OK so i have my B1 exam (very) soon and im not scared about the written part (much) but i have a problem when i talk. One of the parts is to talk about myself for 3 minutes. I tried it today in English and i run out of things to say after 1.50! Imagine doing this in French. Any tips? And any about the B1 DELF in general? I have no idea what to expect. Merci

If it is any similar to DE at B1, it will all come naturally.

First part - you get to know the other person ( who is your partner and candidate ) and introduce yourself. The examiners are like flies on the wall. No more than 3 minutes.

Second part - you are given a theme as is your partner candidate ( different theme ). Your are expected to explain your viewpoint and elucidate your partner´s views eg Recent trends appear to show that the French are being overweight - discuss ( you take a stance ). No more than 5 minutes.

Third part - Finding a solution - you are given a programme or plan as is your partner candidate. Somehow the both of you must agree to arrive at a suitable date and time for an event. About 7 minutes.

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404 – punoɟ ʇou ɹoʇɐɹǝpoɯ

Thanks

Its not that similar unfortunately. I will actually have to talk with the examiners. No partner either

For German, it stops at A2 ie your intro etc. to the examiners stops at this level. At B1 level, it is to your partner candidate, hence we are given a choice of partners beforehand, at times months ahead, to prepare.

That said, I have never sat for any French test, and do not envision doing so, and wish you all the best.

Mine was TELC DE, and this link for TELC FR explains the format. I guess for DELF it is different.

http://www.telc.net/en/what-telc-off...c-francais-b1/

Hey, gata, Delf is different than TELC.

I took B2, the orals were a week later after the written exam, it was very literary and personal, no dialogue in couples, either, as you said. I had a choice of 4 books if I am not mistaken, read and prepared one of them, I took a screen play since it was condense and philosophical, easy to muse over concepts.

Basically, it was a debate, I was supposed to initiate and speak for about 5-10mins, then they asked me questions and we analyzed the book.

It was B2 UniGe exam, recognized here in all offices, as much as B2 DELF is.

I would say, if you need to stretch your 1,5 min into 3min, you go over your place of birth, education, family, when you moved over here, how you integrated, describe your French learning efforts, and you will easily have 5-7mins. I sit as an examiner in language orals as well, and anytime student talks independently about their past and current situ, it is so interesting we hardly ever interrupt.

Speaking with aid is much easier, so if they give you photos, lead in exercise or anything like that, it is easier than if you have to give a speech.

I always tell students when they rehearse, to prepare emergency 3min detour into some theme they can push the conversation into. If the examiners are nice, they will just let them talk, as long as things are being said.

If you need a conversation group right before the exam, pm me, I will take you there, time for me to show up there again.

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"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

OK, big question, WHY take exams?

Tom

Well, for a lot of folks it is a work requirement, others are applying for citizenship, others like to reach their goals. It quantifies their progress. Assessing one's language aptitude is actually great feedback, it tells you exactly what you need to work on to meet your next goal. Preparing for an exam through structured activities that evenly practice all language skills is neat, it's systematic. It's pretty sophisticated and I don't think watching tv or reading papers will make up for it, though those are perfect for fluency and are irreplaceable, sure. But if I only relied on that, my vocab would be limited and despite boost in understanding and fluency, I would lack in grammar, writing etc. How much French does one really need in adult life for say writing..aside of the few emails and notes on neighbors doors and thank you cards. I think exam for me was perfect for writing/grammar skills (besides that being work requirement). The talking bit and communication skills are easily acquired through everyday immersion, but other skills aren't. The explanation of historical reasons for certain grammar bits or etymology of words I get from my prof helps me retain, too. I think the courses in general are much better here, if they are tailored towards an exam since the prof knows also you are determined and the profs are hired better in my experience.

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"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

By the way, check out this series of DELF B1, it's genius. The youtube user nniusia is has put up compréhension oral (listening) for A1, A2, B1, B2, looks like. Wish I knew about it to prep myself, my listening part was in a horrific Parisian accent, made me grind my teeth through it.

Jump in a train and come tell me about your life, I'm a native French speaker and I don't live all that far from you

Thanks girls. Its in two days time thats why im panicking!

At least my teacher says im ok. So as long as i am able to speak for some time in an understandable(ish) accent i should be fine. And anyway i dont care about the grade. I just want to pass

Gata, would it help if you had a phone conversation with a native French speaker ?
Perhaps if you jot down a few points you'd like to cover in your presentation, one of us could listen, assist and correct if necessary.

Probably. Today im going to write everything down in detail and make a 3 minute speech possible. Tomorrow i will drive my OH nuts by repeting how amazing i am in French :P

Im going to talk about myself a bit (name, job, why i moved to Geneva), my family (two sisters one working one at school), my pets (a dog and two million cats), what i did it my last holidays (past), whai i will do in my next holidays (future), my hobbies, how i pass my free time, what i do when i go out. Should be ok i think.

I have a few pointers to what the examiners look for from my teacher so that is good.

Im looking forward to Tuesday 3pm im telling you!

If you want to write that down and email it to me I'll correct it for you. Hey, you can even call me to say it to me, I'll correct your pronunciation.

I remember when I passed my Cambridge Proficiency

Thank you i will. I hope to have it ready by this evening

Can you sent me an email address? Or I can even pm it to you if you prefer

Bonne chance, Gata. I'm sure you'll be fine. I have to take my B1 in March, so I can't wait to hear how it went with you.

Like you, the reading and writing is fine, but my speaking and oral comprehension skills, uh, not so much.

I'd love to organize a French-only coffee hour conversation group once a week or so, after the holidays. Would any of you be interested in that? I know four other girls from my school who would do it as well.

Any takers?

I would be. I can even come to Lausanne for it if its close to the station

There's a bar called La Pinte right at the Lausanne train station or there are a bunch of other options right around there.

Now, we just need to recruit some native French speakers so they can correct us while we are trying to make ourselves understood. (And so that we don't just say "to h*** with it, and switch back to English!)

Good luck Gata!
I think you will be fine, just don't stress.
What I did to prepare for the orals was I scripted myself- I made sure I had gone through a series of questions by myself and figured out what I would respond if I asked them. They asked me some random stuff- how I felt about the death penalty but also asked about my house growing up. Then I had to pretend to be at the train guichet and help the examiner who wanted to buy a ticket to Petachnaouk les Deux Eglises who then started asking about the tourist attractions there. They are judging you on your flow, and less your grammatical perfection, so just make sure you keep blah blah ing.
A lot of online materials have typical questions the examiner asks you. Going going through those until I got my BS in French meter ramped up helped me.

Use bullet points to make a list of possibles- then a simple sentence for each- then add detail for each- using good links and different tenses + the odd colloquial expression. Am in UK now - but if you want to practise for a day - come over (will be back on Thursday evening) - or meet up in Yverdon.
Bonne chance (merde quoi! = break a leg) - So about yourself

name
age birhtday
location
family
pets
accommodation
hobbies (or explain lack of)
sport
music
type of holidays
childhood memories

etc - and pad out.

Odile

when I was in language school back in the dark ages of the late 20th century, we practiced routinely to speak "about myself".

We started first by writing our little biography, starting with where we were born, where we grew up, went to school, something about our families, hobbies, interests, and plans for the future.

Once you have it all written out, you can go through and edit it for content, grammar and structure.

Then you basically just memorize it.