Mission: defend a point of view on a short text
The three parts of the B1 speaking test, and how to defend a point of view with two arguments and examples. Say what you think, then back it up.
FrenchB1 · Exam levelAbout 7 min: 4 reading, 3 practiceUpdated
- Name the three parts of the DELF B1 speaking test
- Identify the topic of a short text and say what it is about
- Give an opinion with two arguments and examples from your own country
- Answer the examiner's follow-up questions and keep going when stuck
B1 exam skills: lesson 3 of 5
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Level Level B1 (around the DELF B1 exam). Real French: giving your opinion in a discussion and defending it politely.
What it is
Your mission: you are sitting opposite Madame Lefèvre, a French examiner. You have had 10 minutes to prepare. In this mission, she gives you a short text (our own practice scenario), and you must say what it is about, give your opinion with two arguments and examples from your country, and then answer her questions.
The DELF B1 speaking test lasts 15 minutes, after 10 minutes' preparation, and has three parts:
| Part | What you do |
|---|---|
| 1. Entretien dirigé | guided interview |
| 2. Expression d'un point de vue | giving and defending your view on a topic |
| 3. Exercice en interaction | interaction with the examiner |
Defending a point of view (our practice method) follows a plan you can learn:
| Step | Useful French |
|---|---|
| 1. The topic | Le texte parle de… Il s'agit de… La question, c'est de savoir si… |
| 2. Your opinion | À mon avis… Personnellement, je pense que… Je suis plutôt pour / contre… |
| 3. Two arguments | Premièrement… Deuxièmement… De plus… |
| 4. Examples from your country | Dans mon pays, … Par exemple, chez nous, … |
| 5. A concession and a close | Cependant, je comprends que… En conclusion… |
Keep-going phrases (natural, not a weakness): Comment dire… / Je veux dire que… / Autrement dit… / C'est une bonne question, je réfléchis…
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
The examiner gives you a text and asks for your point of view. What should you say first?
- That belongs to the guided interview, not to this part
- That is a role-play request
Show answer
Le texte parle d'un séjour de vacances sans téléphone portable.. name the topic of the text first, then give your opinion.
Why it matters
Giving an opinion and defending it is what real conversations ask of you: at work, at a dinner, in a family argument. The test rewards the same things that make you easy to talk to: a clear opinion, reasons, examples from your own life, and the ability to answer a question you did not expect.
Worked example
Practice scenario: Madame Lefèvre gives you this short text (our own example).
Une école de Lyon propose chaque été un séjour d'une semaine sans téléphone portable. Les jeunes jouent dehors, font du sport et parlent entre eux. Certains parents sont ravis, d'autres pensent que ce n'est pas réaliste : aujourd'hui, le téléphone sert aussi à prévenir sa famille ou à trouver son chemin. Faut-il vraiment se passer de son téléphone pendant les vacances ?
A model answer, from Sam, who lives in England:
Le texte parle d'un séjour de vacances sans téléphone portable pour les jeunes. À mon avis, c'est une bonne idée, mais pas toute l'année. Premièrement, on passe trop de temps sur son écran : dans mon pays, beaucoup d'adolescents regardent leur téléphone même pendant le repas. Deuxièmement, sans téléphone, on parle davantage avec les autres. Par exemple, j'ai passé un week-end de camping sans réseau et j'ai eu de vraies conversations. Cependant, je comprends les parents : le téléphone est utile en cas de problème. On pourrait donc garder un téléphone par groupe.
The examiner then asks: Et vous, vous pourriez rester une semaine sans téléphone ? Sam answers: Honnêtement, ce serait difficile le premier jour, mais je pense que j'y arriverais. Je dormirais mieux, c'est sûr !
The answer names the topic, gives an opinion, two arguments with an example from Sam's own country and life, a concession and a conclusion. The reply to the question is short and honest.
Real French: à mon avis, personnellement and honnêtement are normal in speech, and je vois ce que vous voulez dire, mais… is a polite way to disagree with someone.
Common mistake
Reading the text aloud or retelling it sentence by sentence. The examiner can read the text herself; she wants your topic in one sentence and your opinion. Use your preparation time to jot down points, not full sentences: the topic, your view, two arguments, one example each.
And giving an opinion with no reason: C'est bien. J'aime. C'est super. Always add parce que or par exemple, and aim for at least two arguments.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
You have the text in front of you. What does the examiner want first?
- She can read it herself
- The test is in French
Show answer
The topic in one sentence, then your opinion.. summarise the topic briefly, then give your point of view.
Key terms
- entretien dirigé
- guided interview (part 1)
- expression d'un point de vue
- giving a point of view (part 2)
- exercice en interaction
- interaction exercise (part 3)
- Le texte parle de… / Il s'agit de…
- The text is about… / It is about…
- à mon avis / personnellement
- in my opinion / personally
- dans mon pays
- in my country
- cependant
- however
- autrement dit
- in other words
- honnêtement
- honestly
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 9 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| entretien dirigé | guided interview (part 1) |
| expression d'un point de vue | giving a point of view (part 2) |
| exercice en interaction | interaction exercise (part 3) |
| Le texte parle de… / Il s'agit de… | The text is about… / It is about… |
| à mon avis / personnellement | in my opinion / personally |
| dans mon pays | in my country |
| cependant | however |
| autrement dit | in other words |
| honnêtement | honestly |
Practice
Sort it
Which part of the test?
Je m'appelle Sam et je travaille dans un bureau.
talking about yourselfShow answer
1 · Interview. talking about yourself
Le texte parle d'un séjour sans téléphone. À mon avis, c'est une bonne idée.
topic and opinionShow answer
2 · Point of view. topic and opinion
Pourriez-vous m'indiquer le prix du billet, s'il vous plaît ?
acting out a situationShow answer
3 · Interaction. acting out a situation
Premièrement, on passe trop de temps sur son écran.
an argumentShow answer
2 · Point of view. an argument
Qu'est-ce que vous aimez faire le week-end ?
a question about youShow answer
1 · Interview. a question about you
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
How long is the DELF B1 speaking test, not counting the preparation?
- That is the A2 test
- That is the length of the reading and writing papers
Show answer
15 minutes. Official format: 15 minutes, after 10 minutes' preparation.
Which phrase introduces an example from your country?
- That closes your answer
- That names the topic
Show answer
Dans mon pays, beaucoup de gens…. dans mon pays / chez nous bring in an example from where you live.
You are stuck for a word in the middle of an argument. What is the best move?
- Silence stops the exchange
- The test is in French; explain around the word
Show answer
Comment dire… je veux dire que…. keep-going phrases give you time and let you rephrase.
Build the sentence
Build the first sentence of an opinion. (Start with the connector.)
Show answer
À mon avis, c'est une bonne idée.. À mon avis, then the opinion.
Practise speaking
Studyfern has no voice tools of its own. To practise out loud, copy this prompt into a voice-capable AI assistant and talk with it.
Mission role-play. You are Madame Lefèvre, a friendly French examiner for the DELF B1 speaking test. Speak naturally but clearly, at level B1, using vous. Part 1: greet me and ask three questions about me, one at a time. Part 2: give me a short invented text of 4 or 5 sentences on an everyday topic (for example, a town banning cars from its centre, or a school with no homework), let me say what it is about and give my opinion with two arguments and an example from my country, then ask me two follow-up questions, one at a time. Part 3: play the other person in a short everyday disagreement (for example, a colleague who wants to hold the meeting on a day that does not suit me) and help me reach an agreement. Correct me only between parts, in English, with my two most important mistakes. If I completed all three parts, say « Mission accomplie ! » and give me one tip. Keep every reply under 3 sentences, except when giving me the text.
Listen too. Listen to native speakers before and after: see the free listening and shadowing links.
Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. Many assistants turn your speech into text first, so a vowel or liaison you got wrong may be silently “heard” as the right word. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
New to this? Read Practising speaking with an AI.
In short
- DELF B1 speaking: 15 minutes after 10 minutes' preparation, in three parts: entretien dirigé, expression d'un point de vue, exercice en interaction.
- Point of view: topic in one sentence, your opinion, two arguments, examples from your country, a concession, a conclusion.
- Do not read the text aloud; use your preparation for points, not sentences.
- Always give a reason (parce que, par exemple).
- Keep going with comment dire…, je veux dire que…, autrement dit…
Mastery check
Answer without looking back. Score 80% or more and the lesson is marked done. Your result is kept only in this browser.
Check yourself
Answer in your head first, then open the answer. Nothing is saved.
What are the three parts of the DELF B1 speaking test?
Show answer
The guided interview (entretien dirigé), giving a point of view (expression d'un point de vue) and the interaction exercise (exercice en interaction).
How do you introduce the topic of a text?
Show answer
Le texte parle de… (or: Il s'agit de…)
What should you add to an opinion so that it is convincing?
Show answer
Two arguments, each with an example (for instance from your own country).
Further reading
- France Éducation international, DELF B1: the official exam format and sample papers.
- TV5MONDE, Apprendre le français: short interviews to listen to and imitate.
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