How to prepare effectively for the TEF/TCF Canada speaking section
Conventionally, I divided this process into three stages.
1️/Many people are afraid to speak aloud in a foreign language at first — not just to chat, but to build a complete response on a set topic. To reduce that stress, I let students explore the topic at home, study the vocabulary, think through their answer and write it out in full or as an outline. Those notes are useful later, too: you can go over them again before the exam.
At this stage, the main thing is not to overstay your welcome. As soon as you understand that the oral presentation prepared in advance is easy for you, move on to the next step. Don’t think that now you’ll better understand as many topics as possible, but then you’ll come to the exam and suddenly start speaking fluently. Some people, under the influence of fear and excitement, actually become more talkative, while others, on the contrary, fall into a stupor. In any case, you need to train the skill of spontaneous speech in advance.
2️/We continue to analyze topics and at the same time try to speak without preparation. To begin with, you can take questions that are close to those that have already been worked through. Let you have the opportunity to use the vocabulary you have already mastered, but with nuances. Gradually take on more and more diverse topics.
Here it immediately becomes obvious that speaking without preparation is much more difficult. Spontaneous responses appear weaker - this can be frustrating. But a little practice and you will begin to feel freer, learn key cliché phrases, begin to remember the right words, and respond faster to the examiner’s speech (at this stage it is good to prepare with a teacher).
3️/Just before exams, don’t waste time studying new topics. You can make a list of all possible questions, pull them out at random and practice spontaneous answers. It is important for you to practice the skill of not getting lost and not stressing. If you have a good understanding of a variety of topics early on, you will have enough words, expressions and ideas to respond well.