Volunteering (Edexcel GCSE French): Revision Notes
Volunteering
Key vocabulary for helping others
Understanding the right vocabulary is essential for discussing volunteering and charitable work in French. These terms form the foundation for expressing how we help others and make a positive impact in our communities.
| French Term | English Translation |
|---|---|
| aide (f) | help, aid |
| animaux (mpl) | animals, pets |
| association (f) | organisation, charity |
| catastrophe (f) | catastrophe |
| comprendre | to understand |
| difficulté (f) | difficulty |
| dormir | to sleep |
| protéger | to protect |
| rue (f) | street, road |
| adopter | to adopt |
| French Term | English Translation |
|---|---|
| combattre | to fight |
| lutte (f) | fight |
| menacer | to threaten |
| offrir | to offer |
| se fier à | to rely on |
| s'occuper de | to look after |
| soin (m) | care |
| soutien (m) | support |
Pay special attention to the verbs s'occuper de (to look after) and protéger (to protect) as these are commonly used when discussing volunteer work with animals and environmental causes.
Example sentences using volunteering vocabulary
Learning vocabulary in context helps you understand how these terms work naturally in French sentences.
Sentence Practice: Volunteering Contexts
Je travaille dans une association qui aide les personnes pauvres. (I work in an organisation that helps poor people.)
Nous nous occupons des animaux abandonnés. (We look after abandoned animals.)
Il faut protéger la nature et combattre la pollution. (We must protect nature and fight pollution.)
Cette organisation offre son soutien aux familles en difficulté. (This organisation offers its support to families in difficulty.)
Grammar focus: Depuis + imperfect tense
When discussing volunteering experiences, you'll often need to express duration of actions. French uses depuis (for/since) in specific ways depending on whether the action is ongoing or was ongoing in the past.
When you want to express that you have been doing something for a period of time (and are still doing it), use depuis after the present tense.
Je travaille dans l'association depuis deux ans. (I've been working at the organisation for two years.)
However, when you want to say that you had been doing something for a period of time in the past, use depuis after the imperfect tense.
Je travaillais dans l'association depuis deux ans. (I had been working at the organisation for two years.)
The key difference is timing: present + depuis for actions continuing now, imperfect + depuis for actions that continued in the past but are no longer happening.
More examples with depuis + imperfect
Understanding this grammar pattern will help you describe your volunteer experiences more accurately in both speaking and writing.
Grammar in Context: Depuis + Imperfect
Je travaillais depuis trois ans dans une association qui aide les personnes pauvres. (I had been working for three years in an organisation that helps poor people.)
Je travaillais déjà depuis trois heures au centre pour animaux lorsqu'un beau chat est arrivé. (I had already been working for three hours at the animal shelter when a beautiful cat arrived.)
Translation practice
Practice is essential for mastering both the vocabulary and grammar structures. Work through these translations carefully, paying attention to tense usage.
Translation Exercise
French to English:
- Je m'occupe des animaux depuis cinq ans.
- Nous protégeons l'environnement dans notre association.
English to French:
- I help poor families in my neighbourhood.
- We had been fighting pollution for two years.
Answers:
Translation Solutions
French to English:
- I've been looking after animals for five years.
- We protect the environment in our organisation.
English to French:
- J'aide les familles pauvres dans mon quartier.
- Nous combattions la pollution depuis deux ans.
Exam tips
Success in French exams requires both knowledge and strategy. These tips will help you demonstrate your volunteering vocabulary and grammar effectively.
Speaking exam guidance
When discussing volunteering in your speaking exam, try to:
- Give reasons for your volunteering choices
- Add detail to show off your French knowledge
- Use the depuis + imperfect construction to talk about past experiences
- Include opinions about the importance of helping others
Sample conversation starter
Dans le futur, tu voudrais travailler pour une association qui aide les gens? (In the future, would you like to work for an organisation that helps people?)
Useful response structure:
- State your opinion clearly
- Give reasons using parce que
- Add personal examples or experiences
- Use varied vocabulary from the topic
Key Points to Remember:
- Depuis + present tense = ongoing action from past to present (have been doing)
- Depuis + imperfect tense = ongoing action in the past (had been doing)
- Learn vocabulary in themed groups - helping others, animals, environment
- In speaking exams, always expand your answers with reasons and examples
- Use s'occuper de (to look after) for caring activities and aider (to help) for general assistance