With 200 million speakers, French is a world language that is spoken in many places. It is an official national language in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, Ivory Coast and Switzerland, among others. French is also a working language in the European Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Due to the incorporation of French into the diplomatic system, French is also referred to as the ‘language of diplomacy’. In short, learning French opens many doors, and the DELF diploma offers many advantages. But what is a DELF diploma, and how can it be obtained?
Alliance Française
The organizer of the DELF project is the Alliance Française. The Alliance Française is headquartered in Paris and from there operates in more than 130 countries to spread the French language and culture. This is done, among other things, by offering a French course that can improve or establish an individual’s French language knowledge. In 2017, there are 33 Alliances Française in the Netherlands that are united under an umbrella organization: the Alliance Française des Pays-Bas federation. This federation offers courses to obtain a DELF diploma, which determines the French language knowledge level. These diplomas have a lifelong validity and are a valuable addition to both language knowledge and a CV.
Levels
The level of a DELF diploma depends on the type of course being followed. The level of a DELF course and the diploma is related to the level that is taught in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is shown below.
Level | Difficulty | Explanation of level |
---|---|---|
A1 | Very easy | Daily, very simple language use and introduction |
A2 | Easy | More extensive vocabulary, can better answer deeper questions |
B1 | Average | Continued starting, can get by in many situations. At this level you can study at a French university without a language test. |
B2 | Continued | Extensive knowledge, knows proverbs and can hold a debate |
C1 | Professional | Extensive knowledge, can understand long academic texts without visible difficulty |
C2 | Native language | Can deal with all situations without any difficulty |
The level determines to what extent the French language knowledge is present. This is tested in four areas:
- Reading skills (Compréhension Écrite)
- Writing skills (Production Écrite)
- Listening skills (Compréhension Orale)
- Fluency (Production Oral)
A maximum of 25 points can be obtained in each of these areas. The minimum to pass is 50 points, and at least 5 points must be achieved per part.
Rates 2017
The rates to participate in DELF junior, which is offered by a number of schools, differ per level. For DELF Scolaire – which is offered through schools – the different levels come at the following rates:
- A1: ?? 65, –
- A2: ?? 80, –
- B1: ?? 110, –
- B2: ?? 120, –
In addition, it is also possible for a person to register for an exam as an independent individual. The rates are higher, but it is also possible to be examined at C1 and C2 level:
- A1: ?? 80, –
- A2: ?? 80, –
- B1: ?? 120, –
- B2: ?? 140, –
- C1: ?? 180, –
- C2: ?? 180, –
Preparation
It is useful to prepare well for the exam. Preparations can be carried out yourself by listening or reading a lot of radio, but it is also possible to purchase a module. In a DELF module all topics are covered and it is possible to see the amount of points that can be attributed to the preparation work. This makes it possible to see whether current knowledge is sufficient or insufficient. Such a module is also supplied with a CD on which audio fragments have been burned, in order to practice listening skills. These modules are available online from numerous providers.
Presentation
The DELF Scolaire diploma is only issued a few months after the result (the procès-verbal). This process takes several months, depending on the number of participants, because all diplomas are printed in Paris and are not sent until all diplomas have been printed. Although the period is long and a person is promised to have passed, this cannot be truly said and proven until the diploma is received. The diploma will state the name, nationality and level of the exam, with an extra sheet stating the scores obtained on the four parts. The diplomas are also provided with a candidate number, which enhances the authenticity of the diploma. However, these diplomas cannot be reprinted if a diploma is damaged or lost.