Diplôme d'études en langue française

The DELF DALF - program ( Diplôme d' Etudes en langue française - Diplôme de langue française approfondi ) describes ( since September 2005, in Switzerland since November 2007), a certification program for the French language, consisting of six fully independent units. Worldwide, there are 154 different countries in a total of 900 recognized (even in France) examination centers. All diplomas carry the seal of the Ministère de l'Education Nationale.

The six items match since the reform in line with the frame of reference of the Council of Europe and the European Language Portfolio.

French can not pass these tests basically. French citizens who do not speak French, but can receive an appropriate special permit at the national DELF - DALF Commission. However, the regulations exclude other persons with French mother tongue, unless they have French citizenship, not of principle.

The tests may be repeated as often when not in existence. Successful challenges can only be repeated if the candidate is waived in writing in advance to the already acquired diploma. This waiver is irrevocable.

Decisions taken by the national juries can no appeal be made.

• 2.1 C1
• 2.2 C2
• 2.3 Historical

DELF ( Diplôme d' Etudes en langue française )

The DELF is composed of four units:

A1

A1 is the elementary level and, therefore, suitable for language beginners. The owner of such a diploma can talk about himself and his surrounding environment.

The examination consists of the following parts:

• Listening: Short situations (total three minutes ) from everyday life are played twice. Subsequently, questions must be answered.
• Reading comprehension: Again, things from everyday life in three to five documents to be treated and then questions must be answered.
• Writing: filling out a form, writing simple texts such as postcards or similar
• Talk: Through the examination of experts led discussion, simulated dialogue, introducing yourself

The collective part of the examination takes about 80 minutes. To this end, the oral examination is ( individually ten minutes of preparation and five to seven minutes test). 25 points can be scored per discipline. The test is passed if at least 50 of a total of 100, and in no part less than five points were obtained.

A2

The DELF A2 certify the examinee already advanced skills. The participant is considered here as part of society. Consequently, he has to master things like the polite form and the Performing simple conversations.

The examination consists of the following parts:

• Listening comprehension: as in A1, but the text takes about fifteen minutes
• Reading comprehension: as in A1
• Writing: writing two texts; a brief description ( about an event or a personal experience ) as well as an informal letter ( invitation, thank-you or apology letter, information, information etc. )
• Talk: as in A1.

Here the collective examination lasts about 100 minutes and the oral consists of ten minutes of preparation plus six to eight minutes actual exam. The conditions are exactly as in A1.

While the DELF A1 may have been discarded with the acquired knowledge in the teaching of French at least two years, to the successful completion of the audit scope for the DELF A2 is the knowledge of three to four years of learning useful. The only difference is in discussion with the examiner about a present text.

B1

With B1 of the candidate reaches the independent level. He can be followed by a discussion and participate in it, he expresses his own opinion and can react in surprising everyday situations. Flexible and savvy linguistic utterances belong here already to the vocabulary of the students.

The examination consists of the following parts:

• Listening comprehension: as in A1, but the text now takes 6 minutes
• Reading comprehension: Read out information related to a given task from a text as well as a newspaper article, etc. analyze
• Writing: short essay in which you set out his own opinion on a given topic
• Talk: as in A2, but also by the setting forth his own opinion, based on a previously completely unknown item or an event.

The test duration ( collectively ) is about 105 minutes. The oral part looks ten minutes preparation time (only for the additional part ), followed by 15 minutes before testing. The conditions remain unchanged.

B2

In B2, the candidate can tell not only his opinion, but also defend its position and run on. He negotiated and discussed without difficulty and is able to correct his error itself.

The examination consists of the following parts:

• Answer questions for an interview or a news broadcast ( played only once ) as well as to a lecture or a TV or radio show ( played twice ): listening comprehension. The Hördokument takes eight minutes.
• Reading comprehension: answer questions about an article about France or the French-speaking world, as well as an argumentative text.
• Writing: Writing an essay as a contribution to a debate ( personal opinion ), formal letter
• Talk: explain and defend their own point of view.

The collective part now lasts 150 minutes, the reading comprehension and writing, each lasting one hour. The oral part will add another 30 minutes of preparation time, followed by 20 minutes Exam. The conditions remain unchanged.

Owner of the DELF B2 are exempt when entering a French University of the language test.

DELF junior

The DELF junior has the same structure as the normal DELF, however, takes on young people's interests into consideration. The diplomas are those of the normal DELF equal.

These examinations is limited to those who are of school age.

DELF scolaire

The DELF scolaire has the same structure as the normal DELF. The diplomas also correspond to the normal DELF, without additional comment. As with the Junior model is taken into consideration when choosing the theme to the age of the participants.

In order to offer the DELF scolaire, the education authorities have to sign a contract with the local French Embassy. Then the schools affected by the agreement may propose test data and perform the audits autonomously in agreement with the French DELF - DALF Commission.

Historical

Before the reform, the DELF consisted of a 1er Degré ( units A1 -A4 ) and a 2e Degré (units A5 and A6). These two diplomas were and are valid for life. The existence of the individual units have been certified with certificates ( Attestation de réussite ) who had no diploma value and were limited only valid in time.

The second stage was granted to those who had already completed the first stage successfully. In some countries, it was also possible to make a direct entry examination ( called ECO 4 for Examen de contrôle ) to be completed. The ECO 4, however, did not lead to a diploma and was also only limited valid. There is no alternative to the DELF -I, but only for people was so suitable, who planned anyway to complete the DELF -II.

The unit A5 consisted only of a written part and it could be one selected from three areas: training / education, work and everyday life. The unit A6 included only an oral examination and there were four areas to choose from:

• Sciences humaines et sociales ( society, culture, politics, sports, leisure, Variety )
• Sciences économiques et juridiques ( business, computer science, law, commerce, statistics)
• Sciences de la matière (mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology)
• Sciences de la vie (biology, botany, medicine, biochemistry, zoology, pharmacology )

The choice was limited exclusively to the large area. So could a mathematician get a specialist articles about geology or a lawyer one about computer science.

DALF ( Diplôme de langue française approfondi )

Since the reform is the DALF of two units. Owner of the DALF are exempted upon entry into a French University of the language test.

C1

The candidate is now on the upper level. He can independently and easily initiate discussions and conversations while using a large and adequate vocabulary. He speaks spontaneously, fluently and clearly structured. He shows that he has mastered the language structures.

The examination consists of the following parts:

• Listening Comprehension: Questions ( and plays for about eight minutes twice) to a long document as well as (or similar commercials ) on various short documents. Overall, the Hördokument takes about ten minutes.
• Reading comprehension: questions about a literary or journalistic text from 1500 to 2000 words.
• Writing: Write a synthesis of various text documents (total about 1000 words ) and a Argumentariums on the basis of these documents. You can choose between two areas of expertise: natural sciences or humanities.
• Talk: Lecture followed by a discussion with the jury. There are the same subjects as for the written part of the selection.

The collective part lasts four hours, 150 minutes attributable to the letter. The oral part provides 60 minutes preparation time, followed by 30 minutes Exam. The conditions remain unchanged.

C2

The candidate must now prove that he can solve academic or other advanced tasks. From him an accurate, adequate language and a fluent expression are expected.

The examination consists of the following parts:

• Listening and Speaking: Hördokument (played twice) summarize, make your own comments on the treated problem and then lead a discussion with the jury. There are again the two departments humanities or natural sciences to choose from.
• Text comprehension and writing: Production of a structured text (article, speech, report ) on the basis of an information dossier in the amount of 2,000 words.

The written part lasts 3:30, the oral preparation consists of one hour and 30 minutes exam. In each discipline, 50 points can be achieved.

Historical

The DALF earlier consisted of four units that could be completed in any order. This was split into each of a verbal and written for the general and the specific language used in a selectable from a catalog department.

For DALF was granted to those who had reached the DELF -II. It was but in some countries also possible to pass the entrance examination EAD ( exam d' accès direct au DALF ). This had no diploma level and was only valid for a limited period (two years). Thus, this was only relevant for people who were planning anyway to complete the DALF, and offered no alternative to the DELF -II.

Conversion

Older diplomas can be converted according to a specific schema. The following correspondences apply:

• The unit A3 leads even without A1 and A2 to the new A2.
• For the new A3 B1 the unit is not necessarily required, which was perceived by many candidates as more difficult than A4.

For already received diplomas ( DELF -I with A1 -A4, DELF -II with A5 A6, DALF B1 -B4), there are no equivalences; they remain unchanged and valid for life.

Conversion requests must be made at the test center at which one has completed its units. The corresponding units must have been filed before August 31, 2005 for Switzerland applies a special scheme.