In Senegal, many conversations move between French and Wolof without anyone noticing. A sentence starts in one language, ends in the other, and everyone follows. For the TCF Canada, that ease is a real strength, with one condition: you need to be able to switch back to standard French, without a Wolof word slipped in, whenever the task calls for it.
This guide explains how to pay for your preparation on TCF Canada Formation with the services you already use, what the AI assistant does with your everyday French, and how to organise your work across the four tests. To start without paying, try a free reading test with an account.
Pay with Orange Money, Mixx by Yas or Wave
You do not need an international bank card. In Senegal, three services are accepted: Orange Money, Mixx by Yas and Wave. 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 account.
- With Orange Money or Mixx by Yas, confirm the payment on your phone. With Wave, you are redirected to Wave to approve it.
Your access is activated as soon as the payment is confirmed. Check your balance before you start. If you prefer, card payment is still available on the same page.
An assistant that understands French mixed with Wolof
When you study alone, the hardest part is often noticing your own habits. An expression you hear every day in Dakar, Thiès or Saint-Louis feels natural, so it does not occur to you to check it.
The platform’s AI assistant understands French mixed with Wolof and common Senegalese French expressions. Write a sentence the way you would say it to friends, and the assistant uses it to show you the standard French version and explain what changes. You start from what you really say, not from a textbook example.
It has limits worth knowing. The assistant helps you understand; it does not replace regular practice or the effort of proofreading. It is available to active subscribers and uses the credits included in your plan. On exam day, your standard French is what gets assessed.
Expressions that slip into exam answers
Here are some frequent examples, with what to write or say instead:
- “Waaw” becomes “Oui” (yes).
- “Jërëjëf” becomes “Merci” (thank you).
- “Nanga def ?” becomes “Comment vas-tu ?” or “Comment allez-vous ?” (How are you?)
- “Je voulais juste passer rekk” becomes “Je voulais seulement passer” (I just wanted to drop by).
- “On avance ndank ndank” becomes “On avance petit à petit” (we’re making progress little by little).
- “Je descends à 17 heures” becomes “Je finis le travail à 17 heures” or “Je quitte le bureau à 17 heures” (I finish work at 5 pm).
Wolof words are easy to catch when you proofread. Features of Senegalese French are harder, because they look like ordinary French. Using “descendre” to mean “finishing your working day” is a good example: an exam reader may simply picture you walking downstairs.
Some local realities are worth naming, as long as you explain them. “Je suis passé à l’essencerie”, a very Senegalese word, becomes “Je suis passé à la station-service” (I stopped at the petrol station). For a dibiterie or a car rapide, add a short explanation: “une dibiterie, c’est-à-dire un restaurant de viande grillée”.
The four tests in practice
Listening. You answer multiple-choice questions based on a variety of recordings. Listen to a little standard French every day, on the radio or in podcasts, and practise catching the main idea before the details.
Reading. The texts range from simple to complex. Read the question first, then look for the sentence that justifies the answer. Be wary of options that reuse the text’s words without keeping its meaning.
Writing. Three tasks, from a short message to an argued text. A friendly message can be relaxed in tone, but without Wolof words. In an argued text, focus on structure: one idea per paragraph and clear logical connectors.
Speaking. This is a face-to-face interview with an examiner, in three tasks. The small filler words you use without thinking, such as “rekk”, mostly show up when you speak. Prepare French alternatives: “seulement”, “en fait”, “donc”.
Plan your week
- Do two listening or reading exercises and note why you missed each question.
- Write a short text, then proofread it only to hunt for Wolof words and local turns of phrase.
- Record yourself for two minutes and listen back, noting your filler words.
- Give the assistant a sentence you are not sure about.
For practical information about the exam, our TCF Canada guide for Dakar brings together the useful checks. Always confirm fees, dates and required documents with the approved centre and on the France Éducation international website.
Getting started
Take a first free test in reading or listening, with an account. Then choose your plan and pay with Orange Money, Mixx by Yas or Wave.