FlexiLingoAsking a friend about his seaside holiday
The task
2 min preparation + 3 min 30Vous discutez avec un ami canadien qui rentre de vacances au bord de la mer. Il en garde un excellent souvenir. Comme vous aimeriez partir au même endroit, vous voulez en savoir plus sur son séjour : la destination, ce qu'on peut y faire, le logement, le budget, la période idéale, etc.
Rôles : l'examinateur joue l'ami canadien qui revient de vacances. Vous êtes le candidat : c'est vous qui menez l'échange et qui posez les questions pour obtenir un maximum d'informations.
Durée : 2 minutes de préparation, puis 3 minutes 30 d'échange.
TCF Canada — expression orale — tâche 2
Translation of the prompt
تتحدث مع صديق كندي عاد للتو من عطلة على شاطئ البحر. لقد احتفظ بذكرى رائعة عنها. وبما أنك ترغب في السفر إلى المكان نفسه، تريد أن تعرف المزيد عن إقامته: الوجهة، وما يمكن فعله هناك، والسكن، والميزانية، والفترة المثالية، إلخ. الأدوار: الممتحِن يؤدي دور الصديق الكندي العائد من العطلة. أنت المرشح: أنت من يقود الحوار ويطرح الأسئلة للحصول على أكبر قدر من المعلومات. المدة: دقيقتان للتحضير، ثم 3 دقائق ونصف للحوار.
Translation of the prompt
You are talking with a Canadian friend who has just come back from a seaside holiday. He has a wonderful memory of it. Since you would like to go to the same place, you want to find out more about his stay: the destination, what you can do there, the accommodation, the budget, the best time to go, etc. Roles: the examiner plays the Canadian friend who has just returned from holiday. You are the candidate: you lead the exchange and ask the questions to obtain as much information as possible. Duration: 2 minutes of preparation, then 3 minutes 30 of conversation.
Translation of the prompt
شما با یکی از دوستان کاناداییتان صحبت میکنید که تازه از تعطیلات در کنار دریا برگشته است. او خاطرهی بسیار خوبی از آن دارد. چون شما هم دوست دارید به همانجا بروید، میخواهید دربارهی سفرش بیشتر بدانید: مقصد، کارهایی که میشود آنجا انجام داد، محل اقامت، بودجه، بهترین زمان سفر و غیره. نقشها: ممتحن نقش دوست کانادایی را بازی میکند که از تعطیلات برگشته است. شما داوطلب هستید: شما گفتگو را پیش میبرید و سؤال میپرسید تا بیشترین اطلاعات ممکن را به دست آورید. مدت: ۲ دقیقه آمادهسازی، سپس ۳ دقیقه و ۳۰ ثانیه گفتگو.
How to structure your answer
Open naturally: greet your friend, say you are happy to see him again, ask how his holiday went with "Alors, ces vacances, c'était comment ?" and say you would like to go to the same place.
Ask about the place and the organisation: where exactly, how to get there, how long he stayed, which period of the year, and how he booked.
Ask about the stay itself: lodging, possible activities, food, weather, atmosphere (quiet or lively) and tips for visiting.
Bring up the budget: cost of the ticket, lodging, meals and activities, and whether there are deals or packages. Then ask about negative points or precautions to take.
Conclude: sum up what you understood with "Si je résume…", thank your friend, ask him to send photos or addresses, and suggest talking about it over coffee.
Model answer
about 380 wordsCandidat : Salut Marc ! Content de te revoir. Alors, ces vacances au bord de la mer, c'était comment ? Examinateur : Salut ! C'était vraiment génial, je suis rentré ressourcé. Candidat : Ça se voit, tu as bonne mine ! Dis-moi, où es-tu allé exactement ? J'aimerais bien faire la même chose. Examinateur : Je suis allé en Gaspésie, près de Percé. Candidat : Ah, très beau choix ! C'est loin de Montréal ? Tu y es allé comment ? Examinateur : Environ huit heures de route. J'ai loué une voiture. Candidat : D'accord. Et tu y es resté combien de temps, et pourquoi avoir choisi cette période ? Examinateur : Une semaine, début juillet. Il fait chaud mais il y a moins de monde qu'en août. Candidat : Bonne idée. Et pour le logement, tu étais où ? Dans un hôtel, un chalet ? Examinateur : Dans un petit chalet face à la mer, réservé sur internet. Candidat : Super ! Tu l'as réservé longtemps à l'avance ? Je me demande s'il faut s'y prendre tôt. Examinateur : Oui, trois mois avant. En été, tout se remplit vite. Candidat : Merci du conseil. Et sur place, qu'est-ce qu'on peut faire comme activités ? Examinateur : Des excursions en bateau pour voir les baleines, de la randonnée, du kayak. Candidat : Ça me plairait beaucoup ! Et côté repas, tu as bien mangé ? Y a-t-il des restaurants que tu me recommandes ? Examinateur : Oui, surtout les fruits de mer. Je te donnerai le nom de mes deux adresses préférées. Candidat : Avec plaisir. Et pour le budget, ça t'a coûté à peu près combien, tout compris ? Examinateur : Environ 1 500 dollars pour la semaine, avec l'essence et les sorties. Candidat : C'est raisonnable. Est-ce qu'il y a des forfaits ou des réductions pour les familles ? Examinateur : Oui, certaines excursions offrent des tarifs réduits pour les enfants. Candidat : Parfait. Y a-t-il des inconvénients dont je devrais être averti ? Par exemple la météo ou les moustiques ? Examinateur : Prends un coupe-vent, le soir il fait frais, et de l'anti-moustique. Candidat : Noté ! Alors si je résume : la Gaspésie début juillet, un chalet réservé trois mois avant, environ 1 500 dollars. C'est bien ça ? Examinateur : Exactement. Candidat : Merci beaucoup pour tous ces renseignements, Marc. Tu pourrais m'envoyer quelques photos et les adresses ? Examinateur : Bien sûr, je te les envoie ce soir. Candidat : Merci ! On en reparle autour d'un café très bientôt.
Show the translation
Candidate: Hi Marc! Nice to see you again. So, how were these seaside holidays? Examiner: Hi! It was really great, I came back recharged. Candidate: It shows, you look well! Tell me, where exactly did you go? I'd really like to do the same thing. Examiner: I went to the Gaspé Peninsula, near Percé. Candidate: Ah, a lovely choice! Is it far from Montreal? How did you get there? Examiner: About eight hours by road. I rented a car. Candidate: Okay. And how long did you stay, and why did you choose that period? Examiner: One week, early July. It's warm but there are fewer people than in August. Candidate: Good idea. And for accommodation, where were you? In a hotel, a chalet? Examiner: In a small chalet facing the sea, booked online. Candidate: Great! Did you book it a long time in advance? I wonder whether you need to plan early. Examiner: Yes, three months before. In summer, everything fills up quickly. Candidate: Thanks for the advice. And once there, what can you do in terms of activities? Examiner: Boat trips to see the whales, hiking, kayaking. Candidate: I'd love that! And what about meals, did you eat well? Are there any restaurants you'd recommend? Examiner: Yes, mostly seafood. I'll give you the names of my two favourite places. Candidate: With pleasure. And for the budget, roughly how much did it cost you, all inclusive? Examiner: About 1,500 dollars for the week, including fuel and outings. Candidate: That's reasonable. Are there any packages or discounts for families? Examiner: Yes, some excursions offer reduced rates for children. Candidate: Perfect. Are there any drawbacks I should be warned about? For example the weather or the mosquitoes? Examiner: Bring a windbreaker, it's cool in the evening, and some mosquito repellent. Candidate: Noted! So if I sum up: the Gaspé Peninsula in early July, a chalet booked three months ahead, about 1,500 dollars. Is that right? Examiner: Exactly. Candidate: Thank you very much for all this information, Marc. Could you send me a few photos and the addresses? Examiner: Of course, I'll send them to you tonight. Candidate: Thanks! We'll talk about it over coffee very soon.
Key vocabulary
| Word or phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| se ressourcer | to recharge your batteries; to regain energy and calm through rest or a stay somewhere pleasant |
| un forfait | a package; a fixed price covering several services (transport, lodging, meals, activities) |
| la haute saison / la basse saison | peak season (many tourists, higher prices) / low season (quieter and cheaper) |
| réserver à l'avance | to book in advance, before departure |
| un hébergement | accommodation; the place where you sleep on a trip (hotel, chalet, inn, rental) |
| tout compris | all-inclusive; a price that covers every service with no extra charge |
| une excursion | an organised outing to visit or discover a place |
| le rapport qualité-prix | value for money; how good a service is relative to its price |
| un tarif réduit | a reduced rate; a lower price for certain people (children, students, seniors) |
| dépaysant | giving you a change of scenery; different from your habits, making you feel in another world |
| me conseiller / me recommander | to advise / to recommend; to say what is good or useful to do or choose |
| les inconvénients | the drawbacks; the negative points or difficulties of a situation |
Common mistakes
Closed questions get a one-word answer and the conversation stalls. Use open questions to draw out details, since your goal is to collect as much information as possible.
WrongTu as aimé ?
RightQu'est-ce que tu as le plus aimé ?
Do not mix tu and vous. With a friend, use tu from beginning to end.
WrongTu es allé où ? Pouvez-vous me dire le prix ?
RightTu es allé où ? Peux-tu me dire le prix ?
Intonation questions like « Où tu es allé ? » are acceptable in speech, but you should vary with inversion or est-ce que to show B2 level.
WrongOù tu es allé ? Où tu as dormi ?
RightOù es-tu allé ? Où est-ce que tu as dormi ?
Do not confuse these words: you make a trip (voyage), spend a stay (séjour), and are on holiday (vacances, always plural).
WrongPendant ma vacance, j'ai fait un séjour long.
RightPendant mes vacances, j'ai fait un long voyage.
Commands and « Je veux que… » sound too direct, even with a friend. Soften with the conditional.
WrongJe veux que tu me dises le prix. Donne-moi les informations.
RightPourrais-tu me dire le prix ? J'aimerais savoir…
Do not simply run through a list of prepared questions. React to what your friend says (Ah, super ! Intéressant !) and then follow up, as in a real conversation.
These price questions are clumsy: « combien ça coûte-t-il » mixes two question forms, and « c'est combien le prix » is awkward. Ask about what he paid instead.
WrongCombien ça coûte-t-il ? C'est combien le prix ?
RightCombien as-tu payé ? Quel était le prix ?
Watch prepositions with places: use en with a feminine region, and say au bord de la mer, not à la mer, when you mean by the sea.
WrongJe suis allé à Gaspésie, à la mer.
RightJe suis allé en Gaspésie, au bord de la mer.
The grammar this task needs
Question formation at different levels of formality (inversion, est-ce que, intonation)
The whole task is you asking questions. Varying the forms shows B2 control: intonation alone sounds too basic, while inversion with a friend should stay light and natural.
- Où es-tu allé exactement ?
- Où est-ce que tu as logé ?
- Combien as-tu payé pour le logement ?
- Y a-t-il des restaurants que tu me recommandes ?
- Tu y es resté combien de temps ?
Polite requests: conditional and 'pouvoir' / 'aimer' in the conditional
You want to obtain information without sounding demanding. The conditional softens requests and advice, even between friends.
- Pourrais-tu me dire comment tu as réservé ?
- J'aimerais savoir combien de temps il faut pour y aller.
- Tu pourrais m'envoyer quelques photos ?
- Tu me conseillerais d'y aller en juillet ou en août ?
Past tenses to ask about his trip (passé composé vs imparfait)
Your friend is talking about a finished stay. You need the passé composé for actions (Où es-tu allé ?) and the imparfait for descriptions (Comment était le chalet ?).
- Tu as logé où pendant ton séjour ?
- Comment était l'ambiance, plutôt calme ou animée ?
- Il faisait beau tous les jours ?
- Qu'est-ce que tu as le plus aimé ?
Prepositions with places
Place names come up constantly (region, city, sea). Errors here are very visible to a marker.
- Tu es allé en Gaspésie ?
- Tu as séjourné à Percé ?
- Un chalet au bord de la mer, c'est bien ça ?
- Tu es parti au Nouveau-Brunswick ?
Phrases to reuse
| Phrase | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Alors, ces vacances, c'était comment ? | To open the conversation naturally with an open question about his holiday. |
| J'aimerais bien faire la même chose. | To announce early that you want to go to the same place, which justifies all your questions. |
| Dis-moi, où es-tu allé exactement ? | To ask for precise information in a friendly, informal way. |
| Pourrais-tu me dire + si / comment / combien… ? | For a polite, indirect question when you want to sound more refined. |
| Je me demande si + phrase | To ask a question gently, for example about whether you have to book early. |
| Qu'est-ce qu'on peut faire comme activités ? | To ask an open question about what to do on site. |
| Est-ce qu'il y a des forfaits ou des réductions ? | In the budget part, to ask about deals and discounts. |
| Y a-t-il des inconvénients dont je devrais être averti ? | To ask about negative points or precautions, in a slightly more formal register. |
| Ah, super ! / Intéressant ! / Ça me plairait beaucoup ! | To react to his answer before asking the next question, so the exchange feels like a real conversation. |
| Si je résume : + éléments retenus. C'est bien ça ? | To conclude by summing up and checking you understood. |
| On en reparle autour d'un café ? | To close the conversation warmly and informally. |
Ideas bank
| Position | Argument | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Destination and access | Ask exactly where it is, how to get there and how long it takes. | Ask whether he drove or flew, how many hours it took, and whether renting a car is necessary on site. |
| Timing | Ask why he chose this period and what the high and low seasons are like. | Early July is warm with fewer people than August; ask if June or September would also work. |
| Accommodation | Compare types of lodging and ask how and when he booked. | Hotel, chalet or inn? Did he book three months ahead and through which website? |
| Activities | Ask what to do, and whether it suits your own tastes or family. | Whale-watching boat trips, hiking, kayaking; ask which one he would recommend first. |
| Food | Ask about local specialities and ask for restaurant addresses. | Seafood is the highlight; ask him to send the names of his two favourite restaurants. |
| Budget | Ask for the total cost and for each item: transport, lodging, meals, activities. | About 1,500 dollars for a week including fuel and outings; ask about packages or reduced rates for children. |
| Weather and atmosphere | Ask about the climate and whether the place is quiet or lively. | Evenings can be cool, so a windbreaker is useful; ask whether the area is calm enough to rest. |
| Nuance (drawbacks) | Ask about downsides and precautions to avoid bad surprises. | Mosquitoes, crowded places in August, long drives, prices that rise in high season. |
| Conclusion | Sum up, thank him and propose a follow-up. | Summarise destination, period, lodging and budget, ask for photos and addresses, suggest a coffee. |
What the examiner looks for
The marker wants to see you lead the conversation: you ask the questions, cover every theme (place, organisation, lodging, activities, food, budget, drawbacks) and keep going for the full 3 minutes 30. They look for varied, open and correctly built questions, a polite but friendly register, and consistent use of tu. They also check that you react to the friend's answers instead of reciting a list, and that you can rephrase, sum up and conclude naturally. At B2–C1 level, varied question forms, precise vocabulary (forfait, hébergement, rapport qualité-prix) and correct prepositions with places make the difference.