To write properly you first need to read properly.
Coach Noé
In the case of taking a DELF exam, it is the first and unavoidable condition to score as high as possible: reading and understanding the instructions correctly so you don’t miss the point of the task and don’t lose points along the way.
Step 1 : Identify the key words of the instructions
Example
Source : France Education International
→ Identify key verbs (aka the actions you need to perform)
→ »vous répondez à Louisa » ⇒ Email format
→ Donner son opinion ⇒ expressions of opinion
→Donner des exemples d’expériences diverses ⇒ personal anecdotes and examples
Step 2 read and highlight the keywords…
…and write them down on your draft paper as a list you’ll check at the end to make sure you didn’t forget anything.
→ Who you are writing to
→ Context
→ Number of words required
→Louisa, a friend moving from France to NYC ⇒ use of “tu” and informal language
→Her problem : she loves nature while NYC is a huge city ⇒ vocabulary of city / countryside
→Her other problems : learning the language, finding accommodation, making friends ⇒ vocabulary of daily life (work, housing, hobbies and social events)
→ 160 mots minimum
Task check list
☐Email format (hello / goodbye, signature)
☐Use “tu” and informal language
☐160 words minimum
☐At least one expression to voice your opinion : you think it’s a good idea / you don’t think it’s a good idea
☐Use daily life vocabulary
Structure your email
☐Introduction
☐Paragraph 1 : idea 1 / solution 1
☐Paragraph 2: idea 2 / solution
☐“Conclusion”
Step 3: Unravel the grammar implied by the context…
so you can SHOW OFF: show that you know!
→ Express your opinion / feelings : Your friend is enthusiastic and scared at the same time : you can congratulate them and encourage them while reassuring them about the new experience (you can also deter them from moving to NYC).
Don’t forget your opinion can be nuanced, but must be clear above all!
→Give advice, Suggest activities or behaviors : use conditional (ce serait une bonne idée de …, à ta place, je ferais….), dedicated expressions (Pourquoi ne pas faire…?), use imparfait (et si tu faisais….?)
Extra: if you have a good command of subjunctive, use it ! (c’est normal que tu aies peur/ ça serait bien que tu prennes des cours d’anglais avant de partir)
→ Talk about your own experience / or Louisa’s past experiences: use the past tenses (souviens-toi, quand tu es partie étudier à Paris, tu avais peur et pourtant, tu as adoré l’expérience!) / (tu sais, quand je suis partie vivre à Tokyo, je trouvais ça très effrayant au début. Mais j’ai appris à parler japonais et j’ai rencontré de nouveaux amis dans les cafés de langue)
Updated Task check list
General
☐Email format (hello / goodbye, signature)
☐Use “tu” and informal language
☐At least one expression to voice your opinion : you think it’s a good idea / you don’t think it’s a good idea_
☐Use daily life vocabulary
☐ 160 words minimum
Structure your email
☐Introduction
☐Paragraph 1 : idea 1 / solution 1
☐Paragraph 2: idea 2 / solution
☐“Conclusion”
Actions
☐At least one expression to congratulate them
☐At least one expression to reassure them
☐Give your opinion
☐Give advice
Give advice
☐Use conditional (à ta place, ce serait bien de…)
☐Use “et si …”
☐Use “Pourquoi ne pas…”
☐Extra : use subjunctive
Tell about past experiences
☐Use passé composé
☐Use imparfait
By respecting this checklist by the letter, you’re almost reaching half the points allocated to the task.
Then you need to make sure:
- It makes sense
- Your conjugations are correct
- You are not forgetting words
- You are not forgetting to put ‘s’ or ‘x’ for plurals
- You are not forgetting ‘e” for feminine forms
- You are not using words coming from other languages
Now it’s your turn to try : go step by step
Suggested correction below – under the picture
Vous êtes étudiant.e en Suisse. Afin de préparer son prochain numéro, le journal de votre université lance un appel à témoignages sur le thème suivant: “faut-il faire une année de pause dans ses études ? “
Vous décidez de participer. Vous donnez votre avis en vous appuyant sur votre expérience et vos observations. Vous présentez vos idées et donnez des exemples concrets (160 mots minimum)
In bold = the most important words and instructions
Vous êtes étudiant.e en Suisse. Afin de préparer son prochain numéro, le journal de votre université lance un appel à témoignages sur le thème suivant: “faut-il faire une année de pause dans ses études ? “
Vous décidez de participer. Vous donnez votre avis en vous appuyant sur votre expérience et vos observations. Vous présentez vos idées et donnez des exemples concrets (160 mots minimum)
Suggested Task Check-List
General
☐Article format (hello / goodbye, signature)
☐Use “vous” and neutral language but not too formal
☐Use school/university/career vocabulary
☐160 words minimum
Structure your text
☐Introduction + opinion
Paragraph 1
☐idea -experience 1 /
☐example – observation 1
Paragraph 2
☐ idea -experience 2
☐Example – observation 2
☐“Conclusion” (write main opinion / idea and why it’s a good one 🙂 )
Grammar/Vocabulary
☐At least one expression to voice your opinion : you think it’s a good idea / you don’t think it’s a good idea
☐At least one expression to express necessity (il faut, il est nécessaire de …)
☐Extra : use one expression with subjunctive
☐At least one expression to give advice
☐Use conditional (à votre place, ce serait bien de…)
☐Extra : use one expression with subjunctive
☐Connecting words at the beginning of each paragraph
Tell about past experiences :
☐Use passé composé
☐Use imparfait