Self-Preparation Routine for TEF Canada (New Format)

The TEF Canada examination helps you get additional points for French as a second language and 12 points if you are able to achieve a CLB 7 or above. Let’s see how we can make it feasible.

The TEF Canada consists of 4 modules:

Listening: 40 minutes / 40 questions (MCQ- type)
Reading: 60 minutes/ 40 questions (MCQ- type)
Writing: 60 minutes/ 2 topics (One newspaper article to be written with a word limit of 80 words and one formal letter to express your opinion with a word limit of 200 to 270 words)
Speaking: 15 minutes/ 2 tasks (A formal situation to inquire and ask questions regarding an advertisement/ announcement and an informal situation on convincing your friend for an activity)

Being MCQ tests, LISTENING AND READING is generally easier in TEF Canada. All you need is a good amount of practice for both. However, WRITING and SPEAKING, being subjective in nature, happen to be comparatively more difficult. WRITTEN French has a plethora of grammatical rules and specific sentence structures. In addition, you need to be an expert at attempting the specific formats of both Writing tasks in order to achieve your desired scores. Further, in the SPEAKING module, you need to be an expert at dealing with formal and informal situations in French with good pronunciation, accents, specific format, expressions, and sentence structures. Moreover, in Speaking, you are not given any time for preparation (hardly 30 seconds to 1 minute). So you need to be very spontaneous in your conversation with the examiner. Quite evidently, learning to speak French needs a good amount of hard work. Here you can find some useful tips for the same.

AMOUNT OF TIME & EFFORT REQUIRED FOR TEF CANADA PREPARATION:

A level equivalent to DELF B2 (Vantage/ Upper Intermediate Level) is required to achieve a CLB 7 in the TEF Canada examination. Without this level, your money and time go to waste.
Reaching a B2 level in French generally necessitates a significant amount of language learning. Achieving this level within 1 to 1.5 years is feasible, depending on the pace and structure of the course offered by the instructor.
If your level is equivalent to DELF B2, then you are required to go for exam-specific training (self/ guided) about a month before the registered date of the test.
In case you are an absolute beginner, you are required to learn the French language in order to reach a Vantage/ Upper Intermediate level (B2).
You can do this either under the guidance of a trained and experienced language expert or else, yourself. You can find the plan for the same here.

HOW TO BEGIN THE FRENCH LEARNING PROCESS?

If you choose to seek guidance under a language instructor, make sure to check a few important parameters.

First, the trainer must be level B2 or C1 qualified and must have prior experience in training for TEF Canada even if you are starting with A1.
Second, your trainer must communicate (at least a bit) in French with you right from day 1.
Third, make sure the class size is not more than 8- 10 students so that you do get the required amount of attention. Also, confirm with the trainer if all the test modules will be taken care of during your learning process and if you will be provided feedback and correction on your Grammar practice exercises and Writing tasks from time to time.

You must always discuss with your trainer right in the beginning as to when you plan to take the exam so that he/ she may counsel you as per your capability. Also, do check the test dates at your nearest test center.
If you are going for a guided preparation by an expert, do not misunderstand this to be a process completely dependent upon the trainer. The simultaneous and regular self-study will take you a long way. Your trainer will do their best in teaching, guiding, and providing you with the best resources for your study. However, if the amount of effort from your end is lacking, there is no way for you to be able to achieve the desired scores. In any case, you are the center of the whole process and TEF Canada demands religious studies of the French language.
Make sure that if you are an absolute beginner, do not make haste into anything since learning a language takes its own natural time and if you do not give the trainer enough time to train you for the same, you may fall short of points later on.

SELF-FRENCH LEARNING:

At a fast-track pace, this process ideally takes between 8- 9 months with 3-6 hours of French learning each day, including weekends. Not just that, this requires a proper plan of action, strategies, and clarity as to what to study and what not to study. TEF Canada requires some smart study so as to remain sorted and to keep the level of motivation high at most times. Here’s a useful plan for self-preparation for TEF Canada.
For Speaking, these tips might come in handy to you.

TEF CANADA EXAM-SPECIFIC PREPARATION FOR LEARNERS WITH A LEVEL B1/ B2:

The TEF Canada exam-specific preparation requires about a month or two prior to the registered date for your exam. Here are the two official guides for TEF Canada exam preparation:

OLD FORMAT:

NEW FORMAT: TEF (HACHETTE)

Description of the new format for TEF Canada

Get access to our Ebook- “Fait Divers Formula for TEF Canada” here.

Get access to LingoRelic’s Recorded course for French Pronunciation Made Easy

Get access to LingoRelic’s Recorded course for French Subjunctive Made Easy

Get access to LingoRelic’s Recorded course for French Pronouns Made Easy

During this preparation month, you may also seek help from the websites PrepMyFuture for your exam preparation.

To get the right kind of guidance for your French learning process, you may join our official TEF Coaching (French coaching in Chandigarh) at LingoRelic Language Academy. To avail the best online French classes in Chandigarh, WhatsApp us at 9056131830 to get in touch.