I passed the DALF C1 Exam! Sharing my experience!

Bonjour French enthusiasts!
I’ve been learning and teaching French since 2015. After successfully passing the DELF B2 exam in March 2017, I maintained a strong connection with the French language.

Living, and working in France, along with teaching French to my own students, and appearing for the TEF Canada exam, further enhanced my proficiency.

I strongly believe in seeing through what I begin, which is why obtaining a DALF C1 and C2 certification has always been on my to-do list. On 11th October 2023 this year, I reached a significant milestone by getting certified for the DALF C1 exam, a culmination of years dedicated to refining my skills. However, this is only a part of the story. Here’s the unembellished truth:

After completing my C1 level classes in December 2020, my initial plan was to advance to C2 level studies and then directly attempt the C2 level exam (yes, it’s possible to take the exam directly). I enrolled in a C2 level course while in France, attending most classes. Upon returning to India, I believed that some self-study could propel me to DALF C2 certification. My decision to skip the DALF C1 exam at that time was twofold: to save both money and time that would be spent on the C1 exam. However, I encountered challenges along the way.

Firstly, due to my commitment to teaching full-time to my A1 to B2 level students upon my return from France, it was difficult to distance myself from the basic level of French and immerse myself in a C2-type French state of mind. Secondly, my motivation waned, given that taking the C2 exam required traveling to Delhi, which I’m not particularly fond of due to pollution and overcrowding. Altogether, I didn’t feel adequately motivated and prepared for the C2 level exam yet.

However, after much contemplation and mental preparation to appear for a C-level exam and not further delay certification, I enrolled in some one-on-one sessions with a trainer who provided me with comprehensive training for all the modules. The exam was to be held on 15th September 2023, and on the midnight of 14th August 2023, I finally registered for it at Alliance française de Chandigarh as soon as the applications opened. The moment I paid the exam fees, I was determined to succeed because I despise attempting the same exam multiple times. I wanted to achieve it in one go, and that determination drove me to work harder and smarter to reach this goal.

So, I committed all my time and effort for this one month. In the first 20 days, I meticulously studied and prepared my notes at a steady pace. Over the next 10 days, I needed to fully immerse myself in a C1 level French mindset. So I decided to take a break from my ongoing classes with students to concentrate entirely on my preparation during this crucial period. I assigned them self-study tasks to do during this time. These 10 days were crucial for my preparation, occasionally inducing anxiety as I realized the need to broaden my general knowledge on certain topics to elaborate  effectively in Speaking and Writing.

I vividly remember the evening of 12th September 2023, just 3 days before the exam, when restlessness crept in. I was in the midst of studying while also in conversation with a potential client seeking French classes. Although I’m a teacher, exam stress is a universal experience. Feeling anxious, I decided to regain focus promptly. I took a refreshing shower, dressed up nicely, and visited a nearby cafe to detach from French momentarily, listen to relaxing music, and enjoy a coffee alone. It was just my way of rejuvenating, and upon my return home, I found the same energy and enthusiasm, enabling me to study almost all night long.

I can proudly say that during these days, I left no stone unturned and that I delved into an extensive array of blogs, articles, YouTube videos, and podcasts on RFI Savoirs day in and day out. I made countless handwritten notes, vocabulary lists, and developed ideas on various global themes—analyzing advantages, disadvantages, causes, consequences, examples, events, solutions, and so much more.

Overall, my journey of preparing for the DALF C1 exam has been an exhilarating experience, and I’m fully convinced that this was the right path for me before taking the DALF C2. It was like riding a roller-coaster, with a mix of emotions ranging from the satisfaction of expanding my knowledge and building an extensive French vocabulary to the anxiety associated with the approaching exam. There were themes initially unfamiliar to me, and preparing for this exam significantly broadened my understanding of the world.

So finally, burning the midnight oil truly paid off. Although my sleep cycle and meals temporarily went off-track, they have since been returning to normal, bringing incredible rewards for my professional journey. I’m immensely proud of myself, and the thought of being DALF C1-certified for life is still exciting!

Throughout this period, this quote continually fueled my determination: “There is nothing more pleasant than the feeling of the finished task, of the completed work.”- Henri- Frédéric Amiel

While there are undoubtedly more projects on the horizon, for now, let me revel in this current moment! 🙂

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