The DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française) is the official French-language diploma awarded by France's Ministry of National Education, internationally recognized as the standard French proficiency examination.
The DELF is awarded in four levels, A1 (beginner), A2 (intermediate), B1 (independent), and B2 (advanced). More than 500, 000 candidates pass the DELF exam every year.
Achieving a DELF diploma offers many advantages to students, including:
1. Comprehensive skill in reading, listening, writing, and speaking French The DELF targets both oral and written comprehension and production, drawing from real-life situations. French language skills obtained in passing the DELF exam are practical and authentic.
2. Life-long certification that is valid globally The DELF is based on the same international used in 164 countries, the CEFR. Every DELF diploma has the same value and does not expire.
3. Intellectual potential and scholastic achievement Studying additional languages has been proven to strengthen overall communication and thinking in students. Students fluent in multiple languages score higher in reading, language, and mathematics.
4. Enrichment of the student’s school or professional portfolio DELF certification qualifies for high school course credits under the British Columbia Ministry of Education External Credentials Program.
The DELF offers advantages for post-secondary education; it is recognized internationally by Francophone post-secondary institutions and accepted in universities in France and Canada. It enhances a student’s resume; it describes in meaningful terms what a student is capable of doing in French.
5. Opens doors to a wide range of career and recreational opportunities throughout Canada and around the world
Today, French is an official language in almost 50 countries, including Canada, with over 200 million speakers. It is also an official language of the United Nations, the Red Cross, and many other international organizations. Students interested in pursuing Canadian politics and law will find French language proficiency to be an essential asset.
Our Program Our DELF preparation program offers tailored guidance to ensure that each student gains the linguistic knowledge and experience to succeed in the DELF examination.
The program, like the DELF examination itself, focuses on all areas of French proficiency: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Class activities include:
Grammar and vocabulary building exercises
Reading short stories, articles, and books
Writing informal letters, postcards, and journals
Listening and speaking in everyday situations
French media appreciation of film and music
Opinionated and argumentative writing (B1 level)
Oral speeches and debates on current topics (B1 level)
The program guarantees that students will:
Develop skill and confidence in French as an additional language
Actively practice using the language via speech and writing, applying the vocabulary and grammar learned in realistic contexts
Become well-versed in the requirements and exercises needed to succeed in the DELF diploma
Gain an appreciation for the French language and culture
Sample Class Agenda (1.5 hours) Topic—Voyages Abroad and Letter Writing Informal letter writing is a requirement of all DELF levels. This sample class agenda is matched to the A1 and A2 level.
1. Brainstorming and Vocabulary Session (15 minutes)
Teacher introduces the topic and prompts the students to brainstorm reasons why people travel abroad.
The brainstorming session is used to generate vocabulary relevant to voyages.
2. Past Tense Review (15 minutes)
Using verbs from the vocabulary list generated, the teacher reviews two past tense forms: passé composé and imparfait.
Students complete a written exercise on the passé compose and imparfait. The teacher walks around the class to help each student with the exercise.
3. Postcard Reading and Writing (30 minutes)
Students read an example postcard of a youth travelling abroad addressed to a friend. The teacher guides them to identify key components of a postcard, useful phrases and greetings, and the proper usage of the past tense grammar in context.
Students are paired up and given the task to write a postcard to their partner as if they were visiting another country, using passé composé and imparfait and the vocabulary brainstormed earlier.
4. Speaking about Past Voyages Abroad (30 minutes)
Students complete a DELF listening exercise, taken from the workbook provided by the Vancouver DELF examination centre. The audio is of a conversation between two individuals on a train in France, one who is visiting and talking about their impressions of the country.
The teacher goes over the listening worksheet answers with the students.
The teacher gives students transcriptions of the audio, and the students practice reading aloud the dialogue in pairs.
The students are given time to prepare and practice speaking about their own experiences travelling abroad in pairs, and then each pair presents what they talked about to the class.