ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS OF THE VARIOUS DIPLOMAS, TESTS AND FRENCH LANGUAGE INSTITUTES

CNED (CENTRE NATIONAL D’ENSEIGNEMENT À DISTANCE)

A public French institution whose main function is to coordinate all the distance-learning options offered by French schools and universities, as well as all the public service competitive exams. Its mission is to provide distance-learning training through initial education, professional continuing studies and permanent education.

ELF (ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOUNDATIONS) 

A program helping new immigrants or international students in Canada to enhance their English skills in a work environment.

BBB/CCC/CBC

These qualification norms apply to the positions within the Canadian public service requiring the use of both official languages – French and English. Required levels of proficiency are determined for each of the following three languages skills: Written comprehension, Written expression, Oral interaction.

BBB

Language competency level of an individual who passed the B-level examination in written comprehension, written expression and oral interaction.

CCC

Language competency level of an individual who passed the C-level examination in written comprehension, written expression and oral interaction.

CBC

Language competency level of an individual who passed the C-level examination in written comprehension and oral interaction, and the B level in written expression.

CEFRL (COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK OF REFERENCE FOR LANGUAGES)

A reference tool used to assess a learner’s language skills and to define concrete learning needs and objectives. It is comprised of five different skills: written comprehension, written expression, oral comprehension, oral continuous expression and oral interaction. It also provides educators and examiners with common standards to apply to certifications, tests and diplomas.The reference levels (see below) are becoming widely accepted as the European standard for grading an individual's language proficiency.

FLE/ FSL (FRANÇAIS AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE / FRENCH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE)

DELF (DIPLÔME D'ÉTUDES EN LANGUE FRANÇAISE)

An official diploma delivered by the French Ministry of Education to certify the French language skills of non-native French speakers or native speakers born outside of France who do not possess a secondary school diploma or university degree delivered by a French academic institute. The four diplomas that make up the DELF are completely independent and are consistent with the first four levels of the CEFRL (DELF A1, DELF A2, DELF B1 and DELF B2).

DELF A1: recognizes elementary knowledge in French. It is the most basic proficiency level for a language, called the "discovery" stage. At this stage, the learner can interact in a simple way, introduce him/herself and describe his/her immediate environment.

DELF A2: the holder of a DELF A2 diploma is considered capable of social interaction in the language. He/She can communicate in simple day-to-day situations and exchange information.

DELF B1: the holder of a DELF B1 diploma is considered an independent user. He/She can understand and follow a conversation, express an opinion, deal with most daily life situations.

DELF B2: the holder of a DELF B2 diploma can argue to defend an opinion, explain his/her viewpoint and negotiate. He/She can speak fluently and can spontaneously take part in conversations. He/she can correct his/her own mistakes. 

 DELF Pro (Diplôme d'Études en Langue Française Professionnel)

The DELF Pro is a version of the DELF diplomas geared towards the work environment. Like the DELF, it is a series of diplomas delivered by the French Ministry of Education that certify skills in French as a second (or foreign) language. It is made up of four independent diplomas (DELF Pro A1, DELF Pro A2, DELF Pro B1 and DELF Pro B2) consistent with the first four levels of the CEFRL.

DELF Junior 

The DELF Junior is the second series of DELF/DALF diplomas. Delivered by the French Ministry of Education, this internationally recognized diploma certifies skills in French as a second (or foreign) language.

Reserved for secondary school students, it holds the same value as the standard DELF diploma for adults.

Alliance Française de Toronto is the only exam centre for the DELF Junior exams in the GTA. A number of school districts in Alberta and Nova Scotia are accredited exam centres for the DELF Scolaire, a diploma identical to the DELF Junior but administered within the school systems.

DELF Junior is made up of four independent diplomas consistent with the first four levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

DALF (DIPLÔME APPROFONDI DE LANGUE FRANÇAISE)

This official diploma is awarded by the French Ministry of Education and certifies the French language skills of candidates born outside of France or of French citizens born in a non-francophone country who do not hold a secondary school diploma or university degree from a French academic institution. The DALF is made up of two independent diplomas (DALF C1 and DALF C2) corresponding to the upper levels of the CEFRL.

 DALF C1: holders of the C1 DALF diploma are independent users. They can express themselves fluently and spontaneously. They have a large vocabulary and can choose the appropriate word or expression to present their opinions. They can produce a clear, well-structured discourse without hesitation and with appropriate use of grammatical structures. 

 DALF C2: holders of the C2 DALF diploma are experienced speakers displaying a high degree of accuracy and fluency. They can use the language for academic purposes. 

TCF (TEST DE CONNAISSANCE DU FRANÇAIS)

The TCF is an official French language test of the French Ministry of Education. It certifies the French language skills of non-native speakers who wish to assess and certify their French skills in a simple, reliable and timely fashion, for academic, professional or personal reasons. All candidates receive a certificate which places them on the CERFL’s global scale of six levels (from A1 to C2). This certificate is valid for two years.

TCF-DAP (TEST DE CONNAISSANCE DU FRANÇAIS/ DEMANDE D’ADMISSION PRÉALABLE) 

The TCF-DAP is a French language test awarded by the French Ministry of Education and geared toward students applying for a B.A (Licence 1 – Licence 2) or a school of architecture in France. It combines the standard TCF and DAP tests.

TEF (TEST D'ÉVALUATION DE FRANÇAIS)

Delivered by the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIP), the TEF (Test d'Évaluation de Français) certificate is officially recognized by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) as conclusive proof of an aspiring immigrant’s French language skills. It assesses the skills of non-native French speakers. It can be used to enter a college/university program, to move to a French-speaking country or for academic purposes. It places candidates on the CEFRL’s global scale of six levels (from A1 to C2) and is valid for one year.

DAEFLE (DIPLÔME D'APTITUDE À L'ENSEIGNEMENT DU FRANÇAIS LANGUE ÉTRANGÈRE)

Engineered by Alliance Française de Paris Île-de-France and the Centre National d'Enseignement à Distance (CNED), this program is designed for teachers and aspiring teachers of French as a Second Language in or outside of France. The content of this program is geared towards in-class practices. It alternates between theoretical readings, document analysis and practice exercises. Online tutoring with specialized instructors, in combination with course hand-outs, will help in the acquisition of teaching skills and knowledge.

PRO-FLE

The “PRO-FLE - Professionnalisation en FLE” program addresses the needs of native and non-native teachers of French as a second or foreign language who wish to strengthen their teaching skills through continuous training.