DALF C2 : When Things Are about to Get Serious

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. French Exams

3. The Major Challenge

4. Preparation

5. Conclusion

1. Introduction: My Long French Voyage

I know I know! French isn't "cool" anymore. When I joined a free French course in Turin for a couple of weeks, I noticed almost all my peers were senior citizens! And this is Turin we're talking about: the old capital of Piedmont, the most French-influenced region in all Italy. There's no doubt that the language of Molière has lost the spotlight to the likes of English, German or even Chinese. In fact, unlike their parents and grandparents, young learners, all over the world, strive to master those languages instead, and for good reasons.

An AI generated image of Emmanuel Macron, the French president, waiting angrily in the White House.

First, politics. France has been losing its political relevance on the global stage since WWII and the decolonization of its African and Asian colonies only quickened the decline. French, once the language of diplomacy and politics, now sees its place taken by English, the language of the United States, the war's victor. The young isolationist country beyond the Atlantic Ocean turned into an empire, representing the free West, a role formerly shared by the French and the British among others. The cultural hegemony of the Empire attracted the masses and the elite alike, encouraging them to express themselves in English. Language learning was no longer the hobby of the upper class, nor driven mainly by fine arts, literature, or diplomacy.

Le Petit Nicolas: by Sampe and Goscinny can be, arguably, celebrated as the pinnacle of the French children's literature

Be that as it may, I still love French just like the very first day I enrolled in a course of French language in Tehran. Back in 2010, there was no AI, no iTalkie, no online lessons and certainly, for a guy with a humble background living in Iran, no native French speakers around. Yet, frontiers are not necessarily defined by distance, and cultural products are available everywhere. I was enamored with Joe Dassin, Alain Souchon, Alizée, and a dozen other French singers whose delicate utterance of French lyrics stood in sharp contrast with what I usually listened to in English. I was also drawn to minimalist yet emotive drawings of  Jean-Jacques Sempé and the seemingly childish yet surprisingly profound accounts of René Goscinny. Not to mention Belgian artists such as Hergé, Peyo, Lara Fabian or Jaque Brels.

Alain Souchon's J'ai dix ans (I'm ten years old)  — One of the best French Albums capturing the collective nostalgia of France's post-war carefreeness and optimism

However, comics and music may not necessarily be everyone's cup of tea. Nostalgia aside, there are other compelling reasons to learn French, especially if you see yourself in academia. Indeed the French language is still alive and kicking in academic circles, and knowing it will definitely improve your chances of building your academic career. Many people would love to study in a Francophone country and many more are curious about French cuisine.

Probably, you too are one of those people. You love the French language, you aspire to use it at an advanced level, and you're wondering if self-study or a course of conversation would be enough to dive into French culture. If so, take it from me, someone who had to grind his way through years of studying helplessly, that you need a couple of stepping stones to make sure you're on the right track! And that's where an exam or a series of them can help you reach your goal.

2. French Exams or Why a Piece of Paper Might Be More Useful Than You Might Think!

Yeah yeah, I get it! Nothing can replace the experience of daily life among native speakers and communicating with them every day. And I have no arguments whatsoever against that. You go and live there, pick the language up by listening, and insist on using it, no matter how Parisians snub you. But me? I'm not interested in France, let alone Paris! To tell you the truth, I can't stand this crowd. May the gods forgive me for saying it! I am not going to tolerate a Parisian judging my way of pronouncing è, é, or e.

Jokes aside, this endeavor isn't necessarily about migration. And what if it is? You're planning to apply for a PhD position or a job, and you're expected to provide proof of your language skills. That's when DELF or DALF diplomas come in handy.

I'm not going to delve into details too much. Suffice it to say that DELF (Diplôme d'études en langue française) and DALF (Diplôme approfondi de langue française) are the most prestigious and useful qualifications if you're looking for proof of your mastery of the language at a certain level. Fortunately, they are valid for life, meaning that unlike many other tests, you don't have to retake them every now and then.

3. The Major Challenge

Mind you, these exams, especially at higher levels, are designed to ensure that organizing your ideas is just as important as your fluency. In fact, one of the major challenges of the DELF B2, which is generally a very forgiving exam, and the DALF C1/C2, which are quite unforgiving, I must say, is that the examiners expect you to present your exposé in a highly structured manner.

Moreover, you're expected to express your ideas in a rather nuanced and precise fashion. In fact, it stands in sharp contrast with the IELTS, the Cambridge tests, CILS or CELI. In those exams, examiners often love pompous vocabulary and don't mind if you go on and on about how you love your grandma's cooking, using words more common to a professor of philology. The DELF/DALF examiners, however, love to see you express yourself like a journalist; clear, accurate, and easy to digest. If you ask me, this insistence on precision and accuracy is more of an opportunity than a challenge. Sure, it might feel overwhelming at first, but as you progress, you notice that everything is falling into its most proper place.

Listneing to RTL journals is one of the best ways to improve your listening skills and to get used to the journalistic style of DELF/DALF

4. Preparation for the Exam

   
   

There is certainly more than one way to prepare for the exam. If you can loosen the purse strings so to speak, you might want to enroll in one of the many courses offered by institutions like Alliance Française in your city. There are also courses offered by freelance French teachers that you can find online. However, if you are more of an autonomous learner, you might want to buy specific books designed for exam preparation and spend time listening to the journals of RTL, French Culture, and France 24.

I personally prefer a mix of the two approaches. That’s why I’m following an asynchronous program provided by a French teacher, which, besides being more affordable, allows me to learn in a flexible way. On top of that, I listen to journals while taking notes, try to summarize their main arguments, and eventually add my own opinion in a structured manner. I also love politics and history, so I look for books and essays related to these topics that are engaging yet easy to grasp. If that’s not your thing, you can always choose materials more in line with your own interests.

One thing that you should remember though is that, as I said earlier, the examiners are neither looking for fancy vocabulary nor for innovative ideas. In fact, you should avoid the former while making sure that you can handle the latter. The topics you choose should generally be about France, as DELF/DALF are more about France and the French culture rather than Francophone countries. Environment, health, work, education, gender equality or vacation are among the recurrent themes of DELF/DALF. Therefore, it's a good idea to select and read relevant articles and magazines.

As for writing, however, my primary recommendation is to get help from the AI, provided that you use it carefully. I see no reason why a learner should avoid taking advantage of the technology. But you have to be careful not to get used to having Chat GPT or its sisters write everything for you. You can have it generate a DELF/DALF prompt for you and then have it correct your essay. The ideal approach is to write on paper and then have the AI scan it. Unofrtunately, DELF/DALF computer exams are not yet available, to my knowledge, so getting used to writing by hand is essential for achieving a good score in writing.

5. Conclusion

I always see language exams more as a means than an end. Getting a C2 does not necessarily mean one is as fluent as an educated native speaker, nor does it mean they no longer need to study. Rather, I see CEFR levels more as stepping stones to estimate your approximate level and how you can improve and achieve autonomy, which is the ultimate goal of a non-native speaker.

That said, as a lifelong learner, I'm not afraid to admit that I take a certain pleasure in obtaining a shiny diploma that attests to my mastery of a language. It's natural for a learner to yearn for a certificate and sometimes even flex it. After all, you have worked hard to reach this level. Besides, that's how the world works nowadays: employers, universities, and public institutions all demand concrete proof of your familiarity with a language. So, don't be afraid of pursuing a diploma rather than trying to become the next Chateaubriand. The ability to communicate in a language is a skill, not an intellectual endeavor.