DELF A1: Writing a Postcard or letter in

french about your vacation

How do you write a postcard or letter in french telling someone, such as a friend, about
your vacation? This is a common question to be found on many french exam or test
paper. Well this article a step by step guide on how to write a postcard or letter telling
someone about your vacation.  

In the Production Ecrite section of your french exam such as the DELF A1 exam, you will
be required to write a message, email or letter consisting of 40 to 50 words.  So lets
begin!

How to plan your postcard or letter in french

It is possible to plan and practice various response to the possible exercises before the
date of your exam.  In general, when you are writing a postcard there are certain
information you may include, such as:

1. Greetings
2. How You went

3. Where you went (montagne, plage, campagne, ville…)

4. When / with whom you went
5. Where or with whom are you staying? (à l’hôtel, chez l’habitant, dans un camping,
dans un gîte…)
6. What you saw or visit/did or are doing, etc
7. Are you enjoying yourself?
8. What is the weather and or the place like
9. When are you coming back?
10. Farewells
11. Sign your name

While it is not necessary to provide all of the above information, It is important to note
that DELF exam instructions, sometimes select from the list above and specifically ask
you to include such information. As a result, it is important to practice different
response which will include different combination of the suggestions above. The ones
highlighted in red are the basics and should almost always be included in your postcard.
Writing your postcard or letter in french
It is important to use as much as possible the grammar and vocabulary that you are
required to have at this level. As a result, use more than one tense, give your opinion and
even make a recommendation if there is space.

Sample Exercise: Writing a Postcard or letter in french about

your vacation
Exercise 1                                                                                                   15 points  

Vous êtes en vacances à Nice. Vous envoyez une petite carte postale a un ami à Paris.
Vous lui parlez de temps, de vous activités et vous lui donnez votre date de retour. (40 à
50 mots).

Sample letter in french about your vacation:

Bonjour Jean,

Je suis en vacances à Nice pour cinq jours. C’est une ville très sympa.  Hier, j’ai joué au
volley sur la plage. Super! Maintenant, je prends le déjeuner dans un petit café. Il fait très
beau, avec beaucoup de soleil. Je rentrerai chez-moi samedi prochain.

Bises

Janet    

 (Word count = 49)

Sample Exercise for You!

Salut______________,
Je suis en vacances à _____________ pour _________________.
C’est une ville très ______________. je visite_________________. c’est________________. Il
fait______________ . Je rentrerai chez-moi _____________________.

A bientôt

________________

Evaluation:

1. Greetings : Bonjour Jean  (  We could also use: “Salut Jean”   “Cher Jean” . Use
“Chère” only if it is a female)
2. Where you are and for how long: Je suis en vacances à Nice pour cinq jours
3. What you did or are doing: Hier,  j’ai joué  au volley sur la plage. Maintenant, je
prends le déjeuner dans un petit café.

4. Are you enjoying yourself? Super!

5. What is the weather and or the place like: Il fait très beau, avec beaucoup de
soleil.
6. When are you coming back?:  Je rentrerai chez-moi samedi prochain.
7. Farewells: Bises  ( We could also use: “A bientôt”  “or “a samedi!”  or “a la semaine
prochaine  !” or “au revoir”)
8. Sign your name: Janet

There is agreement of adjective and verb: un petit café.  Plus I have used three tenses:

 Le présent: je prends,  Il fait,

 le passé composé: j’ai joué
 le futur: Je rentrerai.

I have included the specific information that they had asked for. I have also stayed
within the word limit. 

Warning!
Remember to stick to the word limit and follow the instructions that are given. If they
want you to provide any specific information such as when you are coming back, the
weather, what you visited etc this must be included in your postcard. You will lose
points if this is not done.

Check for Errors

Remember to read carefully through your text. Check to ensure that plural words have a
plural ending. Make sure that there is agreement between adjectives and the nouns they
describe (such as une belle église, un beau chateau). Check all to ensure that all verbs
are in the right tense and that the endings match the subject (such as Je vais for the
present but Je suis  allé for the past). Check to make sure you have followed the
instructions and fully used all the structures that you have learnt during your study.