By By Kerem Gurel, founder of TEF Practice, an independent preparation platform.
In TEF speaking practice, a prepared question can get a conversation started. The next answer tells you whether to ask for a detail, clarify a condition or change your argument. Practising that decision makes a conversation more useful than repeatedly delivering the same opening.
Here are two short exercises built around a bicycle-repair workshop. The French advertisement and dialogues are original teaching material, not official TEF questions, recalled exam content or scored model answers. Try your own response before reading each suggestion.
Two speaking tasks, two different purposes
According to the official TEF Canada speaking instructions, Section A gives you five minutes to obtain information. Section B gives you ten minutes to argue persuasively. The speaking test takes place with an examiner.
In these drills, use vous with the workshop organiser in Section A and tu with your friend in Section B. These examples are much shorter than complete test interactions. They isolate a skill you can later use in longer practice.
Start with the advertisement
Atelier vélo du quartier
Apprenez à vérifier vos freins et à réparer une crevaison.
Samedi, de 14 h à 16 h, au centre de quartier.
Tarif : 12 euros. Outils fournis.
Débutants bienvenus. Venez avec votre vélo.
Inscription avant jeudi.
The advertisement confirms the time, price, tools and welcome for beginners. It does not promise replacement parts, an individual repair service or a different session time. Keep those distinctions in mind before making claims to your friend.
Section A: turn an answer into a follow-up question
You are interested in attending. Ask the organiser for information that would help you decide and prepare. Begin with one clear question:
Candidate: Bonjour, je vous appelle au sujet de l’atelier vélo de samedi. J’aimerais savoir si chacun travaille sur son propre vélo pendant la séance.
Organiser: Oui. L’animateur fait d’abord une démonstration, puis les participants essaient sur leur vélo.
A disconnected next question would be « Combien ça coûte ? », which also repeats a detail already printed in the advertisement. Instead, use the answer to explore how the workshop works:
Candidate: D’accord. Si je n’arrive pas à refaire une étape, est-ce que l’animateur peut venir m’aider ?
This asks about support during the activity. It follows naturally from hearing that participants will try the repair themselves.
Organiser: Oui, il passe voir les participants. En revanche, les pièces de rechange ne sont pas comprises.
Now the phrase « en revanche » introduces a limitation. Respond to it:
Candidate: Quelles pièces faut-il apporter pour l’exercice sur les crevaisons ? Je voudrais éviter d’arriver sans le matériel nécessaire.
The organiser’s extra details belong to this practice dialogue. They are not facts you could know from the advertisement alone. During a new role-play, listen for the information your partner actually supplies.
Other useful questions could concern accessibility, the maximum group size or the registration process. Choose them because the answer matters to your situation. Asking several questions in one long sentence can make it harder to follow what has and has not been answered.
Section B: respond to the concern you hear
For this separate exercise, your friend uses a bicycle for short journeys and worries about getting stuck with a flat tyre. Present the workshop and try to persuade them to attend with you.
Candidate: Tu m’as dit que tu avais peur d’avoir une crevaison loin de chez toi. J’ai trouvé un atelier où on apprend justement à la réparer. C’est samedi après-midi, au centre de quartier, et les débutants sont les bienvenus. On pourrait y aller ensemble. Qu’est-ce que tu en penses ?
The introduction connects one feature to something the friend cares about. It leaves space for a reply instead of reciting the whole advertisement.
When the concern is ability
Friend: Je ne suis pas du tout bricoleur. J’aurais peur de casser quelque chose.
A weak response would be « Mais ce n’est que douze euros ! ». The price does not answer the fear of causing damage.
Candidate: Je comprends. L’annonce précise que l’atelier accepte les débutants, donc tu n’as pas besoin de savoir réparer ton vélo avant de venir. On pourrait demander comment les exercices sont encadrés. Ce qui t’inquiète le plus, c’est de ne pas comprendre les gestes ou d’abîmer ton vélo en essayant ?
The reply acknowledges the concern, uses a confirmed detail and asks a question that can guide the next response. It does not promise that damage is impossible.
When the concern changes to value
Friend: Même pour douze euros, je préfère regarder une vidéo gratuite.
Candidate: Une vidéo peut t’aider, c’est vrai. L’intérêt de l’atelier serait de prendre deux heures pour essayer les gestes avec ton vélo. Avant de payer, on pourrait vérifier si tu pourras poser tes questions à l’animateur. Si tu peux pratiquer et obtenir des explications sur ce qui te bloque, est-ce que cela te semblerait plus utile ?
This presents a possible advantage while clearly identifying what needs checking. In this Section B exercise, you have the advertisement only. Do not silently import the organiser’s answers from the separate Section A dialogue.
When the objection is a real schedule conflict
Friend: Je travaille samedi jusqu’à 15 h. Je ne peux pas venir à 14 h.
Candidate: Dans ce cas, l’horaire pose effectivement un problème. Je peux demander s’ils prévoient une autre séance. Si une prochaine date correspond à ton emploi du temps, est-ce que tu serais partant pour qu’on s’inscrive ensemble ?
The reply proposes checking another date. It does not invent one or claim that arriving halfway through is allowed. You can keep the conversation going by exploring a realistic next step.
To try the same skill in a different situation, use TEF Practice’s TEF speaking Section B dialogue about a cooking workshop. It covers objections about price, confidence and scheduling, with explanations of each reply. Answer the friend’s line yourself before reading the suggested response.
A fifteen-minute practice routine
- Two minutes: read a fresh advertisement and identify its confirmed facts and unanswered questions.
- Four minutes: try an information-gathering exchange or a persuasion exchange with a partner.
- Four minutes: replay part of your recording and find one response that missed the other person’s meaning.
- Five minutes: repeat with a changed answer or objection, then explain why your response fits.
These are home-practice timings. They do not describe an official preparation period or permission to take notes during the exam. Use the official section durations when moving to complete test-style practice.
If you want an interactive option, TEF Practice’s speaking role-plays let you practise with an AI conversation partner. Live speaking requires a paid account. AI feedback is practice guidance, not an official TEF result; a teacher or language partner can also help you review whether your replies make sense.
On your next attempt, change the workshop, the price and your friend’s main concern. Keep the habit of listening, responding and clarifying. Write fresh responses for the new situation rather than memorising the dialogue above.
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