French Proficiency Diploma

● What is a French Proficiency Diploma?

It is now possible to get a diploma that will confirm your proficiency in French. The French Proficiency Diploma, also referred to as Diploma in the Studies of French Language or DELF, is a diploma valid for life that will never expire.

Let your hard work and the continuous energy you are investing in learning French be rewarded.

Having a French Proficiency Diploma will allow you to say more than 'I have done some French'. You will be able to clarify that 'I am proficient in French'. Upon completion of the requirements for the diploma, you will be able to assert that you have proficiency in French. The diploma will speak for itself.

● What are the components of a French Proficiency Diploma?

The French Proficiency Diploma evaluates candidates’ competencies in 5 areas:

● Comprehension of oral :: listening (compréhension orale :: écoute)

● Comprehension of written texts :: reading (compréhension écrite :: lecture)

● Oral interaction :: conversation (production orale :: conversation)

● Oral production :: oral presentation (production orale :: présentation orale)

● Written production (production écrite :: écrit)

In order to obtain a French Proficiency Diploma the candidate will need to be evaluated.

This evaluation is divided into three major parts: oral, listening and writing.

The numbers of exercises within each part vary according to the level of the French Proficiency Diploma.

Expectations for each exercise will vary depending on the level of the French Proficiency Diploma as well.

● Do age and grade solely determine the level of French Proficiency Diploma one should prepare for?

The short answer is NO.

As for the long answer, please continue reading. There are 4 levels of the French Proficiency Diploma: A1, A2, B1 and B2.

Students registered in a school and between the ages of 12 to 17 may be evaluated to obtain a French Proficiency Diploma at any level (A1, A2, B1 or B2) depending on their level of proficiency in French.

For students between the ages of 5 to 12, it is possible for them to get a French Proficiency Diploma. A recommendation is that the student waits until the age of 12 and considers getting a French Proficiency Diploma for the appropriate A1 to B2 level.

However, we need to keep in mind that there are various criteria that will help to determine which level of French Proficiency Diploma will be most suitable for each candidate. The criteria may range from intrinsic to extrinsic factors (ie. background, experience, comfort, motivation, involvement in co-curriculars, etc.).

● Once my child has been registered in the program known as preparation for the French Proficiency Diploma, will she be automatically registered to complete the evaluation during that academic year?

Not necessarily. In the best interest of your daughter, there are many factors that will need to be kept in mind. The program itself will help to better prepare your child for the exam but performance, conversations, formative evaluations will guide the decision to register your child to the exam itself. The coordinator will suggest the level and the date of the examination and together with you, your child, your child’s counsellor, her French teacher, the Head of the Languages department and the Head of your child’s school (Middle School or Senior School) all will work together to determine the ideal time frame for your child to take the exam itself.

● Are there any deadlines we need to be aware of?

There are some deadlines to keep in mind. Registration in the program that will prepare your child for the French Proficiency Diploma evaluation will need to be made by mid-May of the current academic year in order to be considered for the program for the following year.

● We have also heard about DILF and DALF, what are those?

We will not be missing out on anything since DILF refers to the diploma handed to adults upon completion of their exam confirming success in finishing their initial learning of French language.

The ‘I’ in DILF referring to ‘Initial’.

DALF refers to the diploma given to candidates expert in French language.

The ‘A’ in DALF refers to ‘Approfondissement’.