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Hi, it’s Dozie!
Welcome to today’s From the Editor.
In today’s newsletter: Manisha Nayyar on the 24-hour follow-up and why you should stop overthinking it.
Also in the news: Business Council of Alberta launches an information campaign supporting Alberta’s place in Canada; Quebec election campaign puts immigrant children and English voting information at the centre of the debate.
Plus, in today’s French in Canada: Nishant Anand on how to approach the TEF speaking section A.
See past issues here.
Stop overthinking the 24-hour follow-up after meeting someone at a networking event
First off, what is the 24-hour follow-up? It’s a short message you send within 24 hours of meeting someone. It mentions something specific from your conversation. You’re not asking for anything—just letting them know, "I remember you, I listened, and I valued our conversation." That’s it.
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Imagine you’re at a networking event and meet someone interesting. You chat for about ten minutes; the conversation feels easy. You both smile and exchange names. After that, you go your separate ways.
A day passes. You think about reaching out, maybe even opening LinkedIn, but then hesitate. Has too much time passed? You wonder if they even remember you, since they meet so many people at these events. Why would your conversation stand out?
So, you decide not to send a message.
Three months later, you hear that someone else from that event got an opportunity from the person you spoke with. You wonder why it wasn’t you, even though your conversation went well too. It wasn’t about the conversation itself. The difference was that you didn’t send a follow-up message.
In Canada, many people think networking is just about collecting as many contacts as possible, like gathering business cards or adding connections on LinkedIn. They believe that if they meet enough people, something will eventually work out.
But that’s not how it works in Canada. Trust is built one person at a time. You have a conversation, then you follow up. When you do, people start to see you as genuine—someone who keeps their word and remembers them.
And to do this, the barrier most newcomers and immigrants face isn’t skill.
Take me to the full thing, including some examples of follow-ups from Manisha’s workshops ⬇️
From our newsroom
Business Council of Alberta launches an information campaign supporting Alberta’s place in Canada. The business group is urging Albertans to vote as polls favour staying in Canada, while companies weigh the economic risks of separation. — Full article here
Quebec election campaign puts immigrant children and English voting information at the centre of the debate. The Parti Québécois faces criticism over its school-capacity claims, while French-only election mailouts raise concerns about access for anglophone voters. — Full article here
French in Canada with Nishant Anand
Q: How to prepare for the TEF speaking section A?
Section A is usually a five-minute conversation with the examiner. The examiner plays the role of a vendor while you act as the client. The examiner gives you an advertisment for a product, a sports activity, or an annual membership (for example, a gym, library, etc), and you’re expected to ask about ten questions during this five minute formal conversation.
This strategy is intended for students who are currently at an intermediate level of French or for those who have already taken the exam but were unable to achieve their desired scores. I highly recommend following the steps below:
At home/self-practice
Practice making questions. Begin with the most common and important ones, then move on to simpler or more specific questions.
To improve your pronunciation, read a text, a page from a book in French, or any other written material you can find on the internet. Record yourself reading aloud so that you can identify any difficulties with pronunciation, individual sounds, or clarity.
Record yourself and listen to the playback. This will help you identify areas where you can improve your pronunciation, intonation, fluency, and use of pauses.
Time yourself while practising and evaluate your performance. Ask yourself whether you are speaking for the full five minutes, asking relevant questions, using appropriate connectors, and maintaining a clear and audible voice. This will help you identify your weaknesses so that you can practise and gradually improve them.
Practice asking questions using the following resources:
On the exam day/ With the examiner
Speak with confidence. Avoid too many pauses or hesitations. Make sure your pronunciation, intonation, and tone clearly show that you are asking a question.
Use appropriate complex and advanced-level connectors to articulate your ideas and make the conversation more natural and coherent.
Ask one question at a time. Since the examiner does not write down your questions, asking several at once can make it hard for them to answer. Try not to make the conversation feel like an interview. Focus on your tone, expressions, and a natural way of speaking.
Want more? Feel free to send in your questions, and Nishant will make sure he answers them. Or you can start your French journey with him.
Newsletter writer: Dozie Anyaegbunam
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