There are many reasons to take French language certification in Canada: getting into a French school, applying for permanent residency or citizenship, having documentation to show a potential employer your linguistic ability, or simply knowing your level of French language proficiency.
For most of these scenarios, life goals and career trajectories can be significantly impacted by a successful test. As such, you will probably want to prepare as much as you can before taking a French certification exam.
Preparing for any major test can be stressful, and can even cause anxiety. This is why it is so important to have a plan in place to study before a French language exam.
This article has been written for anyone who is planning to take a French exam, and wants to ensure that they feel confident and ready going in. But first, let’s take a closer look at the benefits of getting French language certification.
Planning to apply for permanent residency to Canada? Do you have goals to immigrate to Canada permanently? Find out which French certifications can give you an advantage.
What are the Benefits of Getting French Certifications?
There are a lot of benefits to getting French language certification if you are a non native speaker of French. The benefits of certification can indeed impact many of your life choices and open opportunities for work that you would not have otherwise - especially in Canada.
Canada is a bilingual country, with English and French as the official languages. Because English is spoken by most Canadians, the Canadian government is deeply invested in making sure that French speaking communities grow and flourish.
Supporting the Francophone community starts by encouraging French speaking immigrants to settle in communities where the language is used widely in business and education. This is why certified French speaking newcomers have an advantage when applying for immigration or permanent residency.
Some of the largest French speaking communities include:
- Montreal, Quebec
- Quebec City, Quebec
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Moncton, New Brunswick
- St. Boniface, Manitoba
- Sherbrooke, Quebec
- Gatineau, Quebec
- Trois-Rivieres, Quebec
Those who are already settled in Canada will find plenty of advantages of having French certification, such as the ability to apply to French speaking universities in Canada and France. Being able to demonstrate to employers that you speak French is also a big benefit, as the qualification will set you apart from other candidates.
Finally, a benefit of French certification is that you will have achieved a special goal and have built your linguistic foundation. If you have been studying French since childhood, you should definitely have something to show the world and yourself that you are multilingual in Canada’s official languages!
There are a lot of French language certifications out there, from the TEF to the DELF and the dozens of programs available in universities and colleges. Learn all about the different French exams in Canada.
What is the Best French Language Certification?
There are a number of ways you an acquire French language certification, but the one you should choose will enable you to achieve the goals you have. Some things to consider include:
- Are you looking to complete an academic program of study, like a degree?
- Do you need certification to fulfill a requirement for immigration or permanent residency in Canada?
- Are you interested in attending a French postsecondary institution?
- Do you simply want to know what level you are in your French learning?
For students that are looking to complete a degree or program for school, there are French language and literature degree and diploma programs in many colleges and universities across Canada.
For those who want the appropriate documentation for immigration or permanent residency, you will want to look into the Test d’Évaluation du Français (TEF Canada). This is the exam that is recognized by the Government of Canada.
Anyone interested in embarking on studies in French will want to look at the Test de connaissance du français (TCF) or the Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française (DELF), which will certify your level of proficiency as a French speaker. Be sure to check the universities you are applying to find out what certification they honour.
What are the Top Study Tips for Preparing for French Certification?
Now that we know the benefits of having French Certification, let’s talk about how you can prepare for the exam.
If you are considering taking a French certification exam, you have probably been studying French for some time. However, it is important to note that writing a certification test like the The Test d’Évaluation du Français (TEF Canada), Test de connaissance du français (TCF), or Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française (DELF) will mean that you have to navigate the test format with success.
Here are our top tips for studying for a certification exam.
Start Studying as Soon as Possible
Studying months before an exam may seem like the last thing you want to do, but it never hurts to start reviewing what you have difficulty with most in French at an early date.
Perhaps it is a group of irregular verbs, a tricky conjugation, or building fluency in reading or writing. Whatever your biggest challenge is in French, start with that before reviewing what you are already strong in.
Studying early is also a great way to build your confidence. It can be unpleasant to study at the last minute for a big test. Knowing that you have been preparing long in advance can help you to be calm and confident before the big day.
Are you looking to immigrate, work, or study in Canada? Find out which French proficiency certification is right for you.
Brush Up on your Oral Proficiency
Every French certification exam will contain an oral proficiency component, during which your speaking and listening skills will be assessed. For this reason, it is always useful to brush up on your oral proficiency by taking opportunities to converse in French with others.
If finding a group of French speakers is challenging for you, take advantage of the ample amounts of free French audio and video out there on the internet. Listen to French podcasts, news reports, or watch movies and TV shows.
Another alternative, which we will discuss later, is to hire a French tutor to practice conversation with. This is an excellent way to ensure that you get lots of time to spontaneously converse with others before your exam.
Write Regularly in French
In any language, writing is a skill that truly only develops the more you actually do the task. This is why it is so important to write regularly in French so you can feel confident and ready for the written component of the French exam you choose.
Writing independently can take a lot of motivation, especially for those of us that prefer to avoid the task altogether. Make a point of writing every day by following writing prompts, or joining a French writing course or workshop.
If you are already enrolled in a French course, make sure you take every opportunity in the course to submit detailed and well written work, so you can receive feedback from your teacher and perhaps even your peers.
As you practice writing in French, keep word lists, commonly used phrases, and sentence starters handy so you have a reference guide to kickstart your creativity or to save yourself the trouble of consulting a dictionary every time.
When you start to see there results you will be thrilled with how spontaneously and instinctively you can create texts in French!
Knowing which French certification is right for you takes research and serious consideration of your life goals. Learn more about French certification in Canada.
Join a Test Preparation Group
Finding students that are also taking the same proficiency test is a great and fun way to prepare. Collectively you can share insights, challenges, and support each other through the stress of a big exam.
Having a group is also great for getting feedback on your communication skills, and also being able to share your own knowledge and perspective. Learning in a social environment can make language acquisition more experiential, which helps you to retain content better.
The best part about joining a group is also the friendships you will form - who knows what pathways life will take you on?
Is it Easy to find a Tutor for a French Certification in Canada?
It is surprisingly convenient to find a tutor for French certification in Canada using the Superprof Canada site. Superprof connects students with prospective tutors, and if you are looking for an exam-specific tutor you will easily find someone who can coach you to do your best on the big day.
Find a French exam tutor on Superprof today!
Speakers of both of Canada’s official languages, particularly French, can make you stand out as a professionals. Find out about career opportunities with French certifications in Canada.
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