The speaking exam: overcoming fear and finding your voice
Which part of the exam makes you the most nervous? Many people would say the speaking section. ⠀
You are speaking in front of a stranger - the examiner. By the way, there may be several of them. All attention is directed to you. Any action or word you say is evaluated: the examiners write something down, making you worry about mistakes once again. ⠀
In fact, on the contrary, sometimes they capture successful moments. But still the candidate’s state is close to panic. And this does not have the best effect on the answer. ⠀
How to cope with fear: ⠀
- Confidence comes from being in control. It is important to prepare in advance not only a knowledge base, but also an internal state: learn not to get lost in unexpected topics, calmly react to any counterarguments, and play out non-standard scenarios. ⠀
- A positive attitude is an added bonus. Those people who stand out are those who smile welcomingly and create a friendly atmosphere themselves. The main thing here is not to overact and not to fake. ⠀
- Don’t be afraid to ask again if you don’t understand or mishear. It is not difficult for the examiner to repeat. It’s better to ask again than to start the answer incorrectly. Just prepare clarifying statements in advance so as not to make mistakes in them. ⠀
- Keep in mind exactly the score you need and study the evaluation criteria. If you think about passing “at least somehow,” it won’t do any good. ⠀
- Stay in touch with the examiner. An oral response is like a theatrical performance. If the actor does not keep in touch with his partner, the performance will fail. The examiner has no desire to fail you. Its goal is to give you the opportunity to speak up and open up in these 12-15 minutes. Engage in dialogue, interact. ⠀
I would like to summarize my recommendations with one of my favorite phrases:
Do what you have to do and come what may! ⠀
We often set high expectations and expect something supernatural from ourselves. Look at things more realistically. It is impossible to reach the B2 level from scratch in two months. But do with full dedication and responsibility what you are capable of at the moment. And, as they say, you will be rewarded. ⠀
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Enchaînement and liaison in spoken French
Requesting a TCF Canada score review