French Language Exams

There are exactly four examinations of French that are recognized all over the world. They are:

1. DELF-DALF
2. TCF
3. TEF
4. TFI

DELF-DALF

The DELF-DALF exams are conducted by the CIEP, Centre International d’études pédagogique and awarded by the Ministry of National Education of France. DELF stands for Diplôme d'études en langue Française and DALF stand for Diplôme approfondi de langue Française. DELF and DALF have been consistent with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages since 1 September 2005

The DELF-DALF diplomas are 6 in number, DELF A1, DELF A2, DELF B1, DELF B2, DALF C1 and DALF C2, each corresponding to the respective level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

These tests are meant for non-French people who would like their French language skills recognized either for education, employment or for personal reasons. The DELF and DALF diplomas are independent, so you can appear for the examination you choose. You can also attempt the examinations for multiple diplomas during the same examination session. Contact the Alliance Française in your country to find out the examination centers in your country or click here. Have a look at the sample papers here. For information on fees, contact the examination centre where you would like to take the diploma(s). Address your queries to delfdalf@ciep.fr

TCF - Test de connaissance du français

The TCF are conducted by the CIEP, Centre International d’études pédagogique and awarded by the Ministry of National Education of France. Like the DELF-DALF every non-French person can appear for the TCF. All candidates obtain a certificate of results that grades them at one of six levels (from A1 to C2) on the competency scale defined by the Council of Europe (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). This means that it is not possible to fail the TCF. There are 4 types of TCF depending on your reason for appearing for the TCF.

1. General TCF
2. TCF for Future students who plan to do their studies in France or in any French speaking country. TCF DAP for Bachelors courses and TCF for Masters.
3. TCF for International Bodies (International Relations)
4. TCF for Quebec: For those who wish to immigrate to Quebec, Canada

Contact the Alliance Française in your country to find out the examination centers in your country and the cost of the exam or click here. It is also advisable to contact the Embassy of Canada in your country if you plan to appear for TCF Quebec. Address your queries to delfdalf@ciep.fr

TEF - Test d'Evaluation de Français

The Test d'Evaluation du Français is awarded by the CCIP (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris/Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris) This certificate is valid for one year from the date the exam was taken. The TEF can be attempted for the following reasons:

1. Higher studies in France or Canada
2. Emigration to Canada
3. Emigration to Quebec

To find out the exam centers for TEF in your country and the exam fees, click here. To attempt the TEF in India or just for more detailed information, click here. Address your queries here.

TFI – Test de français international

The Test de Français international evaluates the French level of non-francophones. This multiple choice test assesses a candidate's ability to understand, speak, read and write French as it is used in the international workplace. It is conducted by ETS Canada, the same body that conducts the GRE and TOEFL.

This exam can be attempted for educational, professional and personal purposes. The score obtained on the TFI can be used on the resume to indicate your French language proficiency. Look here to see what the scores mean. Contact the following offices to know the centers in your country or contact the TOEFL centers in your city to know if they conduct the TFI also. In case if you plan to give the TFI in Europe, click here.

Head Office/Siège Social Educational Testing Service Canada Inc. 212-133 Princess Street Kingston, Ontario K7L 1A8 Tel: (613) 542-3368 Toll Free: 1-800-615-8666 (Canada & U.S.)

Québec Office/Bureau du Québec Educational Testing Service Canada Inc. C. P. 69044 Laval, Québec H7X 3M2 Tél: (450) 689-3151 / 1-888-689-3151 Téléc: (450) 689-2790

The scores obtained on the DELF-DALF, TCF and TEF correspond to each other. Have a look at the following website to find the equivalences in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

http://www.alliancefrmarseille.org/en_cours_cadre_europeen.html

It is best to prepare for these exams by pursuing French courses at the Alliance Francaises in your country.

All the best!

Caste? Indian. Thank you very much.

Towards the end of November 2001, we were nearly into the final days of school, class10 i.e. S.S.C. we had to fill out our application forms for the Secondary School certificate examination. Before filling out the final form, we were given a dummy form to fill. The dummies were supposed to be checked by checked by the administrative staff of the school to rule out idiotic errors. Once, a boy supposedly filled in the name of his father as Reverend Father Ivan Mascharenas instead of his own father’s name! Can you beat that? At the age of 15? Anyway, the poor soul must have been confused or simply absent-minded. So we got along the business of filling our forms and submitted them. Some students were summoned to the office of the administration for errors in their forms. I was one of them. I was baffled. Errors? In my form? Impossible! I went to the office. I was handed over my form. Not a single problem. Most of my schoolmates standing there were called for the verification of their caste status. It was my turn. I asked the officer what was wrong. She said I had not entered my caste. Indeed I had not and on purpose. I had left it blank. I told her that I was not interested in filling that detail. I didn’t even know my caste to fill it in the first place. She said it was mandatory as incase if I belonged to some backward caste I would be eligible for government benefits. I said I was not interested. My dad is an orthopedic surgeon and my mom has studied law. I was more than privileged. Thank you very much. Moreover, I continued my tirade by stating that throughout our school days we had been ingrained with the idea that we were Indians first and Indians last. Nothing in between. She refused to accept my form. I argued that the form stated (in very fine print) that the candidate should have be an Indian national and must be born before 30th of December, 1986. I fulfilled the criteria. No success. She refused to accept the form. Instead she gave me a file of our admission forms that we had submitted at the time of taking admission into school. I was told to find out the caste entered in my form. I grudgingly did that but I did have my revenge because I got to joke about my schoolmates looks in their photos as 4 year olds. I reached my form in that file. I recognized Dad’s handwriting. He had entered both religion and caste as Hindu. I saw no problem with that. I filled in that stupid detail.

High Time We Start Disrespecting Our Elders

OK, I do not advocate retorting every few sentences, but we need to realize that respect is like money. You have to earn it to receive it. Your age or social status does not automatically grant you access to money or respect. I sickens me every time people talk down to us youngsters about the importance of respecting elders. What for? I completely understand and agree with the fact that our are far more wider than us due to their experience and the knowledge they have gained over the decades. After all, they have already committed and learned from many mistakes that all of us do all the time. We must profit from their experience. That's exactly what they wish too. But what about those who have remained stupid despite their years? What about their egoistic bastards who refuse to learn? What about those sclerotic morons who refuse to look at newer, different point of views? Should we respect them too? Or will it be better to ask them to shut up? I prefer they latter. I have seen endless number of geriatric entities going around sermoning young people to respect them without caring two hoots for the fact that respect is to be commanded and not demanded. Beggars, fuck off! I do not care a damn about those who are liked by many senior people (including our parents' generation, not just our grand-parents' generation) for being very respectful towards their elders as respecting elders says nothing about your intentions and character. You may be doing that out of sycophancy just to earn brownie points. Or just for giving the impression that you are well-bred. I prefer people who respect everybody impartially. Someone who respects their elders and juniors equally is someone who truly has class. It is easy to respect people who are elder to you, who have a elevated social or economic status as compared to yours or those who are simply seem stronger than you in terms of sheer physical strength. But what is seriously cool is respecting those younger than you, those less economically / socially privileged as compared to yourself or simply those smaller in size than you. That's strong character! That's cool! I won't go around faking respect for people if they do not deserve it just because they were born before me. You haven't done me a favor.

"Indian Women can't divorce." - Yeah right, Madam I.A.S!

There are sometimes when I wonder if education really brings about a change in our attitudes towards our self and towards life and society. One would normally expect highly educated people to being more sensitive and informed about socio-economic and political issues and evils. It is however these very people who seem to repeat sins of thousands of years and ensure that they are not eradicated. Look at this for example. I spoke to my English professor from junior college recently. She narrated an incident about her friend (female), an I.A.S officer, who is also married to an I.A.S officer. This lady’s husband is an alcoholic and a wife beater. This lady I.A.S officer puts up with abuse 24/7! Her friends, including my professor, advised her to divorce her husband, as it is the only solution to her problem. Her response to this counsel left them scandalized. She said that she could never do something like that as she is an Indian woman and that she will end up losing her face if she is divorced!!!!!!!

My heart goes out to those women who are trapped with dangerous husbands due to financial constraints or simply due to being ignorant about the fact that they can legally get a divorce, but this idiot just makes me nauseous. Education has not made any difference in neither her husband’s attitude nor her own.