TCF Canada speaking practice: real French lines for each task
The TCF Canada speaking test (expression orale) is a face-to-face conversation with an examiner in three tasks. This page gives you real French sentences for each task, from videos with hand-written French captions: hear one, say it after the speaker, record yourself and compare. It is free and needs no account. Sada is not a TCF simulator and does not predict your score.
Try this line first
A sample candidate introducing herself, the way task 1 begins.
J'habite à Bogota et je suis journaliste.
Meaning: I live in Bogotá and I am a journalist. Two facts joined by et. Then say yours: J’habite à … et je suis …
6:17–6:20 · opens on “After the speaker” · free, no account
What the speaking test looks like
France Éducation international, which runs the TCF, describes the speaking test as a face-to-face test with an examiner in three tasks, 12 minutes in all including 2 minutes of preparation. We could not open its page directly to check every detail, so read the current format on France Éducation international’s TCF Canada page before your test.
- Task 1, the guided interview (entretien dirigé): questions about you.
- Task 2, the interaction (exercice en interaction): you ask the examiner questions in a role play.
- Task 3, your point of view (expression d’un point de vue): you give and defend an opinion.
TCF Canada speaking score and NCLC level
For Express Entry, IRCC converts the speaking score out of 20 into an NCLC level. The Federal Skilled Worker Program asks for at least NCLC 7 in all four abilities in your first official language.
| NCLC level | TCF Canada speaking score |
|---|---|
| 10 and above | 16–20 |
| 9 | 14–15 |
| 8 | 12–13 |
| 7 | 10–11 |
| 6 | 7–9 |
| 5 | 6 |
| 4 | 4–5 |
Source: IRCC, Express Entry language test results, read on 2026-10-25.
Task 1, the guided interview: talk about yourself
The examiner asks about you: where you live, your work, your family, your plans. Answer in full, simple sentences. The line at the top of this page and the last one here come from a sample DELF candidate introducing herself; the other is a teacher’s example.
Par exemple, « Je suis professeur de français ».
Meaning: For example, “I am a French teacher.” Your job with no article: Je suis professeur, not un professeur.
3:20–3:23 · opens on “After the speaker” · free, no account
J'espère qu'à Paris je pourrai le pratiquer aussi.
Meaning: I hope I can do it in Paris too. A plan for the future with j’espère que and the future tense pourrai. Say it about Canada: J’espère qu’au Canada je pourrai …
7:14–7:19 · opens on “After the speaker” · free, no account
Task 2, the interaction: ask polite questions
In a role play you ask the examiner questions to get information or arrange something. Polite question forms carry this task: Puis-je, Pourrais-je, Pourriez-vous and Est-ce que.
Puis-je parler avec Charlotte s'il vous plait, madame ?
Meaning: May I speak with Charlotte, please, madam? Puis-je sounds like “pweezh”: one beat. The voice rises at the end of the question.
6:22–6:26 · opens on “After the speaker” · free, no account
Par exemple : Pourrais-je avoir une réduction s'il vous plait ?
Meaning: For example: could I have a discount, please? Pourrais-je is softer than Puis-je. Useful when you negotiate in the role play.
5:27–5:32 · opens on “After the speaker” · free, no account
Est-ce que toutes ces manières sont si importantes ?
Meaning: Are all these manners so important? Est-ce que turns any sentence into a question; say it in one go, like “esk”.
4:09–4:12 · opens on “After the speaker” · free, no account
«Pardon, je n'ai pas très bien compris : pourriez-vous répéter, s'il vous plait ?»
Meaning: Sorry, I didn’t quite understand: could you repeat, please? The sentence to have ready when you miss a question. Asking is allowed; silence is what costs you.
14:35–14:41 · opens on “After the speaker” · free, no account
Task 3, your point of view: give and defend an opinion
You give your opinion on a topic and explain it. Start each argument with a different opener instead of repeating je pense que. These are a teacher’s example sentences for each opener.
À mon sens, Koffi ne tient pas compte de nos conseils.
Meaning: In my view, Koffi doesn’t take our advice into account. À mon sens: “in my view”. The s of sens is said here.
0:00–0:04 · opens on “After the speaker” · free, no account
"D'après moi, il est important d'entretenir une relation de qualité avec ses proches.
Meaning: In my opinion, it is important to keep a good relationship with your family and friends. D’après moi then il est important de: a ready frame for any topic.
3:36–3:42 · opens on “After the speaker” · free, no account
"Je trouve que ma rémunération ne correspond pas à mon implication dans la compagnie."
Meaning: I find that my pay does not match my commitment to the company. After je trouve que the verb stays in the indicative (correspond).
3:50–3:55 · opens on “After the speaker” · free, no account
"Si vous demandez mon avis, nous devons trouver une solution qui convient à toute l'équipe."
Meaning: If you ask my opinion, we must find a solution that suits the whole team. The longest line: say it in two parts first, then in one breath.
6:07–6:13 · opens on “After the speaker” · free, no account
A 15-minute speaking routine for the TCF
- Pick one task. Say each of its lines after the speaker twice, slowed to 0.75× under “More options” if you need it.
- Open Compare, play your take and the original, and fix one thing: a missed word, or a pause where the speaker had none.
- Change each line to say something true about you, aloud, with a timer: 30 seconds for task 1, three questions in a row for task 2, one opinion with one reason and one example for task 3.
- Once a line feels easy, choose “With the speaker” and say it at the same time, to keep French rhythm and speed.
What Sada checks, and what it does not
Sada shows which of your words came across against the captions and how your timing compares with the speaker’s. It does not grade individual sounds, grammar or the content of your answers, it is not affiliated with France Éducation international, and it cannot tell you your TCF score or NCLC level. Recognition runs in your browser and recordings stay on your device.
Videos: DELF A2-B1 : se présenter en français en 2 minutes (Le French Club); Se Présenter en Français - COURS COMPLET ! (Français avec Pierre); Expressions de politesse en français pour demander poliment, saluer... (Français avec Pierre); Je veux, je voudrais, puis-je… Demander quelque chose poliment en français (Français avec Pierre); 29 EXPRESSIONS SYNONYMES DE "JE PENSE QUE" (Französisch für Prüfungen). All have hand-written French captions; lines and ranges checked against the captions Sada uses on 2026-10-25.
More French practice
Questions people ask
How can I practise TCF Canada speaking alone?
Take real French sentences for each task, say them after a speaker, record yourself and compare, then change each one to talk about yourself with a timer. This page has eleven checked lines: three to introduce yourself, four polite questions and four opinion openers.
What TCF Canada speaking score do I need for NCLC 7?
IRCC gives NCLC 7 for a TCF Canada speaking score of 10 or 11 out of 20, NCLC 8 for 12 or 13, and NCLC 9 for 14 or 15. Check IRCC’s Express Entry language test page for the current table.
What are the three TCF Canada speaking tasks?
A guided interview about yourself, an interaction in which you ask the examiner questions, and giving and defending your point of view. Read France Éducation international’s TCF Canada page for the current format and timing.
Does Sada score my French like the TCF?
No. Sada shows which words came across and your timing against a real speaker. It does not grade sounds, grammar or content, and it cannot predict a TCF score or NCLC level.