In Burkina Faso, French sits alongside Mooré, Dioula, Fulfulde and many other languages every day. In Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso or Koudougou, it has picked up words and ways of saying things that are part of daily life. For the TCF Canada, the goal is straightforward: keep speaking your French, while being able to produce standard French whenever the exam calls for it.
This guide covers paying with Moov Money on TCF Canada Formation, what the AI assistant does with your Burkinabè French, and a method for the four tests. To see the exercises before paying, try a free reading test with an account.
Pay in FCFA with Moov Money
You do not need an international bank card. In Burkina Faso, you can pay with Moov Money. The amount is shown in FCFA when you pay.
- On the pricing page, pick your plan, then select “Pay with Mobile Money”.
- Check the country shown, select your operator, then enter the phone number linked to your Moov Money account.
- Confirm the payment on your phone, as you would for any Moov Money transaction.
Your access is activated as soon as the payment is confirmed. Check your balance before you start and keep your phone nearby. If you have a bank card, card payment is still available on the same page.
An assistant that understands Burkinabè French
Many Burkinabè candidates did all their schooling in French. They know the grammar and write correctly. Even so, a few words from Mooré or Dioula find their way into their answers, especially when speaking quickly and without preparation.
The platform’s AI assistant understands common Burkinabè French expressions, including those that come from Mooré and Dioula. Write a sentence the way you would say it to people close to you. The assistant builds on it to show you the standard French version and explain what changes.
To be clear about what it offers: the assistant helps you understand the gap; it does not replace regular practice or your own proofreading. It is available to active subscribers and uses the credits included in your plan. In the exam, your standard French is what gets assessed.
Expressions to rephrase
Here are frequent examples in Burkina Faso, with the equivalent to use in the exam:
- “Laafi bala” becomes “Ça va bien, merci” (I’m fine, thank you).
- “Barka” becomes “Merci” (thank you).
- “Mon kôrô m’a conseillé” becomes “Mon grand frère m’a conseillé” (my big brother advised me).
- “J’ai acheté chez la tantie” becomes “J’ai acheté chez la vendeuse” (I bought it from the stallholder).
- “On a mangé le tô au maquis” becomes “Nous avons mangé une pâte de mil dans un petit restaurant populaire” (we ate millet porridge at a small local eatery).
The last example shows two different cases. “Tô” and “maquis” name local realities: you can keep them, as long as you explain them. “On a mangé”, on the other hand, is simply informal: in a formal task, prefer “nous avons mangé”.
“Tantie” raises another issue. In Burkina Faso, the word shows respect towards an older woman, often a market seller. In standard French, “tante” first of all means a relative: a reader might think you do your shopping at a family member’s.
You can also talk about local traditions or drinks, such as dolo. Just add a short explanation: “le dolo, une bière de mil traditionnelle” (a traditional millet beer). An examiner who does not know the country will understand straight away.
The four tests and how to approach them
Listening. You answer multiple-choice questions on recordings of increasing difficulty. Listen to a little standard French every day, on the radio or online, focusing on the main idea before the details.
Reading. Read the question first, then look for the passage that answers it. Be wary of options that reuse the text’s words without keeping their exact meaning.
Writing. Three tasks, from a short message to an argued text. Make a quick plan, write, then proofread one last time solely for local words and informal register.
Speaking. This is a face-to-face test with an examiner, in three tasks. Greetings and thanks come in the first few seconds, so practise “Bonjour” and “Merci” until they are automatic and you start in the right register.
A typical week of preparation
- Do two listening or reading exercises and note why you missed each question.
- Write a short text, then replace each local expression with its standard equivalent.
- Record yourself for two minutes on an everyday topic and listen back.
- Give the assistant a sentence you are hesitating over.
To build vocabulary you will actually use, see our guide to vocabulary by theme. For resources that do not require a subscription, see our free preparation plan for candidates in Africa.
Check the official steps
You register for the TCF Canada with an approved test centre. Fees, session dates and required documents are published by that centre and by France Éducation international, so check them there directly.
Getting started
Take a first free test in reading or listening, with an account. When you are ready, choose your plan and pay with Moov Money.