DELF-DALF program
The DELF - DALF program ( D iplôme d' E tudes en l angue f rançaise - D iplôme a pprofondi de l angue f rançaise ) describes (since September 2005, in Switzerland since November 2007), a certification program for the French language , consisting from six completely independent units. Worldwide there are a total of 900 recognized examination centers in 154 different countries (including France ). All diplomas bear the seal of the Ministère de l'Éducation nationale .
Since the reform, the six units have been in line with the reference framework of the Council of Europe and the European Language Portfolio.
The French cannot take these exams as a matter of principle. French citizens who do not speak French can, however, obtain a special permit from the national DELF - DALF commission. However, the regulations do not in principle exclude other people with French as their mother tongue, provided they do not have French citizenship .
The exams can be repeated as often as you like if you fail. Examinations that have been passed can only be repeated if the candidate has previously waived the diploma in writing. This waiver is irrevocable.
No appeal can be made against the decisions of the respective national juries .
DELF ( Diplôme d'Etudes en langue française )
The DELF consists of four units:
A1
A1 is the elementary level and is therefore suitable for language beginners. The holder of such a diploma can talk about himself and his immediate environment.
The exam consists of the following parts:
- Listening comprehension: Short situations (a total of three minutes) from everyday life are played twice. Then questions have to be answered.
- Reading comprehension: Here too, everyday things are dealt with in three to five documents and then questions have to be answered.
- Writing: Filling out a form, writing simple texts such as postcards or the like.
- Speaking: Conversation conducted by the examiner, simulated dialogue, introducing yourself
The collective part of the exam takes a total of approx. 120 minutes. There is also the oral exam (individual, ten minutes preparation and five to seven minutes examination). 25 points can be achieved per discipline. The exam is considered passed if a total of at least 50 points out of 100 and no less than five points are achieved in no part.
A2
The DELF A2 certifies that the candidate has advanced skills. The participant is seen here as part of society. As a result, he needs to be proficient in things like politeness and simple conversations.
The exam consists of the following parts:
- Listening comprehension: as with A1, but the text takes about fifteen minutes
- Reading comprehension: as with A1
- Writing: writing two texts; a short description (about an event or a personal experience) and an informal letter (invitation, thank you or apology letter, information, information, etc.)
- Speak: as with A1.
The collective exam takes about 100 minutes and the oral exam consists of ten minutes of preparation plus six to eight minutes of the actual exam. The conditions are the same as for A1.
While the DELF A1 can already be taken with a knowledge level of at least two years acquired in French lessons, a knowledge level of three to four years of learning is useful for successfully completing the scope of the examination for the DELF A2. The only difference lies in the discussion with the examiner about a given text.
B1
With B1 the candidate reaches the independent level. He can follow a discussion and take part in it, he expresses his own opinion and can react to surprising everyday situations. Flexible and well-versed linguistic expressions are already part of the diploma student's vocabulary.
The exam consists of the following parts:
- Listening comprehension: as with A1, but the text now lasts 6 minutes
- Reading comprehension: Reading information related to a given task from a text and analyzing a newspaper article or the like
- Writing: A short essay in which you express your own opinion on a given topic
- Speaking: as with A1, but also expressing one's own opinion in relation to a previously completely unknown article or an event.
The examination duration (collective) is approx. 105 minutes. The oral part provides ten minutes of preparation time (only for the additional part), followed by 15 minutes of examination. The conditions remain unchanged.
B2
With B2 the candidate can not only express his opinion, but also defend his point of view and carry it out further. He negotiates and discusses without difficulty and is able to correct his mistakes himself.
The exam consists of the following parts:
- Listening comprehension: answer questions about an interview or a news program (played only once) as well as a lecture or a television or radio program (played twice). The hearing document takes eight minutes.
- Reading comprehension: answering questions about an article about France or the French-speaking area as well as an argumentative text.
- Writing: Writing a text to contribute to a debate (own opinion), formal letter
- Speaking: expressing and defending your own point of view.
The collective part now lasts 150 minutes, with reading comprehension and writing each taking an hour. The oral part provides 30 minutes of preparation time, followed by 20 minutes of the exam. The conditions remain unchanged.
Holders of the DELF B2 and DALF are exempt from the language test when entering a French university.
DELF junior
The DELF junior has the same structure as the normal DELF , but takes the interests of young people into account. The diplomas are equivalent to those of the normal DELF .
Only people of school age are admitted to these exams.
DELF scolaire
The DELF scolaire has the same structure as the normal DELF . The diplomas also correspond to the normal DELF , without additional notice. As with the junior model, the age of the participants is taken into account when selecting topics.
In order to be able to offer the DELF scolaire , the educational authorities have to sign a contract with the French regional embassy. The schools affected by the contract can then, in agreement with the French DELF - DALF Commission, propose examination dates and conduct the exams autonomously.
Historical
Before the reform, the DELF consisted of a 1 Degré (units A1-A4) and a 2e Degré (units A5 and A6). These two diplomas were and are valid for life. The passing of the individual units was certified with attestation de réussite , which had no diploma and was only valid for a limited time.
Those who had already successfully completed the first stage were admitted to the second stage. In some countries it was also possible to take a direct entry exam (called ECO 4 for Examen de contrôle ). However, ECO 4 did not lead to a diploma and was also only valid for a limited time. So it was not an alternative to the DELF -I, but only suitable for people who were planning to do the DELF -II anyway .
Unit A5 only consisted of a written part and one of three areas could be chosen: training / studies, work and everyday life. Unit A6 only consisted of an oral exam and there were four areas to choose from:
- Sciences humaines et sociales (society, culture, politics, sport, leisure, variety theater)
- Sciences économiques et juridiques (economics, computer science, law, commerce, statistics)
- Sciences de la matière (mathematics, physics, chemistry, geology)
- Sciences de la vie (biology, botany, medicine, biochemistry, zoology, pharmacology)
The freedom of choice was, however, limited exclusively to the large area. A mathematician could get a specialist article on geology or a lawyer one on computer science.
DALF ( Diplôme approfondi de langue française )
Since the reform, the DALF has consisted of two units. DALF holders are exempt from the language test when entering a French university.
C1
The candidate is now on the upper level. He can initiate discussions and conversations independently and without difficulty and uses a large and adequate vocabulary. He speaks spontaneously, fluently and clearly structured. He shows that he has mastered the structures of language.
The exam consists of the following parts:
- Listening comprehension: Questions about a long document (approx. Eight minutes, played twice) as well as various short documents (commercials, etc.). The listening document takes about ten minutes in total.
- Reading Comprehension: Questions about a literary or journalistic text from 1500 to 2000 words.
- Writing: Writing a synthesis of different text documents (total approx. 1000 words) as well as an argumentation based on these documents. There are two subject areas to choose from: natural sciences or humanities.
- Speaking: Lecture followed by a discussion with the jury. There are the same subject areas to choose from as for the written part.
The entire exam takes four hours, with 150 minutes spent writing. The oral part provides 60 minutes of preparation time, followed by 30 minutes of the exam. The conditions remain unchanged.
C2
The candidate now has to prove that he can solve academic or other advanced tasks. Precise, adequate language and skillful expression are expected from him.
The exam consists of the following parts:
- Listening comprehension and speaking: Summarize the listening document (played twice), make your own comments on the problem dealt with and then have a discussion with the jury. The two faculties, humanities or natural sciences, are again available.
- Text comprehension and writing: Production of a structured text (article, speech, report) based on an information dossier of 2000 words.
The written part lasts 3h30, the oral consists of one hour of preparation and 30 minutes of examination. 50 points can be achieved in each discipline.
Historical
The DALF used to consist of four units that could be completed in any order. These are divided into an oral and a written one for general and specific language use in a subject area that can be selected from a catalog.
Those who had achieved the DELF -II were admitted to the DALF . However, in some countries it was also possible to take the EAD ( Examen d'accès direct au DALF ). This had no diploma and was only valid for a limited period (two years). So this was only interesting for people who were planning to do the DALF anyway , and offered no alternative to the DELF -II.
conversion
Older diplomas can be converted according to a certain scheme. The following equations apply:
| Passed exams | authorize new |
|---|---|
| A1 or A2 | A1 |
| A1 and A2 | A2 |
| A3 | A2 |
| A1-A3 | A2 |
| A3 and A4 | B1 |
| A1, A2, A4 | B1 |
| B1, B2, B4 | C1 |
| DELF scolaire 1 | A2 |
| DELF scolaire 2 | B1 |
Two things stand out:
- the unit A3 leads to the new A2 even without A1 and A2.
- for the new B1, the unit A3 is not absolutely necessary, which many candidates found to be more difficult than A4.
There are no equivalences for diplomas already obtained ( DELF -I with A1-A4, DELF -II with A5 + A6, DALF with B1-B4); they remain unchanged and are valid for life.
Applications for conversion must be sent to the examination center where you have completed your units. The relevant units must have been completed before August 31, 2005; a special rule applies to Switzerland.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Venir étudier en France: Apprendre le français langue étrangère. Ministère de lʼEnseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de lʼInnovation, accessed June 2018 (French).
