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FRENCH CITIZENSHIP

TEST: Is your level of French good enough for citizenship and residency?

France has tightened up language requirements for citizenship and is proposing introducing a language test for certain types of carte de séjour residency card - so just how good does your French need to be?

TEST: Is your level of French good enough for citizenship and residency?
Photo by Fred TANNEAU / AFP

From total fluency to just being able to order a baguette in your local boulangerie, there’s a world of difference in the levels of French attained by foreigners in France, and of course most people improve the longer they stay here.

But there are certain processes that require formal qualifications, so we’ve put together some sample questions to give you an idea of the level required. This article relates solely to your language ability – if you’re applying for citizenship there are several other requirements, including having to demonstrate knowledge of French culture and history.

READ ALSO Am I eligible for French citizenship?

The current rules in place require French at level B1 on the international DELF scale in order to obtain French citizenship.

Getting a carte de séjour residency permit currently has no formal language requirement, although Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin says he wants to introduce one for certain types of permit.

This bill still needs to be debated in parliament, but the level proposed is A1 – you can find full details of the proposal and take the A1 mock test HERE.

Citizenship

So what does B1 mean? B1 on the DELF scale is defined as “able to handle day-to-day matters that arise in school, work or leisure”. 

A B1 candidate “should be able to get by while travelling in an area where only French is spoken, and should be able to describe events and justify things like opinions, plans, or even ambitions”.

You are not required to be able to speak perfect, error-free French, only to be able to make yourself understood and understand any replies you are given.  

Tests

Four tests are required for citizenship; a written test, reading tests, listening test and an oral test where you have a conversation with an examiner.

  • Oral comprehension – 25 minutes. This test involves listening to a tape and answering questions about the content, usually multiple choice answers
  • Oral discussion – 15 minutes. This is a one-on-one conversation with an examiner (either in person or on the phone) who asks you progressively more difficult questions, towards the end of the chat you are also given the opportunity to ask questions or start a debate with your examiner on the topic
  • Reading test – 45 minutes. Candidates are expected to read a selection of French texts (newspaper articles, memos, adverts etc) and answer questions about their content
  • Writing test – 30 minutes. Candidates must write a piece on a given topic in a specified style (formal letter, email, memo, news report etc)

Bear in mind that instructions for the exam – times allowed, which sections to answer etc – are all in French. 

You need to pass all four sections of the language test in order to apply for citizenship. Although you do not have to take all the tests at the same time, test certificates presented for citizenship cannot be more than two years old. 

Sample questions

We have put together some examples of the type of questions asked, based on past papers for B1 exams.

Oral comprehension – for this section you will have to listen to audio of French people talking. The format varies, sometimes it could be a news report, an interview or a recorded discussion, and it will be played at least twice.

Here are some sample questions from a past B1 paper, after the candidates had listened to a short clip of Paul talking about his holidays – click here to listen to the audio. 

Quel a été le principal inconvénient du voyage de Paul ?

  • La nourriture
  • La chaleur 
  • La longueur du voyage

Combien de pays ont-ils visités ?

  • Cinq
  • Six
  • Seize

Quel sentiment éprouve Paul?

  • Il est déçu de son voyage et content d’être rentré 
  • Il est content de son voyage et regrette d’être rentré 
  • Il est content de son voyage et content aussi d’être rentré

Reading – you have 45 minutes to read two documents provided and then answer questions about them. The questions are usually a mix of multiple choice and longer answers.

Here are some sample questions from a past B1 paper, relating to a report about child soldiers, and the charity groups attempting to help them – you can read the document here.

1. Ce document a pour but de:

  • Dénoncer les horreurs de la guerre
  • Informer sur les actions pour les droits de l’enfant
  • Faire signer un texte pour les droits de l’enfant

2. Citez trois formes du soutien proposées aux enfants soldats par les ONG

3. Combien d’enfants sont membres du SPLA.

Oral discussion – the examiner will ask you questions about the documents that you have read for the reading section, you have an extra 10 minutes before the oral section begins to prepare your response.

You will begin by introducing yourself and talking about your work, family or hobbies – the examiner will then ask you some questions about yourself before moving on to questions about the document.

Written – in this section you have 30 minutes to write an answer to a question. You must respond in 160 to 180 words. Here is a sample of the type of question asked:

A votre avis, quels ont été le ou les changements les plus importants des vingt dernières années dans votre pays?

(In your opinion, what are the most important changes that have taken place in your country in the past 20 years).

You can find the full exam paper with the correct answers (at the bottom) HERE.

Member comments

  1. Does this apply to EU Nationals wishing to reside in France? And, by extension, to their spouse? Or are they exempt because of EU rules?

  2. Your mistakes (not a good idea when you write about French tests)

    La longUeur (the length) du voyage

    Il (he) (non non no It) est déçu (accent is a must é)

    les changements leS (plural here) plus importants

    votre payS your country. Your pay (English)

  3. Your mistakes. La longUeur (the length) du voyage

    Il (he) (non non no It) est déçu

    les changements leS (plural here)

    votre payS your country. Your pay (English)

  4. My French is at best b2 and at times a1. However, towards the end of the conversation with Paul, first vocal exercise, he makes reference to “Quebequoise” when he talks about being out of touch with current events. But the transcript version says “française”. Did I miss something?

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FILM

The French films with English subtitles to watch in October 2023

Lost in Frenchlation - the cinema club that screens French films with English subtitles - has a strong offering for October 2023.

The French films with English subtitles to watch in October 2023

Lost in Frenchlation‘s mission is simple – to open up the wonderful world of French cinema to people whose French is not yet good enough to understand a whole film without subtitles. 

The club has recently expanded to Biarritz, Caen and south-west France, but its October screenings are all in Paris.

Screenings are preceded by drinks allowing foreigners in the capital to make new friends and some of the October showings also include an optional walking tour, Q&A sessions (in English) with the film directors, stand-up comedy and even karaoke.

Here’s what is coming up:

Le livre des solutions 

Details – Friday, October 6th at Club de L’Etoile cinema, 14 Rue Troyon, 75017 Paris. Drinks from 18h, film starts at 19h, followed by Q&A with the director. Tickets €8-€10, book here

Film – This dark comedy, directed by Michel Gondry, focuses on a filmmaker who cannot stand to see his creative vision picked apart by an overbearing production team. In frustration, the protagonist flees to his aunt’s house to finish making the film untethered from the rest of his team. And that is when things start to fall apart. Starring Pierre Niney, this film is not to be missed. 

L’été dernier 

Details – Friday, October 13th at Club de L’Etoile cinema, 14 Rue Troyon, 75017 Paris. Women of Paris tour at 4:30pm, Drinks from 7pm, Screening at 8pm. Screening tickets €7-€8.5, book here. Walking tour tickets €15, book here

Film – Anne, a high-flying lawyer lives a conventional life with her husband, Pierre, and two young daughters. But when Theo, Pierre’s estranged 17-year-old son moves in, things get complicated. A strange and passionate relationship develops between Anne and Theo throwing family life into jeopardy. Directed by Catherine Breillat, this sensitive film won plaudits at Cannes.

Yannick 

Details – Thursday October 19th at Luminor Cinema, 20 Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris. Drinks from 7pm, standup comedy show at 8pm, screening at 8:30pm. Tickets €12-€16, available here

Film – This dark comedy follows the story of a Parisian theatre production taken hostage by an armed carpark attendent who is unhappy with the performance he sees on stage. Like many Quentin Dupieux films, it is packed full of witty one-liners and smart dialogue. First released at the Locarno film festival, Yannick received broadly positive reviews. 

Y_Digicut SPOT A_v2VOSTA from Lost in Frenchlation on Vimeo.

Les demoiselles de Rochefort 

Details – Sunday, October 22nd at Luminor cinema, 20 Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris. Drinks, karaoke and giveaway from 7pm, screening at 8pm. Tickets €7- €8.50, available here

FilmLes demoiselles de Rochefort was first released in 1967 and features one of the most iconic performances from French star, Catherine Deneuve. Lost in Frenchlation is showing the film again in October to mark Deneuve’s 80th birthday. The film follows the story of twin sisters who move to the big-city to escape the dreary life of small-town France and is seen as a masterpiece of 60s cinema. 

Le procès Goldman 

Details – Thursday, October 26th at L’Arlequin cinema, 76 Rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris. Drinks from 7pm, screening at 8pm, followed by a Q&A with the screenwriter. Tickets €8.50-€11, available here

Film – This gripping courtroom drama is based on the true story of the 1975 trial of Pierre Goldman – a left-wing activist accused of armed robbery and murder. The trial itself was one of the most prolific in French history and divided the country down political, ideological and racial lines. This tension is captured in Cédric Khan’s film. 

Anatomie d’une chute 

Details – Sunday, October 29th at L’Arlequin cinema, 76 Rue de Rennes, 75006 Paris. Drinks and custom ice cream from Kev Glace from 7pm, screening at 8pm. Tickets €8.50-€11, available here

FilmAnatomie d’une chute won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. When a man is found dead in the snow beneath a chalet in the Alps, investigators attempt to decipher whether he died by suicide or was murdered – by his wife. This psychological thriller is director Justine Triet’s best film yet. 

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