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 is 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!
Step 1: How to Plan Your Postcard or Letter
Before you start writing, ask yourself: What exactly are they asking me to include?
Often the exam instructions will say something like:
Talk about the weather
Mention your activities
Say when you are coming back
Other times they may be more open. That’s why it’s good to practice with different combinations.
Here are the most common elements you may include in a postcard:
Greeting (Bonjour Jean, Salut Marie, Cher Paul, Chère Sophie)
Where you went (Je suis en vacances à la montagne / à la plage / à la campagne / en ville…)
When / with whom you went (Je suis parti avec mes amis / ma famille…)
Where you are staying (à l’hôtel, chez l’habitant, dans un camping, dans un gîte…)
What you are doing / what you visited (Hier, j’ai visité le musée… Aujourd’hui, je vais à la plage…)
Are you enjoying yourself? (C’est super ! Je m’amuse beaucoup.)
What the weather is like (Il fait beau, il pleut, il y a du soleil…)
When you will come back (Je rentrerai samedi prochain / la semaine prochaine…)
Farewell + Signature (Bises, À bientôt, Amitiés… + your name)
Tip: At minimum, always include greeting + location + activity + weather + farewell. That will already give you a safe structure.
Step 2: Writing Your Postcard
At A1, examiners don’t want complicated essays — they want clear, correct French with the basics: present tense, passé composé, and even a little future if you can. You can also add your feelings or recommendations to make it more personal.
Sample Exercise (from DELF A1 style exam)
Exercise:
Vous êtes en vacances à Nice. Vous envoyez une petite carte postale à un ami à Paris. Vous lui parlez du temps, de vos activités et vous lui donnez votre date de retour. (40 à 50 mots).
Sample Answer:
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 Template for You
Salut ___________,
Je suis en vacances à _____________ pour _______________.
C’est une ville très ______________. Hier, j’ai _____________. Aujourd’hui, je ____________. C’est ______________.
Il fait _____________. Je rentrerai chez moi _____________________.À bientôt,
Useful Expressions & Phrases
Here are some ready-to-use chunks you can learn by heart:
Greetings: Salut Paul ! Bonjour Sophie ! Cher ami…
Location: Je suis en vacances à la mer / dans les Alpes / en Bretagne / dans un petit village…
Duration: Je suis ici pour une semaine / quinze jours / trois semaines.
Activities: Je visite des musées / Je fais du vélo / Je nage dans la mer / Je me promène en ville.
Enjoyment: C’est super ! Je m’amuse beaucoup. Je passe de bonnes vacances.
Weather: Il fait beau / il fait chaud / il pleut / il y a du soleil / il fait très froid.
Return date: Je rentrerai samedi prochain / le 15 août / la semaine prochaine.
Farewells: Bises, À bientôt, Amitiés, Au revoir.
Notice how these phrases are ready-to-use blocks. They save time and help you sound natural.
Evaluation:
- Greetings : Bonjour Jean ( We could also use: “Salut Jean” “Cher Jean” . Use “Chère” only if it is a female)
- Where you are and for how long: Je suis en vacances à Nice pour cinq jours
- What you did or are doing: Hier, j’ai joué au volley sur la plage. Maintenant, je prends le déjeuner dans un petit café.
- Are you enjoying yourself? Super!
- What is the weather and or the place like: Il fait très beau, avec beaucoup de soleil.
- When are you coming back?: Je rentrerai chez-moi samedi prochain.
- Farewells: Bises ( We could also use: “A bientôt” “or “a samedi!” or “a la semaine prochaine !” or “au revoir”)
- 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.
