.png){kind=small}
Mastering the French language is a huge asset in the Canadian job market…
…and our students know it. According to research conducted by Ipsos Reid for Canadian Parents for French, 81% of employers consider bilingual English French employees to be a valuable asset to their company. To this end, organizations and companies offer them almost $10,000 more per year (1) to attract bilingual workers.
As the director of Premiere Class Inc., I am often told that our students’ professional objective is to obtain a bilingual job. One piece of advice I give them is to take a DELF examination. As with many other professional certifications (PMP, CFA…) that are designed to develop one’s knowledge and boost their career in accounting, project management, etc., there are diplomas to test and certify learners’ French language skills. The most widely known test on a global level in French is the DELF.
More than 65,000 Canadians have taken DELF-DALF (2) exams over the past few years according to the Embassy of France to Canada.
An official certification for each level.
DELF stands for Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (diploma in French language studies) and is an official diploma issued by the French Ministry of Education that is recognized in Canada and in 175 other countries. Throughout the years, the DELF diploma became more recognized from recruiters and employers.
Four examinations related to the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR) levels are offered according to candidates’ level:
DELF A1: Beginner
DELF A2: Elementary
DELF B1: Intermediate
DELF B2: Upper Intermediate
DELF evaluates the four skills of language in real situations: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. By taking French courses with Premiere Class, our students prepare for the DELF examination by learning tasks that they encounter at work, on business trip, etc.
Many good reasons to take a DELF examination.
French is the official language in Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland and 25 other countries. The language is spoken by 274 million people in the world, and the number is expected to reach 700 million by 2050.
Beyond the numbers, here are good reasons to take a DELF examination for our students:
To obtain a diploma that is valid for life.
To keep track on their progress on the path towards bilingualism.
To enrich their resume with a certification recognized by recruiters.
To be able to describe their French language proficiency.
(1) Source: ACUFC - The Conference Board of Canada
(2) DALF, Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française is designed for advanced learners.