TCF Canada Speaking Task 1: Describing Images Like a Pro

Total Word Count: 1,700+ words

The TCF Canada Speaking Exam (Expression Orale) starts with Tâche 1: Description guidée (sans préparation). Duration: 2 minutes maximum. The Task: You must describe a seemingly simple photo to the examiner.

It sounds easy. "There is a man. There is a table." Wrong. If you list items like a grocery list, you get CLB 4. To get CLB 7+, you need to describe Actions, Atmosphere, and Hypotheses, organized with Spatial Prepositions.

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The "Zoom In / Zoom Out" Strategy

Do not jump from the tree to the dog to the sky. You need a camera movement.

Step 1: The General Context (The Wide Shot) - 10 Seconds

Start with a global sentence.

• "Il s'agit d'une photo en couleur qui représente une scène de vie quotidienne." (Standard opener).
• "La scène se déroule probablement dans un parc / un bureau / un café par une belle journée d'été."

Vocabulary: Spatial Prepositions

You cannot describe an image without mastering specific location words.

Vocabulary: Human Actions

Stop using "Faire". Be precise.

• Instead of "Ils parlent" -> Ils discutent / Ils échangent / Ils conversent.
• Instead of "Il regarde" -> Il observe / Il fixe / Il contemple.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Silence: Even if you don't know a word, keep talking.
   • Tip: If you forget the word for "Umbrella", say: "Il tient un objet pour se protéger de la pluie." Use circumlocution.
2. Listing Colors: "Le ciel est bleu. La chemise est verte." -> Too childish. Mix it into the sentence: "Il porte une chemise verte qui contraste avec le ciel bleu."
3. Stopping too early: You must speak for roughly 90 seconds to 2 minutes. If you finish in 30 seconds, the examiner will ask questions, which breaks your flow.

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Sample Description (Full Script)

Image: A woman sitting at a desk looking at a laptop, looking stressed.