 2
BrokeDXBStudent

1 point·9 months ago

Thanks a lot for the detailed insight! Looking at your description, I believe B1 is more up my alley as those are the
kinds of prose I have been testes on so far.
level 1
la_petite_sirene

4 points·9 months ago

http://apprendre.tv5monde.com/fr/apprendre-francais/accueil-tcf
Of course, your oral production skills may be at a different level, but it should give you an idea of where you fall on
the map.

Posted by

u/arannya

5 months ago

Advice on learning French idioms for DELF B2

Advice

I am planning to sit for the DELF B2 exam in March, I already passed B1 two years ago. I was looking at the sample
papers on this website, and one of the papers had a section where you had to explain the meanings of some idioms.
I don't remember having such a section in previous DELF exams. Moreover, I had never heard nor read any of
these expressions before even though I had taken courses at Alliance Française before.

Any suggestions on preparing for these idioms? Books, sites?


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level 1
veryquiethuman

2 points·5 months ago

This is a common question on the delf. You are expected to deduce the meaning from the context. That being said,
you can definitely read up beforehand: try TV 5 Monde's series of expressions imagées avec Archibald, then
bonjourdefrance has several lists and exercises. All the best! (Source: I've both taken the delf myself and examined
candidates for it)
level 2
69biskuitmarie69

1 point·2 months ago

Je vais prendre le test dans 2 mois ....Est-ce que tu peux me donner des petits trucs pour reussir......ça m'aiderait
beaucoup.
Continue this thread

level 1
Raza-nayaz

3 points·5 months ago

I am currently studying for B1 and was wondering if you could help me out personally? Do you have WhatsApp?

Posted by

u/Olfeld

1 month ago

From A1 - B2 in 10 months: Succeeding Delf B2 exam (in a non-french speaking country)

Advice

Hello everyone,
So, before I go into detail with how I succeed the exam, I would like to explain why I’m posting this. First of all, I
have gotten so much help from different threads on reddit, thus I would like to take the time to say thank you. It’s
been a great help! Secondly, this is not a brag post nor am I trying to get validation from others. I want to do this to
give a bit back and hopefully someone can benefit from my experience. I really do hope that this have some sort of
value, however, that may not be the case. I’m trying to show that it wasn’t easy, but it is possible with hard work and
a bit of belief.
Just some background information. Last summer, I went to France for 6 weeks. I was A1 from the beginning and did
not plan a year ahead, thus I was not aware that I would, eventually, take the Delf B2 exam. I finished the A2 after
the six weeks and did not practice a lot in the following months. So I forgot a bit. However, around November (2018)
I realised that I wanted to apply for a Master’s degree in June (2019) that required at least Delf B2 level French.
Thus, 5.5 intensive months began.
I was not aware of how much work it would take, which was nice - looking back at it. I have seen a post in here
where a person went from early B1 to succeeding B2 in a month, which is an incredible achievement. I got a bit sad,
to be fair, when I read it because I could never have done anything like that. So for people that have the time to
practice for somewhat 6 months in a non-speaking french country, and studying mostly by themselves, this post is
for you. I succeeded with a score of 60/100, which is not very impressive compared to many people in here, but the
time scope was limited, so it was a very satisfying achievement. Aim to pass - that’s all. I scored 9.5 in reading, 21 in
writing, 14 in listening, and 15.5 in speaking. So, there you have it. The most important thing to say about the Delf
B2 exam is that it’s a method exam. If you know what to do you will be much better off and that is a great help. This
was my plan:
Time frame: December 1st to May 20th Daily basis: 2 hours of practice, so around 14 hours a week. If you quit
social media, on average, you will gain 2 hours a day. It’s not important what you practice each day as long as
you’re practicing. Most valuable resource: A teacher, Youtube, Anki, a good dictionary, and an app called
‘Conjugaison’. Book: Réussir delf B2 - the blue book. Great, however, the topics are a bit out of date in my opinion.
Reddit: Look for advice in several threads. PDF: Buy ‘Les mots de l’info’ (Niveau B2 et C1) by Stéphane Wattier
(2019). 400 words and 40 subjects, which I was quizzed on (transhumanism) in the oral presentation. You can find it
at communfrancais.com - it is fairly cheap, and you get so much for so little. Private teacher: It’s crucial that you
have someone to talk to and who can correct you. They don’t have to know about the Delf B2, it’s your
responsibility. There are many online sources, which I have not used, but you can find them in other threads. This is,
by far, the most important. I had 2 - 3 lessons a week for an hour, and paid for it. Not everyone have the ability to do
that, but it is so important. Vocab: Use Anki for that. Create your own decks - and practice, practice, and practice.
I will now elaborate on each part of my preparation.
Reading: I didn’t do enough reading. I read the newspaper ‘le monde’, different threads on reddit, and had subtitles
on youtube. I also read articles about the Delf B2 and also read the ‘Réussir le delf b2’ book, however, it was not
enough and I should have spent more time on this. I scored very low, because it was the part that I had practised
the least, and I do think you can make the exam way easier if you master this part. It’s a method and does not
necessarily mean anything for your french in real life. Look for advice on youtube and communfrancais.com on this.
Listening: I used different podcasts including this one: http://frenchyourway.com.au/category/frenchvoices. It’s a girl
named Jessica and it is quite difficult. I understood a fair amount, but nothing close to everything. You will find that
the more you listen, the more you will improve. See if you can summarise on a piece of paper what she is talking
about, so ideally you could talk about it with another person. It helps a lot and will expand your vocabulary. Use
Netflix or some streaming services for movies and series. I watched Brut, Konbini, Le Monde, and interviews from
‘Clique x’ someone famous on Youtube. Youtube is AMAZING. Many different subject, many different people and
accents. I didn’t understand everything and it is sometimes a bit difficult, but your brain works in strange ways and
you will learn - little by little. Brut is amazing and I was so happy that I found it.
Writing: Write as much as you can and choose topics that you like. Look at the different formalities and work on the
method. You need an introduction, arguments for and against, and then a conclusion. That’s it. The PDF I
mentioned earlier will give you a nice vocabulary for this exercise, and the ‘Conjugaison’ app will learn you how to
conjugate, which is very important. Make 1 essay every week and you will score above 20, I think. Get someone to
correct your work and keep practising. For the exam I had to write about télétravail, which was a nice topic, but not
something I care much about. However, it is a method and that is the most important. The arguments are not
important, but have to be coherent.
Talking: I had a private teacher 2 - 3 times a week. It was a tremendous help and the only reason why I succeeded.
I practised for every session and had to come up with the plan for each time. Monday was talking about a podcast
and some small-talk as well, Wednesday would be a listening exercise from https://savoirs.rfi.fr/fr/apprendre-
enseigner/langue-francaise/delf-b2-comprehension-orale and then afterwards we would talk about it, and Thursday
would be a podcast or I would prepare an oral presentation and she would quiz me. We talked, and talked, and
talked, and I would very slowly show progression. Sometimes I would be worse than the time before, and
sometimes I would be better. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. I would actually recommend you to make as many
mistakes as you can, and talk whenever you can - with other people as well. Don’t be afraid to start a conversation
when you can hear someone speaking french, just go at it. You don’t need a private teacher, but you need to speak
with someone that can correct you. If you have French, then speak with them. If you go to the university, then seek
out French people and ask if they want to practice their English, and then you can meet twice a week and speak for
an hour or two (ideally).
About the exam: It wasn’t a great experience and I wasn’t sure if I had passed. The listening part is very difficult, so
make sure to practice that. There will be other people in the room for the reading, listening, and writing part. But
trust yourself and on your preparation. I was nervous, but so were the others. When the supervisor came in, she
made a joke and everybody laughed - except me because I didn’t understand it (what a start...). But it worked out
eventually!
I think these were my tips. Succeeding the Delf is mostly about persistency, determination, and priority. It will make
everything much easier if you think that learning french is fun. Be curious and search for answers on reddit or in a
dictionary. Remember that Delf B2 is without any sort of help, which I realised a few days before, unfortunately.
However, this is actually a blessing. Lastly, keep practising vocab. I had 1300 words in Anki in the end, and the last
week I would practice 800 - 1000 a day. I cannot recommend that, but you got to do what you got to do. Find your
own way and make sure to make it as fun as possible.
I have probably forgotten something, so don’t hesitate to comment. I will gladly elaborate on what I have written - I
rarely succeed the first time doing something. I hope that it can help you. Oh, I’m a Dane by the way.
All the best!
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level 1
weedar

1 point·1 day ago·edited 1 day ago


Thanks for posting, I love getting inspiration and ideas for my own learning - it is greatly appreciated even if there
were no other comments:)
Could you also suggest some A1 resources for this beginner?
Edit: which Conjugaison app did you use? In the Android Play Store I find several..
level 2
Olfeld

1 point·6 hours ago

Hey man!
No worries - someone has to be the first, so thanks for reaching out 😅
I can suggest some resources, but how serious are you with the french? I would just say start out with duolingo,
learn a bit of grammar, watch movies, series, and listen to music, and maybe check out different things on youtube -
everything makes a difference. The conjugaison app is white with blue letters and a red line. It cost a bit, but it is
definitely worth it!
Also, what would you like to master? At the end of the day, it’s always about exposure to the language. So the more
you can immerse yourself in the language the better!

Posted by

u/Olfeld

1 month ago

From A1 - B2 in 10 months: Succeeding Delf B2 exam (in a non-french speaking country)

Advice

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level 1
Olfeld

1 point·6 hours ago

Hey man!
No worries - someone has to be the first, so thanks for reaching out 😅
I can suggest some resources, but how serious are you with the french? I would just say start out with duolingo,
learn a bit of grammar, watch movies, series, and listen to music, and maybe check out different things on youtube -
everything makes a difference. The conjugaison app is white with blue letters and a red line. It cost a bit, but it is
definitely worth it!
Also, what would you like to master? At the end of the day, it’s always about exposure to the language. So the more
you can immerse yourself in the language the better!
level 2
weedar

1 point·4 hours ago

My initial motivation was just to try learning a new language after becoming an adult. I started in the middle of March
with "Learn french with Paul Noble"-audiobooks on Audible totalling about 20 hours which felt like a nice introduction
- I feel I can recommend them to anyone starting from scratch without school or other resources. I've done Duolingo
for 50 days now and passed the second checkpoint, halfway to the third of the 8 checkpoints in the French course.
I've also listened to a few hours of CoffeeBreakFrench-podcast but so far it's too simple, yet the
InnerFrench(Intermediate french) podcast feels too advanced - but that's based on just 2-3 minutes of the first
episode..
Currently I'm very motivated and can spend a minimum of 1 hour each day, but usually 2+ on learning french. My
commute gives me 40-60 minutes of listening time in addition to the 1-2 hours. I'm willing to spend money on this
hobby, like apps and books, but won't be getting a tutor.
Sorry for the essay :)

Posted by

u/J_for_Jules

1 year ago

[DELF Exams US – General Questions] Looking for guidance and the actual process from
past test-takers.

Advice

Bonjour! I’m looking to sit for the DELF A2 and B1 exams in summer 2019. I’m researching at this point, but it looks
like the written and oral parts are given on different days? Do I need to take a week off work to be in the exam city to
get the written and oral parts completed? How does that work? I’d be fine taking both parts the same day. Are there
US facilities that offer the full exam in one day?
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Comment deleted by user1 year ago

level 2
J_for_Jules

3 points·1 year ago

I work for a French company with offices in the US, and I haven't practiced my French in over a decade aside from
pleasantries at work. I'd like to get up to B2 to have it on my resume for possibly mobility within the company (and
self-fulfillment - I don't care about the exam cost). I took AP French in high school and have been to Paris many
times over the years. I'm probably an A2/B1 as-is from the practice materials I've seen, but I want to start slow and
test the waters.
But back to the question, the nearest test locations to me are 4+ hours away by car. I'd like to take the full exam in
one day, but it looks like written is one day and oral is another day. It looks like it varies by location what's offered.
So, do you know of any US facilities offering written and oral on the same day?
Continue this thread

level 2
Pallavolo

B11 point·1 year ago

Maybe his or her job requires a certain level...

Posted by

u/SemenSponge

2 years ago

Is it possible to go from B1 to B2 in about 4 months?

Discussion
I am currently in my third year of high school and want to take the B2 Delf exam so I can apply to a french university.
IMO I am currently between A2 and B1 (I think I'm at B1 in writing, but am worse at speaking) and am wondering
whether it is possible to learn enough french by the end of October (the final exam date in my country before the
application deadline for french universities) to pass the B2 exam.
If this is possible, what would be the best way to go about it? Should I look for online courses, or just focus on
immersion (i mean consuming french-language media, not sure if this is the correct word for it). If a course is the
way to go, which one would you recommend for getting to an upper-intermediate level in a relatively short amount of
time? Also approximately how many hours per week should I dedicate to language-learning?
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level 1
LeVraiPetitRenard

16 points·2 years ago·edited 2 years ago

If you're dedicated, I would say "Yes".


Language learning can roughly be broken down into four aspects:
1. Writing Competence
2. Reading Competence
3. Oral Comprehension
4. Oral Production
Since you're from the States, you'll have the entire summer, and therefore the time to do this. So you need to work
on the 4 categories above. My recommendation is to set discrete goals of things you need to accomplish every
week. So what should you do?
1. Dedicate at least 30 minutes per day to listening to French and nothing else. Look for Podcasts, or Watch
France24. Avoid TV shows at the Start. This needs to be combined with learning Vocabulary, so dedicate at
least 30 minutes to building your vocabulary too. An easy way to do this is Memrise. When you hear a word
you've learned in your Vocab outside of a lesson, it'll stick to you like glue.
2. Work on your grammar. My recommendation is LawLess French. It's worth it to buy the 3 month package. It's
1/2 of two things I paid for to learn French and the only one without a significant discount. I paid for it twice,
no regrets. Every time you get something wrong, write the entire sentence out. Every time you don't know a
verb, write out the conjugation for that tense. Yes, this sucks, but your French will skyrocket. I promise you.
3. Read a book a week. Start with easy stuff. Le Petit Nicholas is really good for starting. Avoid Le Petit Prince,
it's actually difficult for a beginner. Alternatively, find an article in French and read one each day. Lawless
French puts out a lot of free stuff with direct English translation. Fight to understand the sentences without
using the translation quickly. You don't know a word or phrase? Throw it into a Memrise or Anki set that you
build yourself. Whatever you do, find stuff that interests you.
4. Oral production will be the hardest to develop. You're going to suck, you're going to make faults, it's going to
be hard. Accept that, and you'll be grand. Look for partners on Italki, or what is really better, come on
the /r/Frenchdiscord. Don't be afraid. There will be people who will help you if you are serious about it/ ( I was
about to list all of them and then my list got to long. Look for El Barto, he's awesome for beginners). Also,
trying listening to songs and singing them if that's your thing. Or, try saying sentences that you hear in
podcasts or television. It'll come.
5. Work on learning the sounds of French. Not all of them exist in English. You're going to need to be able to
hear them in order to speak correctly. [Here is a really good resource.]
(https://www.youtube.com/user/frenchsounds/playlists) Don't be afraid of repeating lessons. Doing a video
once is not going to help you. Doing it multiple times in one day won't work either.
6. This is a big one, and will help you with keeping on top of things. Find MOOC ( online courses) for learning
French. [Here is one for B1-B2 level.] (https://www.coursera.org/learn/etudier-en-france/home/welcome). The
next session starts June 12. It might be worth the $49 investment so you can partake in the quizzes, that's
really where you're going to be doing the learning, not by watching the videos. You can always apply for
Financial Aid. There are other courses, you have to look for them.
7. Don't give up. It's going to be hard. It's going to get easy, then hard, then easy, then hard. Some days, things
will click. Other days, they won't and it'll feel like swimming through concrete. Generally you'll get better. The
more time you spend in the Discord, typing, reading, speaking and understanding, the better you will get.
8. I'm sure I left some stuff out. This might seem like a whole lot of material to digest, so if you have questions
do ask.
level 2
Rubyjcc

3 points·2 years ago

Epic answer!
level 2
SemenSponge

1 point·2 years ago

Thanks for the extremely in-depth answer! I only have one question really, is there a particular reason why I should
avoid TV shows at the start? I kinda assumed that it would be a way to learn while also doing something fun.
English is not my native language, and I learned most of what I know through movies and TV.
Continue this thread

level 2
Lookatmeijust

1 point·2 years ago

Really great answer! And when you say the Lawless French 3 month package, is that on the Lawless website or
through a third party? In any case, do you have a link for it? Again, amazing answer!
Continue this thread
level 1
idjet

C16 points·2 years ago

Hi, I'm an anglophone North American studying in a French university. French public universities take accreditation
of DELF or TCF tests . The question is: why do the DELF?
The DELF requires both comprehension and composition. The TCF requires comprehension only, composition is
optional. So, at your level, why are you doing the DELF?
The ONLY difference is that the DELF is lifetime certification, the TCF certification must be renewed every 2 years.
My advice as someone who has entered the French university system as an Anglophone: do the TFC (if available to
you). You can redo the TCF after 2 years in France, at which point it will be a breeze, or take on the DELF, which
should be relatively easy anyway after 2 years in a French university (if not, it's because you'll have failed out in the
first year).
So, if you can take the TCF you can narrow your focus to comprehension. That means a shit ton of grammar,
reading and listening comprehension. I went from A1 to C1 in TCF comprehension in 6 months of study which
included at least 3 hours every single day of solid French: 1 hour of grammar, 1 hour of listening comprehension,
and 1 hour of reading the news online. I did this religiously every day, no matter my mood. It was hard to be
disciplined. There is no magic: it's all about disciplined study.
For TCF sample tests, go here: http://apprendre.tv5monde.com/fr/apprendre-francais/accueil-tcf. TV Monde
provides the bulk of the content for the TFC test. From my experience, the results were surprisingly accurate as a
tracked my progress (using the online timed tests).
Bon chance!
level 2
SemenSponge

1 point·2 years ago

Thanks for the advice, I honestly had no idea there was another option than the DELF. I'll definitely look into it since
I'm much better in comprehension than production.
level 2
esirana

1 point·2 years ago

What are you using for grammar?


level 2
Adryjzz

1 point·2 years ago

Can you let us know what resources did you use for grammar, listening and reading? Currently I'm A2 and I
dedicate 2 hrs at least everyday to Coffee break French, learning vocabulary, doing some Duolingo and reading
short news. I started learning French on April 14th.
Continue this thread
level 1
420blazekoneski

1 point·2 years ago

No

Posted by

u/SemenSponge

2 years ago

Is it possible to go from B1 to B2 in about 4 months?

Discussion

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Adryjzz

1 point·2 years ago

Can you let us know what resources did you use for grammar, listening and reading? Currently I'm A2 and I
dedicate 2 hrs at least everyday to Coffee break French, learning vocabulary, doing some Duolingo and reading
short news. I started learning French on April 14th.
level 2
idjet
C11 point·2 years ago

Well, I should say that I learn best when I understand the grammar, both for comprehension and composition. It's
like a logic puzzle for me. Plain immersion doesn't do it for me. There's a reason why French school children are
drilled in written grammar - it's quite different from spoken. Moreover, I am a firm believer in learning hard core
grammar to prepare for standardized language testing - it counts for about 30% of any test, at least. It's the middle
section in the TCF.
So, I found french grammar books written for French students - it forces you to work completely in French and
improves comprehension faster, I think. It also introduces you to French cultural stuff at the same time. Something
like the Grammaire progressive du francais series.
I did lots of random online French website conjugation exercises. There are plenty of them, although they look like
sites from 1998.
For listening, I used the TV5 Monde website mentioned above a lot for preparation, first with videos and then just
the listening exercises. And then as I started to feel confident, I did their online timed tests. BTW they closely match
the real TCF material because they provide the content for the test!
I watched French movies with French subtitles, not English. And I watched French news online - their accents are
quite clear.
However, within 60 days of the test I generally listened to radio online, with transcripts if I could find them. Video
news becomes a problem because you build a false sense of comprehension for testing. TCF listening tests are
audio-only, no video.
Finally, when you get stuck on a grammar point, as I still do, I highly recommend either English Grammar for
Students of French or Side-By-Side French and English Grammar.
Good luck!

Posted by

u/llosa

L25 years ago

DELF Tips, All Levels From A Veteran: AMA!

AMA

Came a little late for the poster who wanted tips for the DELF exams, but I decided to make a post here since I've
taken all the DELF exams except A1, and the two DALF exams (langues et sciences humaines). I thought this might
be useful especially for younger people who may not have as much exam skills to rely on. I grew up speaking
French as a second/third language and so the tests were not too bad - passed the last one when I was 15. Feel free
to add in more tips and comments!
I'll start with A2.
Time needed to pass comfortably: 1 year of learning the language in a structured environment (could be self-study
at this stage, if you have someone to practice with)
Focus on: Listening. The oral is ridiculously easy and not a big stretch from the A1. The reading comprehension
needs skills, and you should aim to catch sentence constructions like 'y', 'on ne doit pas...' and get familiar with your
numbers. Also the font is usually really annoying, especially if you're taking the DELF Junior (which was not
available when I took it, for better or for worse). The listening tends to be quite muddled and you might get an
announcer reading out les horaires des trains en gare. Which can be quite unnerving if you don't know your
numbers. Also you generally get discussions about fixing up appointments and meetings and stuff. Best way to
practice listening at this level is by practicing your speaking, and doing more practice papers.
B1
Time needed to pass comfortably: 1.5 to 2 years of learning the language in a structured environment. I personally
felt that the gap between A2 and B1 was huge, but the gap between B1 and B2 was smaller (for me). I spent 1 year
after the A2 working on a lot of basics - you should be able to conjugate most verbs in the passé composé,
l'imparfait, le subjonctif (LEARN THIS EARLY ON, TRUST ME) and le conditionnel. The more tenses you have
under your belt, the better. Of course, present tense is a given at this stage.
Focus on: Listening/reading comprehension. At the early stages, essay writing isn't too bad if you have a wide
vocabulary (meaning that you know some stock phrases such as 'de la même façon' and 'Grâce à/à cause de...' so
it's the reading that can be confusing. However, you need to be really careful regarding structure: learn how to
formulate your ideas in a 'reportage' format, with a short intro/conclusion, and how to write letters beginning with
Madame/Monsieur. The passages are a huge jump from A2 and if you aren't comfortable with French sentence
structure (especially the newspaper sort that tries to fit in as much information as possible), you will suffer. 'Le but'
means 'the point', by the way; they always have one question where they ask you 'Quel est le but de...' Also, you will
be asked to 'citez le nom d'une organisation/d'une structure...' (with qualifying info about what they want you to find)
so get ready to pick up on names and stuff. There will be a lexicon with some words in the passage, but the words
they do give meanings for are usually pretty useless. The oral tends to contain a roleplay segment, but if you
memorise your self introduction and present yourself well before that stage, they will likely go easy on you. Again,
remember your numbers!
Common misunderstood words: 'interdire' is not 'to have a conversation'; it means 'prohibited'. Many students are
familiar with 'interdit' but not 'interdire'. 'issues', in the context of 'des équipes issues de diverses organisations',
means 'from'. 'Changement' means 'change', remember this, and they like to say 'faire un changement'. À votre avis
= selon vous = in your opinion.
B2
Time needed to pass comfortably: At least 2 years of learning French in a structured environment. Classes would be
beneficial at this stage. I took my B2 about 6 months after my B1, in the next available session, which I regret. Still, I
passed, but not without great anxiety. You should be able to read a simple book at this stage. Go try 'La Silence De
La Mer'. If you can understand 80% of it, you can take the B2.
Focus on: Essay writing! Listening is hard, but if you survived the B1, you can survive the B2. If I'm not wrong, you
get to hear all passages twice in the B1, whereas in the B2 there is one that you can only hear once, so watch out!
Reading comprehension will always have this box of 'vrai/faux' questions, which are usually easy, but you MUST
quote the correct 'justification' from the passage to get the mark. When in doubt, quote extra. There is also a
question on 'le ton des journalistes' which comes with boxes like 'dubitatif', 'polémique' and 'ironique'. This can be a
bit of a crapshoot, but fear not as it is only 1 or 2 marks. You will also get this question where you have to explain a
given phrase, like a sort of mini essay. Again, brush up on your exam vocab: what is a 'pouvoir gris'? The essay
writing is tough, and will do you in if you make grammar/vocab errors. You really need to write more than a dozen
essays and have them corrected by an advanced speaker/native speaker. Also, learn more sentence constructions
and get used to 'assuming a role'. The oral is interesting; you get a passage, some prep, and then you state and
defend your opinion (like a speech). There is generally enough time to WRITE DOWN THE WHOLE SPEECH and
pretend that you are not reading from it, so do that. Also, the examiners will ask tough questions. Keep your cool,
never admit that you are confused, and ask them questions in return. They will mark you as 'able to sustain a
conversation'.
Alright! I have more tips/resources for these levels as well as the DALF, but this post is really
long. http://www.ciep.fr/delf-dalf is your friend. I would love to answer specific questions/help out anyone who's
learning, so...n'hésitez pas à me contacter.
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level 1
suehtomit

L32 points·5 years ago

Is there any online practice paper or test that you would recommend? And thanks for your info! It's very helpful!
level 2
llosa

L21 point·5 years ago

ciep.fr in the link given above has great practices. If not, tell me what level you are at - I have a treasure trove of
resources. I would also recommend some of the tests at about.com French, as well as www.french-exam.com/
Continue this thread

level 1
patlike

B21 point·5 years ago

Very useful. Thanks. I'm between A2 and B1 at the moment, and I'm focusing on reading and listening, as you say.
Oral comprehension is definitely my weakest area at the moment, so I'm listening to the radio a lot and really
pushing myself to speak and understand responses in day-to-day conversation. It is happening! I'm reading my first
novel, and I can actually understand it (for the most part). I'm hoping to take the exam later this year.
level 2
llosa
L22 points·5 years ago

One resource I would recommend you get is a Bescherelle conjugation book. It is incredibly useful and while you
can look up conjugations online, having a book trains you to look up words in dictionaries (a useful skill from DALF
onwards) and having it in your pocket can help with revision. Definitely check out Le Petit Journal or other series on
Canal +, and I think there's one called Les Guignols (but it's quite France-specific). Great job with your studies so
far, reading a book at B1 level takes determination, and feel free to contact me if you have more specific questions.
level 1
jijinko

1 point·5 years ago

Interesting tips, thanks for posting. I've done the A2 and B1 exams in the last couple of years. Did quite well but
definitely found the listening test in the B1 quite tricky, so really need to improve my listening skills before giving the
B2 a go (only hearing the recording once is pretty daunting!).
Something to work towards next year though.
level 2
llosa

L22 points·5 years ago

Search for Le Petit Journal on Canal+ or Youtube, it really helps with listening and it's hilarious. Norman is another
great Youtuber for this. Also, try putting French radio in the background - the immersion really helps. Let me know if
you need more help.
Continue this thread

level 1
Ildera

L2 B21 point·5 years ago

Thank you for this, it was very helpful. I'm taking B1, and have a disability that affects my performance on listening
exercises. (This is a problem that affects me in my L1 as well, I'm not just making excuses for poor French). Is it
easy enough to get the 5 minimum marks needed?
level 2
llosa

L21 point·5 years ago

Definitely write to them about your disability. They have been known to make exceptions in the past. It is easy to get
5 marks, but losing too many marks might stop you from getting the 50 total needed to pass.

level 1
llosa
L21 point·5 years ago
Definitely write to them about your disability. They have been known to make exceptions in the past. It is easy to get
5 marks, but losing too many marks might stop you from getting the 50 total needed to pass.
level 2
Ildera
L2 B21 point·5 years ago
Thank you - my French teacher was going to make enquiries, but says that the French are not as far down the
"reasonable adjustment" path as we are. Unfortunately it's a cognitive issue, rather than a deafness one. I'm feeling
hopeful about the 50 marks as I'm at least B2 for reading/writing, so I shall be relying on those, and a lot of practice,
to carry me through.
level 3
llosa
L22 points·5 years ago
Be warned that reading/writing can be a bit risky. Reading is a section you can easily guarantee 20+ for, but I have
had grammatically perfect essays marked down to a 15/17 due to a lack of interesting ideas/structure. The oral will
be fine, assuming the cognitive issue doesn't hamper your listening ability during the conversation - I was able to get
24/25 throughout my DELF exams in that section. There are some cheap tricks that you can use to boost your
chances of hitting 5 in the listening, of course

Posted by

u/pacebailey

L23 years ago

DELF Question

I've just passed the DELF B1 with a 78/100. My score was mostly bogged down by listening comprehension, but I
was far from the lower limit of only 5 correct per section. Does anyone have a good mental context pertaining to the
difference between the B1 and B2 exams? I know that the B2 is useful in applying to French universities, but my
main focus is in living and working in France. Should I take the B2 in the spring after some period of preparation?
Thanks!
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level 1
Hellea

L1 (Nissa)3 points·3 years ago

I'm french, so I may have a bias. But in my opinion, you should at least try the B2 level. If your main focus is to live
and work in France, having something to attest you have a good level in french may make things easier for you
when you seek for a job. You'll live in immersion, so you'll necessarily improve french, but it also could be useful for
you to know your level before you come.
level 1
Kramalimedov

L1 France1 point·3 years ago

B2 is the level that is asked by many institution companies.


A lot of them are not familiar with the full scale of language level (and may even not be sure if B1 is more or less
advanced than B2), but they know B2 level and they take it as "able to work/study in French". They are mostly not
aware of other tests, so I would say to try B2

Posted by

u/TheGamerRian

B11 year ago

Help going from A2 to B1 / B2

Advice

I just got my DELF A2 Results for the exam I took on the 24th of April (92/100) and now I'm ready to take the step
up to B1 I've already begun immersing myself into the language more on a daily basis for example
I'm watching through dix pour cent on Netflix (Known by it's English name Call My Agent ) with both the English and
French subtitles,
I have a Spotify playlist full of French pop I love( Favorite artists ATM are Tal, Black m and Claudio Capeo) and I'm
just about to start into Inner French for podcasting,
I really have to get my grammar down though, I have all the basic tenses, Passé Composé Le futur and le présent
but I need to start moving into L'imparfait and I know a bit of le conditional
TL:DR Please link me all of your resources, study plans, French media etc
PS: I'm relatively inactive on the discord as Paradaux#2864
Bonsoir à l'irlande !
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level 1
mw1642

7 points·1 year ago

J'ai commencé a utiliser une appli nommé frantastique. Il vous montre votre progrès le plus que vous l'utilisez. Mais,
seulement les premiers 7 jours sont gratuits. J'ai progressé de b1 à ~b1-b2 dans un mois d'utilisation. Au moins,
c'est où l'appli m'a placé.
level 2
dephlogisticatedguy

B2 | Brussels3 points·1 year ago

J'ai utilisé aussi frantastique! (De A2 à ~A2/B1 dans un mois pour moi.) C'est drôle, facile, et enseigne à la fois
vocabulaire et grammaire (conjugaison, etc.).
(I swear this isn't spam; I randomly started using it when I began working on my French a month ago, and haven't
seen it discussed much here! It's great as it's much more serious than something like duolingo; it includes study of
tables of conjugations, and things more like a traditional college-level language course.)
Continue this thread

level 2
soinside

-2 points·1 year ago·edited 1 year ago

I've been studying French daily for 5 months. I explore new learning tools all the time but I've never heard of
frantastique until today. I am constantly amazed at the volume and variety of language learning tools available. I
can't wait to try this one.
Use this link to sign on. https://www.frantastique.com/r/referral/39E6DSN/AN

Posted by

u/FrothyPeach96
2 years ago

French for working in france

Discussion

I'm intending on moving to France to work later this year and I need to get my french up to scratch to do so. From
what is online it looks like getting DELF Pro B1/2 would be the minimum requirement to work in a french speaking
company. According to (http://www.frenchcourses.org.uk/bonjour/) my french level is currently at A2 working to B1.
I've signed up for A2 classes as I can't physically get to the B1 classes but I still intend on taking the B1 exam.
Do you think B1 would be enough to work in france and what learning resources are best to make up the difference
between A2 and B1?
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level 1
Troebr

L1 (french)4 points·2 years ago

What kind of work are you going to be doing?


level 2
FrothyPeach96

1 point·2 years ago

Hopefully scientific but I'll have to be flexible in what I apply for.


Continue this thread

level 1
xXCurry_In_A_HurryXx

A2 [Australie]3 points·2 years ago

The gap between A2 and B1 is extremely small. In my opinion, it is basically the difference between being able to
write and listen to French fluently and being able to speak as well as you can write.
level 2
boulet

L1, France2 points·2 years ago

I'm not familiar with the definition of those ranks but I'm curious how writing fluently vs speaking fluently would be an
"extremely small" gap. At least for me it took a few years with English.
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level 2
FrothyPeach96

1 point·2 years ago

That's interesting, currently my written french is the weakest aspect so A2 is probably the right course.

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