← Master TCF Canada Speaking

Task 1

Introducing yourself

Duration
2 minutes
Preparation
None
Format
Guided interview: you introduce yourself to the examiner
Goal
This task assesses your ability to talk about yourself in a structured, natural way. The examiner asks you to introduce yourself for 2 minutes, with no preparation time. The topic never changes, so you can prepare your introduction in advance.

A four-part structure

Cover these four points, in this order. The times are a guide to help you spread your 2 minutes well.

1. Identity (about 20 seconds)

Your name, age, city and home country. You can add your family situation.

2. Studies and work (about 40 seconds)

Your studies, your current job and what you like about it. This is the moment to use the passé composé and the imparfait.

3. Hobbies (about 30 seconds)

Your passions and activities. Give a concrete detail or a short anecdote: that is what makes an introduction come alive.

4. Plans (about 30 seconds)

Your goals, your plans in Canada and why you are taking the TCF. Use the future tense and the conditional.

Useful French phrases

Identity

  • Je m'appelle… et j'ai … ans.My name is… and I am … years old.
  • Je viens de… et j'habite actuellement à…I come from… and I currently live in…
  • Je suis marié(e) et j'ai deux enfants.I am married and I have two children.

Studies and work

  • J'ai fait des études de… à l'université de…I studied… at the University of…
  • J'ai obtenu mon diplôme en…I graduated in…
  • Je travaille comme… depuis … ans.I have been working as a… for … years.
  • Ce qui me plaît dans mon travail, c'est…What I like about my job is…

Hobbies

  • Pendant mon temps libre, j'aime…In my free time, I like…
  • Je suis passionné(e) de…I am passionate about…
  • Je pratique le… deux fois par semaine.I do… twice a week.
  • Récemment, j'ai découvert…Recently, I discovered…

Plans

  • Mon projet est de m'installer au Canada pour…My plan is to settle in Canada to…
  • Je passe le TCF Canada parce que…I am taking the TCF Canada because…
  • Dans quelques années, j'aimerais…In a few years, I would like to…
  • J'espère pouvoir…I hope to be able to…

Tips for success

  • Prepare your introduction, but don't memorize it word for word: examiners can tell when a text is recited.
  • Link the parts with simple connectors: d'abord, ensuite, par ailleurs, enfin.
  • Vary your tenses: present for your situation, past for your background, future for your plans.
  • If you finish before 2 minutes, the examiner will ask you questions: that's normal, just answer them.

Sample answers

Durations are estimated at a normal pace (130 words per minute). The prompts and answers are in French, just like at the exam.

More sample answers are coming soon.