TCF Canada writing · task 2
A neighbourhood party, on your blog: 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 assisté à une fête de quartier entre voisins. Sur votre blog, racontez votre expérience et expliquez pourquoi vous avez aimé cet événement.
Translation: You recently attended a neighbourhood party with your neighbours. On your blog, tell the story of your experience and explain why you enjoyed the event.
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 setting: when, where, who organized it.
- The story: what happened, in order, in the past tense.
- Why you enjoyed it: at least two reasons, clearly announced.
- An ending aimed at your readers: a wish, a piece of advice.
Who you are writing to. You are writing for your blog’s 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 day, the street or park, the organizers. about 25 words
- The story. How it went: the meal, the music, the games. about 40 words
- Reason 1. Meeting people: neighbours you finally got to know. about 30 words
- Reason 2. The atmosphere, people helping out, generations mixing. about 30 words
- Wrap up. Wanting to do it again, a tip for readers. about 15 words
Vocabulary for this topic
B1 to B2 words and phrases to use in your text, not to pile up.
- assister à une fêteto attend a party
- une fête de quartiera neighbourhood party
- la rue était fermée à la circulationthe street was closed to traffic
- un repas partagéa potluck meal
- une ambiance convivialea friendly atmosphere
- faire connaissance avec quelqu’unto get to know someone
- croiser quelqu’unto run into someone
- créer des liensto build connections
- l’esprit d’entraidethe spirit of mutual help
- un groupe de musique du quartiera local band
- les générations se mélangeaientthe generations mixed
- j’ai hâte de recommencerI can’t wait to do it again
- je vous encourage à + infinitifI encourage you to
Three pitfalls on this topic
Telling it all in the present
A story is told in the past: passé composé for actions (« nous avons installé les tables »), imparfait for the background (« il faisait beau, les enfants jouaient »).
Forgetting the « why »
The prompt has two halves: tell the story AND explain why you enjoyed it. Announce your reasons (« ce que j’ai le plus aimé, c’est… ») so the examiner sees them.
« Assister » and « participer »
You « assister à » an event and « participer à » an activity. Without « à » the meaning changes: « assister quelqu’un » means helping them.
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.
- Samedi dernier, notre rue était fermée aux voitures : de longues tables avaient été installées sur le trottoir, et chacun avait apporté un plat.Last Saturday, our street was closed to cars: long tables had been set up on the sidewalk, and everyone had brought a dish.
- J’ai enfin fait connaissance avec des voisins que je croisais depuis deux ans sans jamais leur parler.I finally got to know neighbours I had been passing for two years without ever speaking to them.
- Ce que j’ai le plus aimé, c’est de voir les générations se mélanger : les enfants jouaient pendant que les plus âgés racontaient l’histoire du quartier.What I enjoyed most was seeing the generations mix: the children played while the older residents told the story of the neighbourhood.
Write it, then read your report
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