School and work (Edexcel GCSE French): Revision Notes
School and work vocabulary
This revision note covers essential French vocabulary for discussing school life, education, and work. These terms are crucial for your GCSE French exam, particularly in speaking and writing tasks about your school experience and future career plans.
School subjects and activities
Understanding how to discuss what you study and do at school is fundamental for GCSE French. These terms will help you describe your academic life and interests, and are frequently tested in both oral and written examinations.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| les maths (fpl) | maths |
| la science (f) | science |
| l'art (m) | art |
| l'éducation (f) | education |
| la lecture (f) | reading |
| l'activité (f) | activity |
| apprendre | to learn |
| étudier | to study |
| l'examen (m) | exam, test |
| la formation (f) | training, apprenticeship |
Worked Example: Using School Subject Vocabulary
- J'étudie les maths et la science au lycée. (I study maths and science at sixth form college.)
- Mon activité préférée est l'art. (My favourite activity is art.)
- Je dois apprendre le vocabulaire pour l'examen. (I must learn the vocabulary for the exam.)
Notice how gender markers (m), (f), and (fpl) are crucial for using these words correctly in sentences. Always learn vocabulary with its gender to avoid common mistakes in your exam.
School places and people
These vocabulary terms help you describe the school environment and the people you interact with daily. They're essential for describing your school experience and are commonly used in GCSE speaking assessments.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la classe (f) | classroom, class |
| le collège (m) | secondary school |
| le lycée (m) | sixth form, college |
| l'école (f) | school |
| l'élève (mf) | pupil, student |
| le professeur (m) | professor, teacher |
| le directeur (m) / la directrice (f) | headteacher |
| l'étudiant (m) | student (university) |
| le bureau (m) | office, desk |
| l'uniforme (m) | uniform |
Worked Example: Describing School Environment
- Ma classe est très moderne avec des ordinateurs portables. (My classroom is very modern with laptops.)
- Le directeur organise une réunion avec les professeurs. (The headteacher is organising a meeting with the teachers.)
- Les élèves portent un uniforme bleu et blanc. (The pupils wear a blue and white uniform.)
Pay special attention to words that have both masculine and feminine forms like le directeur/la directrice. This pattern appears frequently in job-related vocabulary.
Work and careers
Career vocabulary is vital for discussing your future plans and work experience. These terms appear frequently in GCSE speaking assessments about future aspirations and are essential for achieving higher grades.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le travail (m) | work |
| travailler | to work |
| l'emploi (m) | job, employment |
| la carrière (f) | career |
| le patron (m) / la patronne (f) | boss |
| l'employé (m) | employee, worker |
| le métier (m) | job |
| professionnel (m) / professionnelle (f) | professional |
| l'argent (m) | money |
| le salaire (m) | salary |
Worked Example: Discussing Career Plans
- Je veux travailler dans l'enseignement après mes études. (I want to work in teaching after my studies.)
- Mon père a une carrière très réussie comme directeur. (My father has a very successful career as a manager.)
- Elle cherche un emploi du temps flexible. (She's looking for flexible working hours.)
Skills and personal qualities
Describing your abilities and characteristics is important for discussing your suitability for different subjects or career paths. These descriptive terms help you express opinions and make evaluations in your exam responses.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la compétence (f) | competence, skill, ability |
| le comportement (m) | behaviour |
| l'attitude (f) | attitude |
| l'effort (m) | effort |
| fort | strong, loud, good at |
| faible | weak |
| sévère | severe, strict, harsh |
| stressé | stressed |
| disponible | available |
| l'intention (f) | intention |
Worked Example: Describing Personal Qualities
- J'ai une bonne attitude envers mes études. (I have a good attitude towards my studies.)
- Il faut faire un effort pour réussir en maths. (You must make an effort to succeed in maths.)
- Le professeur est sévère mais juste. (The teacher is strict but fair.)
Practice exercise
Test your understanding with these translation exercises. Show all your working and check your answers carefully.
Translate these sentences from English to French:
- I study science and maths at secondary school.
- The headteacher is very strict but helpful.
Translate these sentences from French to English: 3. Je veux travailler comme professeur dans le futur. 4. Mon attitude envers le travail est très positive.
Answers:
- J'étudie la science et les maths au collège.
- Le directeur/La directrice est très sévère mais serviable.
- I want to work as a teacher in the future.
- My attitude towards work is very positive.
Key Learning Strategies:
- Group similar words together - learn school subjects as a group, then school people, then work vocabulary
- Look for cognates - words like 'science', 'art', and 'attitude' are very similar in both languages
- Practice gender patterns - notice that many job titles have masculine and feminine forms
- Use the vocabulary in context - always try to use new words in complete sentences rather than learning them in isolation
Essential Points to Remember:
- School vocabulary covers subjects, places, people, and activities within educational settings
- Work vocabulary includes job types, workplace relationships, and career-related terms
- Many job titles have both masculine and feminine forms (e.g., le directeur/la directrice)
- Personal qualities vocabulary helps you discuss your suitability for different subjects or careers
- Practice using these words in complete sentences to prepare for speaking and writing assessments