TCF Canada writing · task 2
A country you visited on vacation: the task 2 topic, and how to handle it
What it really asks, a plan, the vocabulary and the pitfalls, explained in English. No model answer to copy: you write the text yourself.
At a glance
The prompt, as candidates report it (in French, as on the exam)
Vous avez récemment visité un nouveau pays pendant vos vacances. Sur un site internet, vous partagez votre expérience en détaillant votre séjour et en exprimant votre opinion sur ce pays.
Translation: You recently visited a new country on vacation. On a website, you share your experience, describing your stay in detail and giving your opinion of the country.
Word counts: France Éducation international, the body that designs the TCF Canada. Reports: a public archive of topics reported by candidates since 2023, explained in the study of 642 topics.
What the prompt really asks
- The country, when you went, how long you stayed.
- Your stay in detail: the route, two or three highlights.
- Your opinion of the country: what you liked, and one reservation.
- A tip for readers who would like to go.
Who you are writing to. You are writing on a website, for readers: « vous » or an impersonal tone, never « tu ».
A plan in five steps
About 140 words, for a range of 120 to 150. The numbers for each step are guides; the word range itself is part of the instructions, and every point asked for must be covered.
- The setting. The country, when, how long, with whom. about 20 words
- The trip. The route and the highlights. about 40 words
- One moment. One specific scene, told as a story. about 25 words
- Your opinion. What you liked, then one reservation. about 40 words
- Advise. A recommendation for readers. about 15 words
Vocabulary for this topic
B1 to B2 words and phrases to use in your text, not to pile up.
- passer deux semaines au Portugalto spend two weeks in Portugal
- un séjoura stay
- parcourir le pays en trainto travel around the country by train
- loger chez l’habitantto stay with locals
- des habitants accueillantswelcoming locals
- un paysage à couper le soufflebreathtaking scenery
- être dépayséto feel out of one’s element
- la cuisine localelocal cuisine
- le coût de la viethe cost of living
- la haute saisonpeak season
- ce qui m’a le plus marquéwhat struck me most
- je regrette de ne pas avoir + participe passéI’m sorry I didn’t
- je recommande ce pays àI recommend this country to
Three pitfalls on this topic
Prepositions before country names
« en France », « en Italie » (feminine, or starting with a vowel), « au Portugal », « au Japon » (masculine), « aux États-Unis » (plural), « à Cuba » (island). The examiner notices them every time.
A tourist brochure
« Le pays a de belles plages et une riche histoire » could be written without ever going there. The prompt says « votre expérience »: you need « je » and lived moments.
An opinion that stops at « c’est beau »
The prompt asks for your opinion of the country. Back it with what you saw, and dare a nuance: prices, crowds, the climate.
B2-level sentences to inspire you
Two or three sentences, not a full answer: borrow the idea, not the words, and write the rest yourself.
- Cet été, j’ai passé deux semaines au Portugal, de Porto jusqu’en Algarve, en voyageant surtout en train.This summer, I spent two weeks in Portugal, from Porto all the way to the Algarve, travelling mostly by train.
- Ce qui m’a le plus marqué, ce sont les habitants : partout, on nous a accueillis avec une gentillesse étonnante.What struck me most was the people: everywhere, we were welcomed with surprising kindness.
- Je recommande ce pays sans hésiter, mais je conseille d’éviter le mois d’août, où les plages sont prises d’assaut.I recommend this country without hesitation, but I suggest avoiding August, when the beaches are packed.
Write it, then read your report
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