Options at 16 (AQA GCSE French): Revision Notes
Options at 16 (Les choix à 16 ans)
When you're 16 years old in France, you face important decisions about your education and future career path. This topic explores the vocabulary and language structures you need to discuss educational choices, talk about different subjects, and express your plans and opinions about studying.
Useful vocabulary
| French | English |
|---|---|
| apprentissage (m) | apprenticeship |
| but (m) | goal, aim, purpose |
| choisir | to choose |
| discuter | to discuss |
| s'entendre avec | to get on with |
| étudier | to study |
| lycée (m) | sixth form college |
| matière (f) | subject |
| organiser | to organise |
| professeur (m/f) | teacher |
| projet (m) | project, plan |
| conseiller | to advise |
| études (fpl) | studies |
| formation (f) | training |
Learning vocabulary in themed groups like this helps you build connections between related words. Try creating sentences that use multiple words from the table to reinforce your understanding.
Expressing time sequences and making your writing flow
When discussing your educational choices and experiences, you can make your French more sophisticated by structuring your ideas chronologically. This key technique helps create a natural flow when explaining your decision-making process.
Worked Example: Creating a Time Sequence
Step 1: Plan your sequence using days of the week Step 2: Add specific actions for each day Step 3: Connect them logically
- Le lundi, j'ai parlé avec mes professeurs (On Monday, I spoke with my teachers)
- Le mardi mes parents m'ont parlé (On Tuesday my parents spoke to me)
- Le jeudi, j'ai choisi mes matières (On Thursday I chose my subjects)
This technique shows progression through time and demonstrates your ability to organise ideas logically, which is particularly valuable in writing tasks.
Using different tenses effectively
Understanding when and how to use different tenses is crucial when discussing your educational journey and future plans. Mastering tense usage will significantly improve your French communication skills.
Present tense
Use the present tense to describe current habits, ongoing situations, or general facts about your studies.
- J'étudie les maths tous les jours (I study maths every day)
Past tense
The past tense helps you explain decisions you've already made or experiences you've had.
- Hier, j'ai choisi d'étudier le français (Yesterday I chose to study French)
Future tense
Express your plans and intentions for your educational future using the future tense.
- Demain, je vais choisir mes matières demain (Tomorrow I am going to choose my subjects)
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't mix tenses randomly in your writing. Choose the appropriate tense based on when the action occurs: past for completed actions, present for current situations, and future for plans.
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Pronunciation Alert: Remember that "choisir" follows the -ir verb pattern. The pronunciation changes: je choisis [zhuh shwah-ZEE], but nous choisissons [noo shwah-zee-SOHN].
Grammar Rule: When using "s'entendre avec" (to get on with), remember this is a reflexive verb, so you need the correct reflexive pronoun: je m'entends avec mon professeur (I get on with my teacher).
Writing Strategy: In exam tasks involving pictures, focus on describing what you can actually see rather than making assumptions. Describe people, activities, and the setting using concrete details.
Example sentences
Understanding how to apply these tenses in context will help you communicate more effectively about your educational experiences and future plans.
Worked Example: Using Different Tenses
Present tense:
- J'étudie les sciences au lycée (I study sciences at sixth form college)
- Mon professeur conseille tous les élèves (My teacher advises all the students)
Past tense:
- J'ai discuté avec mes parents hier soir (I discussed with my parents last night)
- Nous avons organisé notre emploi du temps (We organised our timetable)
Future tense:
- Je vais choisir mes matières la semaine prochaine (I'm going to choose my subjects next week)
- Mon but sera d'étudier à l'université (My goal will be to study at university)
Translation exercise
Translation exercises help you practice moving between languages and reinforce your understanding of key structures and vocabulary.
Translation Practice
French to English:
- Mes copains n'ont pas encore choisi leurs matières, mais moi, j'ai enfin décidé quelles matières j'allais étudier l'année prochaine.
- J'ai choisi d'étudier les maths et les sciences parce que je m'entends bien avec mes professeurs.
English to French: 3. I want to discuss my future plans with my family and my teachers. 4. My goal is to study at sixth form college next year.
Answers:
- My friends haven't chosen their subjects yet, but I have finally decided which subjects I was going to study next year.
- I chose to study maths and sciences because I get on well with my teachers.
- Je veux discuter mes projets d'avenir avec ma famille et mes professeurs.
- Mon but est d'étudier au lycée l'année prochaine.
Key Points to Remember:
- Use time expressions (le lundi, le mardi, etc.) to structure your writing and show progression in your decision-making process
- Master the three main tenses: present for current situations, past for completed actions, and future for plans and intentions
- Focus on concrete, observable details when describing pictures rather than making assumptions about what you cannot see
- Build your vocabulary around key themes like subjects (matières), people (professeur, famille), and actions (choisir, étudier, discuter)
- Practice using reflexive verbs like "s'entendre avec" correctly with the appropriate pronouns