FlexiLingoHelping a Friend Move
The task
2 min preparation + 3 min 30Situation : un(e) ami(e) vient de trouver un nouveau logement à Montréal et vous a demandé de l'aider à déménager. Vous voulez savoir comment la journée va se dérouler.
Rôles : l'examinateur joue votre ami(e) qui déménage. Vous êtes le candidat, l'ami(e) qui propose son aide.
Tâche : posez-lui des questions pour obtenir toutes les informations utiles sur l'organisation du déménagement (lieu, date, heure, personnes présentes, matériel, transport, repas, etc.). Prenez l'initiative de l'échange, rebondissez sur ses réponses et restez poli et naturel.
Durée : 2 minutes de préparation, puis 3 minutes 30 d'échange.
TCF Canada — expression orale — tâche 2
Translation of the prompt
الوضعية: وجد صديق لك (أو صديقة) مسكنًا جديدًا في مونتريال وطلب منك أن تساعده على الانتقال. تريد أن تعرف كيف سيجري اليوم. الأدوار: يؤدي الممتحِن دور صديقك الذي ينتقل. أنت المترشّح، الصديق الذي يعرض مساعدته. المهمة: اطرح عليه أسئلة لتحصل على جميع المعلومات المفيدة بشأن تنظيم الانتقال (المكان، التاريخ، الساعة، الأشخاص الحاضرون، العتاد، النقل، الوجبات، إلخ). خذ زمام المبادرة في الحوار، وتفاعل مع أجوبته، وحافظ على اللباقة والطبيعية. المدة: دقيقتان للتحضير، ثم 3 دقائق و30 ثانية للحوار.
Translation of the prompt
Situation: a friend has just found a new home in Montréal and has asked you to help them move. You want to know how the day will go. Roles: the examiner plays your friend who is moving. You are the candidate, the friend offering help. Task: ask your friend questions to get all the useful information about how the move is organised (place, date, time, people present, equipment, transport, meals, etc.). Take the initiative in the conversation, pick up on their answers and stay polite and natural. Duration: 2 minutes of preparation, then 3 minutes 30 of conversation.
Translation of the prompt
وضعیت: یکی از دوستانتان تازه خانهٔ جدیدی در مونترال پیدا کرده و از شما خواسته است در اسبابکشی کمکش کنید. میخواهید بدانید آن روز چگونه پیش خواهد رفت. نقشها: ممتحن نقش دوستتان را بازی میکند که اسبابکشی میکند. شما داوطلب هستید، یعنی دوستی که پیشنهاد کمک میدهد. وظیفه: از او سؤال بپرسید تا همهٔ اطلاعات مفید دربارهٔ برنامهریزی اسبابکشی را به دست آورید (مکان، تاریخ، ساعت، افراد حاضر، وسایل، حملونقل، غذا و غیره). گفتگو را خودتان پیش ببرید، به پاسخهای او واکنش نشان دهید و مؤدب و طبیعی بمانید. مدت: ۲ دقیقه آمادگی، سپس ۳ دقیقه و ۳۰ ثانیه گفتگو.
How to structure your answer
Greet your friend, congratulate them on the new place and confirm right away that you are available to help: "Félicitations !", "Je suis ravi de pouvoir t'aider."
Ask for the basic facts first: date and start time, the addresses of the old and new homes, the floor and whether there is a lift. For example: "Tu as déjà fixé la date et l'heure ?"
Move on to people and logistics: who else is coming, what vehicle is planned, who is driving, whether a truck is being rented, and what equipment you should bring (boxes, straps, gloves).
React to every answer instead of just firing off questions: offer concrete help (lend a car, bring boxes, drive the truck), ask for details or point out a difficulty, e.g. "Aïe, il va falloir de la force !"
Finish with the practical details (meals, parking, expected duration), summarise the plan in your own words and confirm the meeting: "Donc, pour résumer…", "À samedi !"
Model answer
about 324 wordsCandidat : Salut ! Alors, c'est vrai, tu as enfin trouvé un appartement ? Félicitations ! Je suis ravi de pouvoir t'aider pour le déménagement. Examinateur : Merci ! Oui, je déménage bientôt, j'ai vraiment besoin d'aide. Candidat : Pas de souci. Tu as déjà fixé la date et l'heure ? Examinateur : Oui, samedi prochain, vers 9 heures. Candidat : D'accord, samedi à 9 heures, c'est noté. Où est-ce que je dois te retrouver : dans ton ancien appartement ou dans le nouveau ? Examinateur : Chez moi d'abord, au centre-ville. Ensuite on ira au nouvel appartement. Candidat : Très bien. Et le nouveau logement, il est loin de chez toi ? Dans quel quartier ? Examinateur : Dans le quartier Rosemont, à environ vingt minutes en voiture. Candidat : Ce n'est pas trop loin, parfait. Est-ce qu'il y a un ascenseur dans l'un des deux immeubles, ou faudra-t-il tout monter par l'escalier ? Examinateur : Il n'y en a pas au nouvel immeuble. C'est au troisième étage. Candidat : Aïe, il va falloir de la force ! Du coup, combien de personnes viendront t'aider ? Examinateur : Quatre en tout, avec toi. Candidat : Super, ça va aller plus vite. Et pour le transport des meubles, tu as prévu un camion ? Examinateur : Je vais en louer un, mais je n'ai pas encore de conducteur. Candidat : Si tu veux, je peux conduire, j'ai mon permis depuis longtemps. Quel type de camion as-tu réservé ? Examinateur : Un petit camion de vingt pieds. Candidat : Parfait. Est-ce que je dois apporter du matériel, par exemple des cartons, du ruban adhésif ou un diable ? Examinateur : Des gants et un diable, ce serait très utile. Candidat : Entendu, j'apporterai les deux. Pour finir, combien de temps penses-tu que cela va durer, et est-ce qu'on mange ensemble ? Examinateur : Environ six heures. Je commanderai des pizzas pour tout le monde. Candidat : Excellent ! Donc, pour résumer : samedi à 9 heures chez toi, je conduis le camion, j'apporte un diable et des gants. Merci pour l'invitation, à samedi ! Examinateur : Merci beaucoup, à samedi !
Show the translation
Candidate: Hi! So is it true, you've finally found a flat? Congratulations! I'm delighted to be able to help you with the move. Examiner: Thanks! Yes, I'm moving soon, I really need help. Candidate: No problem. Have you already fixed the date and time? Examiner: Yes, next Saturday, around 9 o'clock. Candidate: OK, Saturday at 9, noted. Where should I meet you: at your old flat or at the new one? Examiner: At my place first, downtown. Then we'll go to the new flat. Candidate: Very good. And the new place, is it far from where you live now? Which neighbourhood? Examiner: In the Rosemont neighbourhood, about twenty minutes by car. Candidate: That's not too far, perfect. Is there a lift in either of the two buildings, or will we have to carry everything up the stairs? Examiner: There isn't one in the new building. It's on the third floor. Candidate: Ouch, we'll need some strength! So, how many people will be coming to help you? Examiner: Four in all, including you. Candidate: Great, it'll go faster. And for transporting the furniture, have you planned a truck? Examiner: I'm going to rent one, but I don't have a driver yet. Candidate: If you like, I can drive, I've had my licence for a long time. What type of truck have you booked? Examiner: A small twenty-foot truck. Candidate: Perfect. Do I need to bring any equipment, for example boxes, tape or a dolly? Examiner: Gloves and a dolly would be very useful. Candidate: Understood, I'll bring both. Finally, how long do you think it will take, and are we eating together? Examiner: About six hours. I'll order pizzas for everyone. Candidate: Excellent! So, to sum up: Saturday at 9 at your place, I drive the truck, I bring a dolly and gloves. Thanks for the invitation, see you Saturday! Examiner: Thank you very much, see you Saturday!
Key vocabulary
| Word or phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| déménager | to move out, to leave one home in order to settle in another |
| un déménagement | a move; the act of carrying your belongings to a new home |
| un carton | a cardboard box used for packing belongings |
| un diable | a hand truck (dolly), a small two-wheeled cart for moving heavy loads |
| louer un camion | to rent a truck, i.e. to pay to use a vehicle for a limited time |
| l'ascenseur | the lift / elevator in a building |
| le stationnement | parking, the place where you park a vehicle (the usual word in Quebec) |
| emballer / déballer | to pack / to unpack (put things into boxes / take them out of boxes) |
| donner un coup de main | to lend a hand, to help someone in a practical way |
| le bail | the lease, the rental contract for a home |
| les sangles | straps used to tie down and secure furniture |
| le 1er juillet | 1 July, the traditional moving day in Quebec |
Common mistakes
Wrong gender/liaison agreement: "hébergement" is masculine and begins with a vowel sound, so the adjective takes the form "nouvel". The more common and natural choice is simply "nouveau logement".
Wrongmon nouveau hébergement
Rightun nouvel hébergement / un nouveau logement
Stringing questions together without reacting to the answers. You need to respond (acknowledge, comment) to show real interaction, which is what the examiner is assessing.
Asking only closed (yes/no) questions. Use open questions with où, quand, combien, comment to draw out more information.
WrongTu as un camion ?
RightQuel type de camion as-tu réservé ?
Mixing tu and vous. The examiner plays a friend, so tu is natural, and you must keep it consistent throughout.
WrongTu as fixé la date ? Et vous habitez où ?
RightTu as fixé la date ? Et tu habites où ?
Relying on spoken-style intonation questions. "Tu viens quand ?" is acceptable in speech, but at this level you should vary your forms: "Est-ce que…", inversion, "Quand est-ce que…".
WrongTu viens quand ?
RightQuand est-ce que tu veux que je vienne ? / Est-ce que tu as fixé l'heure ?
Confusing "déménager" and "emménager": you déménage from the old home, and you emménage into the new one.
WrongJe vais déménager dans mon nouvel appartement.
RightJe vais emménager dans mon nouvel appartement.
Saying you will help without saying how. Offering something concrete (driving, bringing equipment) strengthens your performance.
WrongJe vais t'aider à déménager.
RightJe peux conduire le camion et apporter un diable.
Forgetting to conclude. Ending without summarising or confirming the arrangements leaves the exchange unfinished.
The grammar this task needs
Forming questions in several ways (est-ce que, inversion, interrogative words)
The task is to obtain information, so you will ask a dozen questions or more. The examiner expects variety: repeating the same pattern all the time lowers your grammar score at B2/C1.
- Où est-ce que je dois te retrouver ?
- Combien de personnes viendront t'aider ?
- Faudra-t-il tout monter par l'escalier ?
- Quel type de camion as-tu réservé ?
- Quand est-ce que tu as prévu de commencer ?
The simple future and the near future for organising and planning
You are talking about an event that has not happened yet. You need the future to ask how the day will go and to commit yourself to what you will do. Note that the near future (aller + infinitif) is common in speech, while the simple future sounds a little more formal and sure.
- J'apporterai un diable et des gants.
- Combien de temps est-ce que cela va durer ?
- On se retrouvera chez toi à 9 heures.
- Qui conduira le camion ?
Offering help with the present conditional and « si » + present
The task asks you to take the initiative and offer concrete help. The structure « si tu veux, je peux… » and the conditional (« je pourrais », « ça m'arrangerait ») keep the tone polite and natural between friends.
- Si tu veux, je peux conduire le camion.
- Je pourrais apporter des cartons si tu en manques.
- Ce serait plus simple si je venais te chercher en voiture.
- Si tu as besoin d'un diable, je peux en emprunter un.
Using the correct verb: déménager / emménager, and the pronouns y and en
The topic itself pushes you to confuse déménager (leaving the old home) with emménager (moving into the new one). Pronouns also let you refer back to the places and objects mentioned without repeating them, which sounds more fluent.
- Tu emménages dans ton nouvel appartement quand ?
- Il y a un ascenseur ? Non, il n'y en a pas.
- Tu as des cartons ? Oui, j'en ai déjà vingt.
- On y sera à 9 heures.
Phrases to reuse
| Phrase | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Félicitations pour + nom ! | To open the conversation warmly and congratulate your friend on the new home. |
| Je suis ravi(e) de pouvoir t'aider. | To confirm that you are available and show enthusiasm at the start. |
| Est-ce que tu as déjà fixé + nom ? | To ask whether something is already decided (the date, the time, the truck). |
| Où est-ce que je dois te retrouver ? | To ask about the meeting place in a natural, polite way. |
| Du coup, + question | To link your next question to the answer you just heard, which shows you are really listening. |
| Si tu veux, je peux + infinitif. | To offer concrete help (drive, bring equipment, lend a car). |
| Est-ce que je dois apporter + nom ? | To ask what equipment to bring (gloves, a dolly, tape, boxes). |
| Combien de temps penses-tu que cela va durer ? | To ask about the expected length of the day. |
| Aïe, il va falloir de la force ! | To react to a constraint such as no lift or a third-floor flat, before moving on to the next question. |
| Entendu, j'apporterai + nom. | To confirm a request and commit yourself to it. |
| Pour résumer : + résumé | To close the exchange by summing up the organisation. |
| Merci pour l'invitation, à + jour ! | To finish politely and confirm the appointment. |
Ideas bank
| Position | Argument | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic information | Fix the date, the start time and both addresses before anything else. | Ask « Quand est-ce que tu veux commencer ? » then « Où est-ce que je dois te retrouver ? » and repeat the answer to confirm it. |
| Basic information | Ask about access: floor, lift, stairs, narrow corridors. | If there is no lift and the flat is on the third floor, react (« Aïe ! ») and ask how many people will come. |
| People and logistics | Find out who else is helping and who does what. | Ask « Combien de personnes viendront ? » and suggest sharing tasks: some carry boxes, others load the truck. |
| People and logistics | Ask about transport: truck rented or not, size, driver, distance. | If your friend has no driver, offer: « Si tu veux, je peux conduire, j'ai mon permis depuis longtemps. » |
| Equipment | Ask what to bring and offer to lend things. | Gloves, a dolly, straps, tape, boxes: ask « Est-ce que je dois apporter un diable ? » and offer to bring your own. |
| Practical details | Parking at both addresses can be a problem, especially in a busy city centre. | Ask whether the truck can park in front of the building, or whether a permit is needed. |
| Practical details | Meals and breaks: a move is tiring and lasts hours. | Ask « Est-ce qu'on mange ensemble ? » and offer to bring drinks or coffee. |
| Nuance | Mention a constraint politely if you have one. | Say you must leave by 4 p.m. because of an appointment, and ask whether that works with the planned duration. |
| Nuance | Local context: in Quebec, many people move on 1 July, so trucks and parking are in high demand. | Ask whether the truck is booked in advance, since rental companies are often full around that date. |
| Closing | Summarise and confirm the appointment. | « Pour résumer : samedi à 9 heures chez toi, je conduis le camion et j'apporte un diable. » |
What the examiner looks for
The examiner is looking for a candidate who really takes the lead: you open the conversation, ask varied questions (where, when, how many, how) and cover the main points (date, place, people, vehicle, equipment, meal). Reacting to each answer and offering concrete help matters as much as the questions themselves. Keep tu consistent, vary the question forms (est-ce que, inversion, interrogative words) and use the future correctly. Finish with a short summary that confirms the arrangements, because an exchange without a conclusion looks unfinished. Aim to fill the 3 minutes 30 without long silences and without repeating the same questions.