The DELF and DALF are official French proficiency tests. In this video, French teachers in various countries talk about what DELF and DALF mean to them. Below, you'll find the transcript - click any phrase to read the English and follow links to related French grammar lessons.
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Hi J,
In the paragraph, it says
'Si je devais associer un mot ....... je vais choisir ....'
Grammatically speaking it should be 'choisirais' ( conditional) because of the 'si + imperfect' .
The speaker is a learner and makes the mistake so it has been corrected in brackets...
For more information on si clauses take a look at the following Kwiziq lesson -
Hope this helps!
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I just want to second Jessica’s comment. Any time I have a positive experience when learning French, the person or group on the other side is either anglophone or lives in an anglophone world. Too many French teachers and examiners seem to walk in with an antagonistic attitude, especially when dealing with anglophones. Setting folks up to fail with a “listen through a tin can” type test seems entirely characteristic of this. I live in France with a delightful French man (he needs English every day for his professional activities) but if I have anything to do involving French authorities, I insist that either he go with me or handle it completely, even when I feel confident that in ordinary circumstances I could handle it myself, entirely in French. I started doing this on the advice of my immigration attorney, who routinely gives this advice to her clients. Not always, fortunately, but too often, it makes the difference between succeeding and failing. Ordinary French people are generally fine, but any serious student should be forewarned regarding these “gatekeepers” who seem to gravitate toward giving language tests, granting residence permits, etc. and seem to delight in creating arbitrary hurdles, arguing — falsely — that one cannot get by just by speaking English ( if she didn’t have a problem with anglophones, why did she make that statement?), reducing Sciences Po students from “hero” to “zero,” etc. You can’t do much about them but at least you can be psychologically prepared.
Hi Lynn,
Interesting comments but I am afraid this is a political debate and the Q&A is a language forum for language questions...
Hi Lyn
Unfortunately it can be the same worldwide. My friend had a similar expreience in Australia and another in Spain. It is hard when one speaks another language, to feel confident to face authorities in any country. I also find it hard speaking french on the phone as I get extremely (more) nervous. I hope it gets better as time goes on. Keep trying, everyone is not the same. Some people are vey helpful!
But it is good to be psychologically prepared.
Kind regards
Janet
I just want to second Jessica’s comment. Any time I have a positive experience when learning French, the person or group on the other side is either anglophone or lives in an anglophone world. Too many French teachers and examiners seem to walk in with an antagonistic attitude, especially when dealing with anglophones. Setting folks up to fail with a “listen through a tin can” type test seems entirely characteristic of this. I live in France with a delightful French man (he needs English every day for his professional activities) but if I have anything to do involving French authorities, I insist that either he go with me or handle it completely, even when I feel confident that in ordinary circumstances I could handle it myself, entirely in French. I started doing this on the advice of my immigration attorney, who routinely gives this advice to her clients. Not always, fortunately, but too often, it makes the difference between succeeding and failing. Ordinary French people are generally fine, but any serious student should be forewarned regarding these “gatekeepers” who seem to gravitate toward giving language tests, granting residence permits, etc. and seem to delight in creating arbitrary hurdles, arguing — falsely — that one cannot get by just by speaking English ( if she didn’t have a problem with anglophones, why did she make that statement?), reducing Sciences Po students from “hero” to “zero,” etc. You can’t do much about them but at least you can be psychologically prepared.
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I was really upset (so upset, I have to write this in English) by the March 7th sitting of the DELF B2, as were many of my collegues who expressed the same sentiment: The oral comprehension was so extremely difficult. It was a telephone interview, which sounded like it took place in a tin can. I have prepared very well for the DELF B2. I listed to France 1 everyday for 6 months. By far, the selected interview for this test was the most difficult and the WORST quality of an interview I ever heard. Furthermore, the speaker had a very low voice, and all his words were 'liasoned' together.
It seems to me that the want you to fail the B2. At B1, they are so happy that you have come that far with French and are so supportive. But at B2, they want to trick you and make it exceedingly difficult and set you up for failure. It was extremely stressful and not happy time as expressed in this video.
I wish there was someone to express this complaint to, especially if I fail.
I was really upset (so upset, I have to write this in English) by the March 7th sitting of the DELF B2, as were many of my collegues who expressed the same sentiment: The oral comprehension was so extremely difficult. It was a telephone interview, which sounded like it took place in a tin can. I have prepared very well for the DELF B2. I listed to France 1 everyday for 6 months. By far, the selected interview for this test was the most difficult and the WORST quality of an interview I ever heard. Furthermore, the speaker had a very low voice, and all his words were 'liasoned' together.
It seems to me that the want you to fail the B2. At B1, they are so happy that you have come that far with French and are so supportive. But at B2, they want to trick you and make it exceedingly difficult and set you up for failure. It was extremely stressful and not happy time as expressed in this video.
I wish there was someone to express this complaint to, especially if I fail.
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