Timetable and school day (Edexcel GCSE French): Revision Notes
Timetable and school day
Essential school day vocabulary
Understanding key vocabulary related to the school day is crucial for describing your daily routine and timetable in French. These terms will help you talk about lessons, breaks, and school activities.
When learning French school vocabulary, pay special attention to gender markers (le/la) as they are essential for proper grammar. Many school-related nouns have specific genders that must be memorised alongside the vocabulary.
Core school terms
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la journée scolaire | school day |
| le cahier | exercise book |
| commencer | to start |
| le cours | lesson |
| déjeuner | lunch |
| durer | to last |
| écouter | to listen to |
| fatigant(e) | tiring, exhausting |
| finir | to finish |
| le jour | day |
School subjects and facilities
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la journée | day |
| la matière | subject |
| la pause | break |
| le sac | bag |
| scolaire | school |
| la bibliothèque | library |
| le directeur/la directrice | headteacher |
| l'emploi du temps | timetable |
| le gymnase | gym |
Using School Vocabulary in Context:
- Mon premier cours commence à huit heures. (My first lesson starts at eight o'clock.)
- La pause déjeuner dure une heure. (The lunch break lasts one hour.)
- J'écoute le professeur pendant le cours. (I listen to the teacher during the lesson.)
Telling the time
Learning to tell time in French is essential for discussing your school timetable. French time expressions follow specific patterns that you need to master.
Basic time expressions
On the hour:
- Il est une heure. (It is one o'clock.)
- Il est trois heures. (It is three o'clock.)
Minutes past the hour:
- Il est cinq heures dix. (It is ten past five.)
- Il est six heures et quart. (It is quarter past six.)
- Il est huit heures et demie. (It is half past eight.)
Minutes to the hour:
- Il est onze heures moins dix. (It is ten to eleven - literally eleven hours minus ten.)
- Il est deux heures moins le quart. (It is quarter to two.)
Special time expressions
Midday and midnight:
- midi (midday)
- minuit (midnight)
Grammar Alert: The word demi has no -e after midi or minuit. For example: midi et demi (half past twelve in the afternoon). This is a common mistake in exams!
The 24-hour clock
French people commonly use the 24-hour clock system, especially in formal contexts like timetables and transport schedules. When using this system:
24-Hour Clock Rules:
- Don't use quart (quarter) or demie (half)
- Express minutes directly: treize heures quinze (13:15 - 1:15 pm), quinze heures trente (15:30 - 3:30 pm)
Getting to school
Being able to describe how you travel to school is a common topic in French conversation and writing tasks.
Transport methods
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Je vais au collège... | I go to school... |
| en bus | by bus |
| en car | by coach |
| à pied | on foot |
| en train | by train |
| à vélo | by bike |
| en voiture | by car |
Transport Phrases in Action:
- Je vais au collège en bus avec mes amis. (I go to school by bus with my friends.)
- Ma sœur va au collège à vélo. (My sister goes to school by bike.)
Practice and application
Translation exercises
Translation Practice:
French to English:
- On mange le déjeuner à midi et demi au collège.
- Mon emploi du temps commence à huit heures.
English to French:
- The library is open during the lunch break.
- I finish school at quarter past four.
Answers:
- We eat lunch at half past twelve at school.
- My timetable starts at eight o'clock.
- La bibliothèque est ouverte pendant la pause déjeuner.
- Je finis le collège à quatre heures et quart.
Exam Strategy: When listening to French time expressions in exams, pay careful attention to the exact times mentioned. For example, if someone says their lessons begin at huit heures vingt-cinq (8:25), don't confuse this with huit heures trente-cinq (8:35). Practice distinguishing between similar-sounding numbers and time expressions.
Important notes for success
Pronunciation Tip: When pronouncing heures, remember the 'h' is silent, so it sounds like 'ur'. The final 's' is also silent.
Cultural Insight: French schools often have longer lunch breaks than British schools, typically lasting 1-2 hours. This explains why lunch (déjeuner) is such an important part of the school day vocabulary.
Grammar Reminder: Remember that journée means 'day' (emphasising duration), not 'journey'. This is a common mistake in exams.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Time expressions follow specific patterns - practice il est + time regularly
- Transport phrases use different prepositions - en for vehicles, à for bike/foot
- 24-hour clock doesn't use quart or demie - express minutes directly
- School vocabulary includes both masculine and feminine nouns - learn the genders
- Listen carefully to time expressions in exams - small differences in pronunciation matter