Ray of hope - FSW - 1

[joconstantine]

Here you go. I've tried to make a timeline of the whole thing:

October 2019 - I entered the pool finally after getting my WES ECA, which had taken ages, at a CRS of 463. (I have a masters', max IELTs, my wife has two degrees, max IELTS, but unfortunately we are both in our mid-thirties). When we started planning this immigration (March 2019), 463 looked like a shoo-in for an ITA.

November 2019 - The CRS had shot up and my birthday has arrived. My CRS drops to 458. I decide to start learning French.

Nov-Dec - My wife helped me learn the basics, she had already studied French in school (couple of decades ago!) and knew enough to help me progress to A2-B1 quickly.

Dec-Jan-Feb - I spent a lot of time listening to the Coffee Break with French podcast (every day during office drive and in the gym), learned grammar textbooks from scratch (Basic, Intermediate, a bit of Advanced), started writing essays for the writing section, started speaking in French to my wife for ~15-20 minutes a day, watched French news daily (TV5 Monde or France 24), did many TV5 apprendre exercises online (free).

Feb 28 - Wrote TEF the first time and got B2 in all 4 skills. But only 8 points added to the CRS. I moved from 458 to 466.

Mar - FSW draws stopped.

Mar-Apr-May - Focused more on the speaking and writing parts. Increased french speaking a little more, while continuing to listen to news, more documentaries, Wrote A LOT of essays and fait divers. Started reading french books. Finished 2 books by Fred Vargas (This is one of the most pleasurable side-effects of learning French for me.. discovered an excellent crime novelist).

June 8 - Wrote TEF the second time as soon as exams restarted in South Africa after the lockdown. Got C2 in Reading, C1 in Writing, C1 in Listening and B2 in Speaking. 8 more CRS points. I've moved from 466 to 474.

So roughly 7 months in total to get the 16 points.

Now for all I know, FSW draws might get delayed a lot more and I might have to aim for the bonus 30 points also. So I'm not gonna stop learning French. Leaving the immigration part aside, it has been a really joyous experience and it's always great to have a new language to communicate with.

The main thing I'd advise for a beginner is to get the grammar in order first. So you must study the grammar textbooks. Once you get the hang of it, it's a really solid foundation to build on. Then the sources I mentioned in my timeline would all be really useful. They are all free. There are many more paid ones available online which could help you as well. Getting a partner who wants to learn French or who already knows some French could be really useful as well. Learning a language is far easier as a team task than as a solitary task.

Lastly, what's as critical as anything else is to have an inclination/passion to learn a new language. If you don't like learning new languages, it's going to be much more difficult. I suggest considering a Canadian degree as an alternate to French if that's the case.

Sir,
You have my admirations! Hope you will be invited before your next birthday.

 

[georgeb88]

Here you go. I've tried to make a timeline of the whole thing:

October 2019 - I entered the pool finally after getting my WES ECA, which had taken ages, at a CRS of 463. (I have a masters', max IELTs, my wife has two degrees, max IELTS, but unfortunately we are both in our mid-thirties). When we started planning this immigration (March 2019), 463 looked like a shoo-in for an ITA.

November 2019 - The CRS had shot up and my birthday has arrived. My CRS drops to 458. I decide to start learning French.

Nov-Dec - My wife helped me learn the basics, she had already studied French in school (couple of decades ago!) and knew enough to help me progress to A2-B1 quickly.

Dec-Jan-Feb - I spent a lot of time listening to the Coffee Break with French podcast (every day during office drive and in the gym), learned grammar textbooks from scratch (Basic, Intermediate, a bit of Advanced), started writing essays for the writing section, started speaking in French to my wife for ~15-20 minutes a day, watched French news daily (TV5 Monde or France 24), did many TV5 apprendre exercises online (free).

Feb 28 - Wrote TEF the first time and got B2 in all 4 skills. But only 8 points added to the CRS. I moved from 458 to 466.

Mar - FSW draws stopped.

Mar-Apr-May - Focused more on the speaking and writing parts. Increased french speaking a little more, while continuing to listen to news, more documentaries, Wrote A LOT of essays and fait divers. Started reading french books. Finished 2 books by Fred Vargas (This is one of the most pleasurable side-effects of learning French for me.. discovered an excellent crime novelist).

June 8 - Wrote TEF the second time as soon as exams restarted in South Africa after the lockdown. Got C2 in Reading, C1 in Writing, C1 in Listening and B2 in Speaking. 8 more CRS points. I've moved from 466 to 474.

So roughly 7 months in total to get the 16 points.

Now for all I know, FSW draws might get delayed a lot more and I might have to aim for the bonus 30 points also. So I'm not gonna stop learning French. Leaving the immigration part aside, it has been a really joyous experience and it's always great to have a new language to communicate with.

The main thing I'd advise for a beginner is to get the grammar in order first. So you must study the grammar textbooks. Once you get the hang of it, it's a really solid foundation to build on. Then the sources I mentioned in my timeline would all be really useful. They are all free. There are many more paid ones available online which could help you as well. Getting a partner who wants to learn French or who already knows some French could be really useful as well. Learning a language is far easier as a team task than as a solitary task.

Lastly, what's as critical as anything else is to have an inclination/passion to learn a new language. If you don't like learning new languages, it's going to be much more difficult. I suggest considering a Canadian degree as an alternate to French if that's the case.

hey but should nt you be getting 30 additions points if you have B2 in all levels and CLB 5 english ? you seem to have C level in most modules so thats easily CLB 7 i presume?
But nevertheless, a Fantastic feat Congratulations

 

[kolkata2019]

What time did the draw happen last time? Haven't the draws been earlier in the day on Thursdays?

 

[dayocanny]

Here you go. I've tried to make a timeline of the whole thing:

October 2019 - I entered the pool finally after getting my WES ECA, which had taken ages, at a CRS of 463. (I have a masters', max IELTs, my wife has two degrees, max IELTS, but unfortunately we are both in our mid-thirties). When we started planning this immigration (March 2019), 463 looked like a shoo-in for an ITA.

November 2019 - The CRS had shot up and my birthday has arrived. My CRS drops to 458. I decide to start learning French.

Nov-Dec - My wife helped me learn the basics, she had already studied French in school (couple of decades ago!) and knew enough to help me progress to A2-B1 quickly.

Dec-Jan-Feb - I spent a lot of time listening to the Coffee Break with French podcast (every day during office drive and in the gym), learned grammar textbooks from scratch (Basic, Intermediate, a bit of Advanced), started writing essays for the writing section, started speaking in French to my wife for ~15-20 minutes a day, watched French news daily (TV5 Monde or France 24), did many TV5 apprendre exercises online (free).

Feb 28 - Wrote TEF the first time and got B2 in all 4 skills. But only 8 points added to the CRS. I moved from 458 to 466.

Mar - FSW draws stopped.

Mar-Apr-May - Focused more on the speaking and writing parts. Increased french speaking a little more, while continuing to listen to news, more documentaries, Wrote A LOT of essays and fait divers. Started reading french books. Finished 2 books by Fred Vargas (This is one of the most pleasurable side-effects of learning French for me.. discovered an excellent crime novelist).

June 8 - Wrote TEF the second time as soon as exams restarted in South Africa after the lockdown. Got C2 in Reading, C1 in Writing, C1 in Listening and B2 in Speaking. 8 more CRS points. I've moved from 466 to 474.

So roughly 7 months in total to get the 16 points.

Now for all I know, FSW draws might get delayed a lot more and I might have to aim for the bonus 30 points also. So I'm not gonna stop learning French. Leaving the immigration part aside, it has been a really joyous experience and it's always great to have a new language to communicate with.

The main thing I'd advise for a beginner is to get the grammar in order first. So you must study the grammar textbooks. Once you get the hang of it, it's a really solid foundation to build on. Then the sources I mentioned in my timeline would all be really useful. They are all free. There are many more paid ones available online which could help you as well. Getting a partner who wants to learn French or who already knows some French could be really useful as well. Learning a language is far easier as a team task than as a solitary task.

Lastly, what's as critical as anything else is to have an inclination/passion to learn a new language. If you don't like learning new languages, it's going to be much more difficult. I suggest considering a Canadian degree as an alternate to French if that's the case.

Well done. I really would love to commend your efforts. Not an easy feat. I hope this will motivate others. Bon courage !

 

[dayocanny]

hey but should nt you be getting 30 additions points if you have B2 in all levels and CLB 5 english ? you seem to have C level in most modules so thats easily CLB 7 i presume?
But nevertheless, a Fantastic feat Congratulations

The B2 must have been in the lower spectrum. There are two levels of B2 in TEF

 

[Timbuktu_14]

All I know is an FSW draw won't happen today (I'm an Fsw candidate btw). You guys need to be patient and stop giving trolls something to say. Be patient. It would happen in due time.

I see what you are trying to do mate

Playing it safe just not to be heartbroken if things turn out the same way it's been for the past few months, apt.

 

[ns317]

hey but should nt you be getting 30 additions points if you have B2 in all levels and CLB 5 english ? you seem to have C level in most modules so thats easily CLB 7 i presume?
But nevertheless, a Fantastic feat Congratulations

Thanks!

CLB 7 is when you get 30 points. B2 range starts from CLB 6 and ends at CLB 7. I'm right in the middle of CLBs 6 and 7 in speaking.

 

[ns317]

Well done. I really would love to commend your efforts. Not an easy feat. I hope this will motivate others. Bon courage !

Merci! I must say that your story had inspired me quite a bit to continue persevering

 

[Uncle Yayo]

Here you go. I've tried to make a timeline of the whole thing:

October 2019 - I entered the pool finally after getting my WES ECA, which had taken ages, at a CRS of 463. (I have a masters', max IELTs, my wife has two degrees, max IELTS, but unfortunately we are both in our mid-thirties). When we started planning this immigration (March 2019), 463 looked like a shoo-in for an ITA.

November 2019 - The CRS had shot up and my birthday has arrived. My CRS drops to 458. I decide to start learning French.

Nov-Dec - My wife helped me learn the basics, she had already studied French in school (couple of decades ago!) and knew enough to help me progress to A2-B1 quickly.

Dec-Jan-Feb - I spent a lot of time listening to the Coffee Break with French podcast (every day during office drive and in the gym), learned grammar textbooks from scratch (Basic, Intermediate, a bit of Advanced), started writing essays for the writing section, started speaking in French to my wife for ~15-20 minutes a day, watched French news daily (TV5 Monde or France 24), did many TV5 apprendre exercises online (free).

Feb 28 - Wrote TEF the first time and got B2 in all 4 skills. But only 8 points added to the CRS. I moved from 458 to 466.

Mar - FSW draws stopped.

Mar-Apr-May - Focused more on the speaking and writing parts. Increased french speaking a little more, while continuing to listen to news, more documentaries, Wrote A LOT of essays and fait divers. Started reading french books. Finished 2 books by Fred Vargas (This is one of the most pleasurable side-effects of learning French for me.. discovered an excellent crime novelist).

June 8 - Wrote TEF the second time as soon as exams restarted in South Africa after the lockdown. Got C2 in Reading, C1 in Writing, C1 in Listening and B2 in Speaking. 8 more CRS points. I've moved from 466 to 474.

So roughly 7 months in total to get the 16 points.

Now for all I know, FSW draws might get delayed a lot more and I might have to aim for the bonus 30 points also. So I'm not gonna stop learning French. Leaving the immigration part aside, it has been a really joyous experience and it's always great to have a new language to communicate with.

The main thing I'd advise for a beginner is to get the grammar in order first. So you must study the grammar textbooks. Once you get the hang of it, it's a really solid foundation to build on. Then the sources I mentioned in my timeline would all be really useful. They are all free. There are many more paid ones available online which could help you as well. Getting a partner who wants to learn French or who already knows some French could be really useful as well. Learning a language is far easier as a team task than as a solitary task.

Lastly, what's as critical as anything else is to have an inclination/passion to learn a new language. If you don't like learning new languages, it's going to be much more difficult. I suggest considering a Canadian degree as an alternate to French if that's the case.

The hustle though!!! Damn! *Applause*

 

[Priyanka2010]

Merci! I must say that your story had inspired me quite a bit to continue persevering

Same here, I am also at B1 level now and planning to take the TCF before January.
Bonne chance!

 

[Priyanka2010]

Any idea when IELTS will resume in India? My ielt will expire so need to retake.

 

[Anigow1234]

Any idea when IELTS will resume in India? My ielt will expire so need to retake.

It has already resumed I think... someone I know took..please check

 

[ZAtoCD]

Anyone know if the Canadian VFS offices in India are open? Someone posted an article that multiple had opened, but it didn't say which ones.

 

[Sharanm7]

Anyone know if the Canadian VFS offices in India are open? Someone posted an article that multiple had opened, but it didn't say which ones.

Canada VFS is still not opened in India. No opening date is mentioned in the website too. But I heard VFS office of few other countries in India have opened.

 

[kabir_krishna]

Unfortunately COVD situation is getting worst in India.