TEF Expression Orale Section A: Ask Questions with Confidence

An advertisement gives you an overview, but you often need more details before making a decision. TEF Canada Expression Orale Section A asks you to handle this everyday situation in French.

During a five-minute role-play, you ask approximately ten questions about an advertisement. The examiner plays the person answering your inquiry.

At French Circles, we help you practise asking clear questions, listening carefully, and keeping the exchange natural.

1. Understand the Task

Your goal is to obtain additional information about something that interests you. The advertisement might concern a rental, a course, a service, an activity, or a job.

Imagine that you genuinely want to respond to the offer. What would you need to know before proceeding?

You lead the exchange by asking questions. The examiner responds in the role of your contact person.

2. Plan Your Conversation

During practice, organize your questions around the information you would need to make a decision.

Choose the areas that match the advertisement. Use its details as starting points and identify what remains unclear.

Practice tip: Group related questions together, while staying flexible enough to follow the answers.

3. Start the Conversation

Greet the person, mention the advertisement, and explain why you are calling.

Bonjour Madame. J’ai vu votre annonce pour la location de vélos. J’aimerais avoir quelques renseignements.

You can also check whether the offer is still available:

Bonjour Monsieur. Je vous appelle au sujet de l’appartement annoncé sur votre site. Est-il toujours disponible ?

Keep your introduction brief and use a polite tone.

4. Develop Your Ideas

Think beyond a general question by exploring a specific detail. For example, the question:

Quel est le prix ?

can lead to:

Quel est le tarif pour une journée complète ?

Then, depending on the answer:

Est-ce que le casque est compris dans ce prix ?

Use different question structures when appropriate:

Ask questions that serve a purpose. If the advertisement already gives a detail clearly, explore its conditions or implications instead of asking for the same information again.

5. Listen and Respond

Use the answer you receive to shape your next question.

Vous : À quelle heure faut-il rendre le vélo ?

Responsable : Avant 18 heures.

Vous : D’accord. Et que se passe-t-il si nous avons un peu de retard ?

You can also confirm your understanding:

Si j’ai bien compris, la réservation se fait uniquement en ligne ?

If something is unclear, ask for help:

• Pourriez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît ?
• Qu’est-ce que vous entendez par « équipement inclus » ?

Brief personal details can explain your questions:

Nous venons avec un enfant de huit ans. Avez-vous un vélo adapté à son âge ?

Let the person finish speaking before you continue.

6. Use Helpful Expressions

Choose expressions that fit the exchange. You do not need to use all of them.

Build vocabulary connected to each practice topic. For bicycle rental, useful words include la location, le casque, la caution, le tarif, la réservation, and le retour.

7. Close the Conversation

Thank the person and mention a next step if it fits the situation.

Merci pour ces renseignements. Je vais vérifier nos disponibilités avant de réserver. Bonne journée !

Another possibility:

Très bien, merci pour votre aide. Pourriez-vous m’envoyer les informations par courriel ?

Make sure any important uncertainty has been clarified before ending the exchange.

8. Explore More Practice Activities

Ready to put these strategies into practice? Explore our French Circles Section A activities below to practise asking questions about different advertisements.

For guided exercises and a self-review checklist, use the accompanying practice document. Try each conversation again with different answers to build your confidence and flexibility.