Opinions about school (AQA GCSE French): Revision Notes
Opinions about school
Being able to express your thoughts about school is an essential skill in French. Whether you're discussing what you enjoy, what frustrates you, or giving a balanced perspective, you'll need specific vocabulary and structures to communicate effectively.
Essential vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la journée scolaire | school day |
| bon(ne) | good |
| contre | against |
| ennuyeux/euse | boring |
| excellent(e) | excellent |
| juste | fair |
| mauvais(e) | bad |
| porter | to wear |
| pour | for |
| règle (f) | rule |
| causer | to cause |
| étude (f) | study |
| mener | to lead |
| obliger | to require, force |
| permettre | to allow, permit |
This vocabulary forms the foundation for expressing school opinions. Practice using these words in context rather than just memorising translations. Pay special attention to adjective agreements - remember that "bon(ne)", "excellent(e)", and "mauvais(e)" must agree with the nouns they describe.
Expressing balanced views
When giving opinions about school, you'll often want to present both advantages and disadvantages. These connecting words and phrases will help you structure your arguments effectively:
Positive connectors:
- mais - but
- un avantage - an advantage
- le mieux - the best
Contrasting connectors:
- cependant - however
- même si - even if
- par contre - on the other hand
- sauf - except
- un inconvénient - a disadvantage
- pourtant - yet, nevertheless
- au contraire - on the contrary
- le pire - the worst
Worked Example: Building a Balanced Argument
Step 1: Start with a positive point "J'aime bien mon collège" (I really like my school)
Step 2: Add a contrasting connector "J'aime bien mon collège, cependant..." (I really like my school, however...)
Step 3: Present the contrasting view "J'aime bien mon collège, cependant les bâtiments sont vieux." (I really like my school, however the buildings are old.)
These words help you create sophisticated arguments that show you can see multiple sides of an issue, which is particularly valuable in speaking and writing assessments.
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Present tense examples:
- "J'aime bien mon collège" (I really like my school) - Note the liaison between "bien" and "mon"
- "Les professeurs sont travailleurs" (The teachers are hard-working) - Remember the agreement with plural subjects
Critical Grammar Point: When using adjectives like "travailleurs" (hard-working), remember that they must agree in number and gender with the noun they describe. "Les professeurs" is masculine plural, so the adjective becomes "travailleurs" (not "travailleuses").
Past tense constructions: When discussing past school experiences, use the perfect tense with avoir or être:
- "J'ai aimé mes études" (I liked my studies)
- "Les bâtiments étaient vieux" (The buildings were old)
Cultural Note: The word "collège" has stress on the final syllable: col-LEGE. Remember that in French, "collège" refers to secondary school (ages 11-15), not university. This is different from English usage and is important for authentic communication.
Example sentences
Worked Example: Present Tense Opinion Sentences
Structure: Subject + verb + opinion + connector + contrasting point
- "Mon école a d'excellents équipements mais les bâtiments sont vieux." (My school has excellent facilities but the buildings are old.)
- "J'aime bien rencontrer mes amis pendant la récréation." (I really like meeting my friends during break time.)
Worked Example: Past Tense Experience Sentences
Structure: Time reference + perfect tense + opinion
- "L'année dernière, j'ai trouvé les règles trop strictes." (Last year, I found the rules too strict.)
- "Nous avons eu trop de devoirs pendant les vacances." (We had too much homework during the holidays.)
Worked Example: Balanced Opinion Construction
Structure: Positive statement + connector + negative/contrasting statement
- "Les professeurs sont sympas, cependant ils donnent beaucoup de devoirs." (The teachers are nice, however they give a lot of homework.)
- "Le pire, c'est quand on doit faire des examens en été." (The worst thing is when we have to do exams in summer.)
Translation exercise
French to English:
- "J'aime bien mon collège mais les bâtiments sont vieux."
- "Le pire, c'est les examens en été."
English to French: 3. "The teachers are hard-working and nice." 4. "I really like meeting up with my friends."
Answers:
- I really like my school but the buildings are old.
- The worst thing is the exams in summer.
- Les professeurs sont travailleurs et sympas.
- J'aime bien rencontrer mes amis.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't forget that "j'aime bien" is stronger than just "j'aime" in French. "J'aime bien" means "I really like" while "j'aime" can sometimes sound less enthusiastic in this context.
Key Points to Remember:
- Use connecting words like "mais," "cependant," and "par contre" to create balanced arguments about school
- Learn both positive and negative vocabulary to express a full range of opinions
- Practice using both present and past tenses when discussing school experiences
- "Collège" in French refers to secondary school (ages 11-15), not university
- When reading texts about school opinions, pay attention to how positive and negative points are balanced