Preparing for TEF ? 

When should I sign up for TEF prep classes ?

While many people offering TEF classes may advise you to start as early as possible, I strongly believe it is best to begin TEF preparation after completing at least a B1 level in French.

In my opinion, success in the TEF is not only about knowing the language mechanically. It also requires a certain familiarity with the culture, implicit meaning, and the nuances that French naturally carries. These elements become much clearer around the B2 level, in all honesty.

That said, if you are working within a tighter timeline, completing B1 generally gives you the grammatical and communicative foundations needed to begin targeted TEF preparation with confidence.

Practice tests and other details

I invite you to explore this website https://www.lefrancaisdesaffaires.fr/en/candidate/test-evaluation-francais/ that will help you understand what the TEF exam looks like and the timelines you can draw up for yourself based on self-evaluation.

Prep ideas

Reading the news, reading small texts, switching your phone language to French can help you start thinking in French which in turn will allow you to have a better grasp and command over the language. 

​

Here is a sort of exhaustive list of various medias that can help you imbibe daily reading in French. 

​

Les principaux médias français (utiles pour les examens DELF – DALF – TCF)

Les quotidiens nationaux
Le Monde — https://www.lemonde.fr7
Le Figaro — https://www.lefigaro.fr
Libération — https://www.liberation.fr
Les Échos — https://www.lesechos.fr
La Tribune — https://www.latribune.fr
L’Humanité — https://www.humanite.fr
La Croix — https://www.la-croix.com

La presse régionale quotidienne
Ouest-France — https://www.ouest-france.fr
Le Parisien — https://www.leparisien.fr
Sud-Ouest — https://www.sudouest.fr
La Voix du Nord — https://www.lavoixdunord.fr
Nice-Matin — https://www.nicematin.com
La Provence — https://www.laprovence.com
Le Progrès — https://www.leprogres.fr
Le Dauphiné Libéré — https://www.ledauphine.com
Midi Libre — https://www.midilibre.com
Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace — https://www.dna.fr

Les magazines
L’Express — https://www.lexpress.fr
Le Point — https://www.lepoint.fr
Le Nouvel Obs — https://www.nouvelobs.com
Marianne — https://www.marianne.net
Paris Match — https://www.parismatch.com
Elle — https://www.elle.fr
Télérama — https://www.telerama.fr

Les chaînes de télévision
TF1 — https://www.tf1.fr
France 2 — https://www.france.tv/france-2
France 3 — https://www.france.tv/france-3
France 5 — https://www.france.tv/france-5
ARTE — https://www.arte.tv
Canal+ — https://www.canalplus.fr
M6 — https://www.m6.fr
BFMTV — https://www.bfmtv.com
France 24 — https://www.france24.com
TV5 Monde — https://www.tv5monde.com

Les radios
RFI — https://www.rfi.fr
Radio France — https://www.radiofrance.fr
France Inter — https://www.franceinter.fr
France Culture — https://www.franceculture.fr
France Info — https://www.francetvinfo.fr
RTL — https://www.rtl.fr
Europe 1 — https://www.europe1.fr

Les 3 médias les plus importants selon l’examen

Pour le DELF (A2 – B1 – B2)
TV5 Monde — https://www.tv5monde.com
RFI – Le français facile — https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/journal-en-français-facile
Le Parisien — https://www.leparisien.fr

Pour le DALF (C1 – C2)
Le Monde — https://www.lemonde.fr
France Culture — https://www.franceculture.fr
ARTE — https://www.arte.tv

Pour le TCF (tous niveaux)
France 24 — https://www.france24.com
BFMTV — https://www.bfmtv.com
France Info — https://www.francetvinfo.fr

Practice tests

RFI offers great exercises that will actually help you with targeted listening and reading practices. 

https://francaisfacile.rfi.fr/fr/communiquer-quotidien/ 
You will find a number of exercises for various target levels here. Feel free to make it a habit to complete at least 1 exercise a day.