CadentiaThe Cadentia blog
Language learning, out loud.
Practical guides for Italian, Greek, Spanish and French: travel, heritage, exams, and why you understand a language but can't speak it yet.
Canada just changed the Express Entry points. French wasn't touched (yet).
IRCC is adding high-wage points to Express Entry on 3 November 2026. French bonus points and French category draws are unchanged, but French points are under review.
French draw cut-off hit 435: what it means if you're taking the TEF
The 16 October 2026 French Express Entry draw had a cut-off of 435, the highest of 2026. What the numbers show, NCLC 7 in all four abilities, and why speaking decides it.
How to Get NCLC 7 in French Speaking for Express Entry (and What It Is Worth)
What NCLC 7 means, how NCLC and CLB map to Express Entry CRS points, why NCLC 7 in all four abilities matters, and how to prepare for the speaking score.
TCF Canada Expression Orale: Tasks 1, 2 and 3 Explained
The TCF Canada speaking test is 12 minutes with three tasks: a directed interview, an interaction exercise with 2 minutes of preparation, and a point-of-view task. Timings and what each asks.
TEF Canada Speaking Test Format: Section A and Section B Explained
How the TEF Canada expression orale works: 15 minutes, Section A (about ten questions about an ad) and Section B (convince a friend), what the examiner does and how it is assessed.
TEF and TCF Speaking Prep: Tutor, Class or Self-Practice?
Do you need a tutor or a prep class for the TEF or TCF speaking test? What each gives you, what only repetition gives you, and how to combine them.
TEF and TCF Canada Exam Centres: How to Find One and Book
How to find an approved TEF Canada or TCF Canada exam centre, how booking works, what to ask the centre, and how to avoid last-minute problems.
TEF and TCF Canada Speaking Topics: Sample Questions and Prompts
Typical TEF Canada and TCF Canada speaking topics with sample prompts for each task: ads for Section A, convince-a-friend for Section B, and interview, interaction and opinion tasks for the TCF.
TEF Canada vs TCF Canada for Express Entry: Which French Test Should You Take?
TEF Canada and TCF Canada are both accepted for Express Entry. How their speaking tests differ, how results are valid, and how to choose between them.
TEF Canada Speaking Practice: A 12-Week Plan for the Expression Orale
A 12-week speaking practice plan for the TEF Canada expression orale: diagnose, drill your repeat errors, rehearse both tasks, then run timed mocks.
TEF Canada Expression Orale: Format, Section A and B, and 7 Practice Tips
How the TEF Canada expression orale works, what Section A and Section B ask, useful phrases for each, and seven ways to practise speaking for it.