🪪 R1032906
Today I officially received my licence as a Canadian immigration consultant.
Alena Kopalina
Blog
French, TEF and TCF Canada, our move to Canada and the path to an immigration consultant licence.
Changes to TCF
I carefully studied the document in full: the rules are becoming noticeably stricter.
New TCF rules
A new version of the Manuel du candidat was published in April 2026. Reading through it today, I noticed a new passage highlighted in red.
How to build arguments
Speaking on the spot can certainly be stressful. But your response still needs a clear structure, even when you are improvising…
Citizenship 🇨🇦
It took us six years. Some take longer, others get there faster, but eventually they make it. On December 12, 2025, we became Canadian citizens.
The moment of truth
Today I finally took my immigration consultant licensing exam, and… honestly, I am still a little shocked that it actually happened.
TCF writing topics
I finally took the time to analyse the writing tasks from the past year and group them into broad topic areas.
What natural speech looks like at B2
Language exams are all about assessment criteria. Test designers describe them in detail; for TCF/TEF, it is best to consult the CEFR directly. Most people know that grammar, vocabulary and linking words will be assessed.
Studies behind me, the exam ahead
A year ago, I attended my first lecture at Université de Montréal. Just two weeks later, I was thinking: “Oh God, these hours turn into days, days into months, sleepless nights, weekends without a break…”
A certificate is not a guarantee of peace of mind
A case worth knowing about — to stay informed, not to panic. A former student gave me permission to share her story without identifying her. It is an unusual situation that may be useful to anyone preparing for exams or who has already taken them. She received an invitation to apply from IRCC, gathered her documents, submitted the application and waited for it to be processed.
Why does your speech fall apart?
Why does your writing fall apart even when it contains no errors? One student and I once joked that my corrections were competing with ChatGPT, after he sent me a text thoroughly edited by AI. Everything looked flawless: the vocabulary was good, and so was the grammar.
AI in the TCF
What do we know about artificial intelligence used in the TCF? Since May 2024 😳😳😳 — a whole year already — in the TCF writing section…