If you ask yourself why should you take the certification course in French, we’ll help you decide in which cases is useful and in which it’s not.
Taking the French Language Certificate Courses will enable you to determine your proficiency level and is sometimes mandatory, like when you are applying for a certain job in France or applying for a French university.
Other than that, it can give you tangible proof of your French abilities.
What is a French Language Certificate?
A French exam tests a student’s ability to communicate in French in an actual environment. The test analyzes proficiency in four areas of French (Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening).
Why should you take French Language Certificate Courses?
When you choose to look for a job in a country that speaks French, or when you apply to an academic institution that speaks French, one of the prerequisites will be being able to read, listen to, and speak the language.
Perhaps the most important reason for earning certifications as you learn is to demonstrate your proficiency.
Your certificate can be used by employers and academic enrollment staff to get a sense of where your learning is.
They will know, for instance, that you are capable of carrying out technical discussions and understanding even complex texts on a basic level if you’ve reached level B2.
A variety of universities accept these certificates as proof of French proficiency.
Most educational institutions accept it for undergraduate and postgraduate study. Many colleges prefer students with these officials’ French certifications, although it is not a requirement.
If you are applying for a job at a company that requires French language skills, you can use it as proof of qualification. All French certifications are globally recognized, so they can look good on a resume.
How do French Certificate Courses Differ?
Perhaps you’ve heard about DILF, DELF, and DALF tests and wondered what’s the difference. Within minutes, we’ll explain to you the basic differences between DILF, DELF, and DALF.
DILF (Diplôme Initial de Langue Française)
Beginners in French can enroll in DILF (Diplôme Initial de Langue Française). Both the French National Education Ministry and the Ministry of Higher Education issue the certificate.
It precedes the DELF and DALF. According to DILF, applicants have an elementary level of French, which corresponds to CEFRL level A1.1.
Candidates are tested in four areas: reading, oral, listening and reading. You must be 16 years of age on the day of the test.
DELF and DALF
DELF and DALF, the most prestigious proficiency tests in French for non-native speakers, are offered by the French Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Center International d’études pédagogiques (CIEP).
Every year, more than 300,000 students from around the world take DELF/DALF exams.
There are six stages in DELF and DALF.
- DELF A1: beginner
- DELF A2: elementary
- DELF B1: intermediate
- DELF B2: upper-intermediate
- DALF C1: Advanced
- DALF C2: proficiency (Near-native)
DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française) and DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française) each consist of six intermediate-level courses.
To learn more about differences between DELF and DALF, read WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DELF AND DALF?
How to Pass DELF or DALF Exams?
DELF and DALF diplomas are valid for life when you obtain a minimum score of 5/25 on each module and a score of 50/100 on average. It ensures you won’t have to retake the exam to prove your fluency after some time.
Where can I take the DELF/DALF exam?
900 test centers in 154 countries are certified to offer DELF/DALF testing.
Different Types of DELF exams
Six different tests are available in the DELF category.
( DELF Primary )
- DELF Prim is designed for children aged 8 to 11 in primary school.
- Students with no previous experience studying French as a foreign language can enroll in one of three separate levels: A1.1, A1, or A2.
(DELF Jr.)
- The DELF Junior diploma is a modified version of the DELF diploma for juniors and teenagers, ages 13-18. The DELF for school-age students is largely based on the DELF for adults, though the course content is geared more toward teenagers.
- A1 to B2 levels are available.
DELF Pro
- DELF Professional is DELF’s professional version.
- The DELF Pro is designed to assess the level of French-language communication skills of professionals and students interacting with French-speaking groups.
- There are four levels in DELF Pro: A1, A2, B1, and B2.
Scolaire DELF
- DELF Scolaire, like DELF Junior, is geared toward teenagers who do not speak French natively.
- As with all combinations of DELF and DALF, it is internationally recognized and valid for life.
DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française)
- DELF is suitable for anybody over 17 who is interested in French. Each of the four DELF diplomas corresponds to a CEFR level ranging from A1 to B2.
- DELF exams consist of four sections: oral comprehension, writing comprehension, speaking comprehension, and reading comprehension. A DELF Junior diploma is the same as a DELF Tout Public diploma.
DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française)
- DALF stands for Advanced Diploma in French Language Study.
- DALF C1 and C2 indicate advanced or proficient proficiency.
- The DALF C2 Diploma is the highest level of French as a foreign language since C2 is the highest CEFR level.
Recommended Courses to Pass Your DELF/DALF Exam
- Take an individual course with a French teacher on Preply
- Learn French and get issued with CEFR certificate, when a certain level is reached at Lingoda.
- Get both free and paid resources to prepare for your DELF/DALF exam at FrenchExam.
- To get a variety of different exercises, visit Passe ton Delf.
Ready to get your French certified ?
Getting certified and learning French are not necessarily linked.
A proof of your French fluency is most likely required if you’re applying for a job in France or another French-speaking country. That’s also true if you’re applying to a French university.
To prepare for the test, there are plenty of free and paid resources available on the Internet.
Ensure you practice all four language skills which are oral understanding and oral expression, written understanding, and written expression.
Make sure you get an evaluation of your French level from a French teacher before even sitting for the exam.