Level Exams

Exams? Oh no!
Exams? Oh no!

A while ago, I had the goal of attending a French university. This goal is still very much alive in my mind but it has been put on the back burner for just a bit. However, one of the entrance requirements for foreign students is a certain level in French. Most universities, schools, and textbooks are moving towards categorizing levels based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). I am not 100% sure but I believe to enter into French university you should have at least a B2 level. This may depend on the university and what program you are entering into. My intention is to enroll into a program as a regular student not as a student of French as a foreign language.

Currently, you can take two routes. First, there is the TCF-DAP (and/or TCF). The TCF is the Test de Connaissance de Français. The TCF is open to anyone who would like to determine their level in French. The TCF-DAP is intended for those who wish to enter into the first cycle of French university. It seems that this test covers all of the CEFR levels in one exam, you progress through each level and in the end you have an idea of where you stand.

The other option is take a DELF/DALF exam. The DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française) covers levels A1 through B2 of the CEFR and the DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) covers levels C1 and C2 with each level having its own individual exam. This is an official diploma from the French Ministry of National Education and is only for foreign students. This exam can be taken all over the world. Here are some subject examples.

Realizing that I was having trouble structuring my language learning, I thought it might be a good idea to revisit the CEFR levels in order to give myself a short-term goal. (The long-term is goal is to become fluent.) Also, if I have a diploma under my belt, I am all set to enter into French university when the time comes.

But I have no idea what my level is.

I picked up a book called Le Nouvel Entrainez-vous: DELF B1 to see how I did with the exercises. So far the oral comprehension exercises have been easy but I think that the written and oral production sections are not going to go so smoothly. I'll keep you posted.

Lastly, I am considering taking a correspondance/online class through CNED (Centre national d'enseignement à distance). Anyone can take classes through CNED and they offer courses to prepare for each level of the DELF/DALF as well as the TCF. The prices are reasonable and you have a tutor who works with you. For an extra fee, you can participate in forums and discussion boards with other students doing the same course.

Anyone have experience with this?

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samdebretagne
I have two comments here. The first of which relates to the CNED - last year, I did the first year of the BTS Diététique through them. I passed my year, but it was not without difficulty. Since there are no classes to go to and everything is done at home, you really need to be motivated and able to stay on schedule. Also, I felt like it took a really long time to get the corrected devoirs back, but it is by correspondance, so what can you expect. Personally, I didn't find the online forum very useful, and the office hours the tutors had were really odd. But on the other hand, it's way cheaper than going through a university or a private school and lets you work at your own pace, when you have time.

Second, I took the DALF two years ago and found that it wasn't so much based on your knowledge of French, but instead on your knowledge of how the French write, ie. knowing how they construct an argument (ex: comment rediger une thèse), knowing how they expect you to condense an article down into XX number of words, etc. I took a preparatory course offered through my language program and there is no way I would've passed without this. A friend of mine, who at the time spoke WAY better French than I did, didn't think she needed the course and ended up failing the exam, not because she made lots of mistakes, but because she didn't follow the proper format. But that's typically French - it's not so much about what you say, but how you say it!

So that's my two cents, for what it's worth.
SarahWG
Thanks Sam! That is exactly the kind of information I am looking for from experienced people.

I am already completing a degree online through a school in the states so I am very familar with the ups and downs of online classes. Since so many French people are surprised with my online classes I sensed that the CNED may not be at the level as online programs in the states.

I also appreciate your point about knowing how to take an exam in France. I think this is a really important thing to consider while I study!
destinationmetz
I thought French university was free aside from the administrative 300 euros to begin with? Or have I been misinformed? I truly hope not as I would really like to take French at university in France.
SarahWG
For public French universities you are correct. The fee is sometimes spread out over semesters but essentially it is just an administrative fee. Most private institutions cost more but the prices are still much lower than those in the states. CNED's fees could be defined as administrative - they are really quite low.

Now, I took French at the Sorbonne and that program was aimed at foreigners. Because of this the prices were a bit high - my program which consisted of 2 hours everyday of classes plus1 hour every other week of pronunciation was 1200 for 3-4 months. In order to take French as a regular university student your level would have to be at the B2 or higher mark. Even to be a student of English literature, your French has to be at this level as most of the classes are in French.
samdebretagne
Rochelle, if you want to study French at a university, it will likely cost around what Sarah said. I learned my French at the univ de Rennes 2 and it cost about 1100€ for the year, for about 15 hours of class per week. (It was definitely worth it though, they are the reason I speak French fluently).

The 365€ that one pays for university fees usually only applies to the regular degree programs. I've never heard of a French university that offers French classes as a regular course, but as with everything in France, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist somewhere out there!
samdebretagne
No, I definitely wouldn't expect it to be like online classes in the States. From my experience, everything at the CNED was done by phone or through snail mail. In the beginning, I'd tried emailing my questions to professors, and it'd take them months to get back to me, so I finally either stopped and just tried to find info online or worked up enough courage to call.
benjamin
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Trop peu de texte en rédigé en français pour nous laisser constater les progrès réalisés.

nice blog anyway.

BarbaraBananas

Hi! I´ve only been in Paris for a week so I´m still pretty lost. In spain, where I´ve studied the last

John Harding
[this is good]
Hi, my name is John Harding and I'm running a language learning blog . I was wondering whether I can use some parts of this article in my new blogpost (of course stating your authorship)? Thanks in advance, I enjoy your blog very much (probably as much as I do enjoy French language lol)

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