Opinions (Junior Cert French): Revision Notes
Opinions
What are opinion texts?
Opinion texts in French are passages where writers express their personal views, beliefs, or judgements about various topics. These reading comprehension tasks require you to identify what someone thinks about a subject, whether they agree or disagree with something, and how strongly they feel about it. You'll encounter these texts in your Junior Cycle French exam, and they typically cover everyday topics that teenagers can relate to
Vocabulary bank
| French | English |
|---|---|
| à mon avis / selon moi | in my opinion / according to me |
| je pense que / je crois que | I think that / I believe that |
| je suis d'accord / je ne suis pas d'accord | I agree / I don't agree |
| j'aime / je n'aime pas | I like / I don't like |
| c'est utile / inutile | it's useful / useless |
| c'est important / essentiel | it's important / essential |
| passionnant / ennuyeux | exciting / boring |
| génial / nul | great / rubbish |
| un sondage / une enquête | a survey / a poll |
| l'école / le sport / la technologie | school / sport / technology |
| un avantage / un inconvénient | an advantage / a disadvantage |
| trop de / pas assez de | too much / not enough |
| souvent / rarement | often / rarely |
| toujours / parfois / jamais | always / sometimes / never |
Study Tip: Learn these opinion markers by heart - they're your signposts to understanding French viewpoints. Try creating flashcards or practising with these phrases daily.
Phrase bank
| French | English |
|---|---|
| À mon avis, l'école est trop stressante. | In my opinion, school is too stressful. |
| Je pense que le sport est essentiel pour la santé. | I think that sport is essential for health. |
| Je suis d'accord avec toi, la technologie est très utile. | I agree with you, technology is very useful. |
| Je n'aime pas du tout les devoirs, c'est ennuyeux. | I really don't like homework, it's boring. |
| C'est génial ! | It's great! |
| C'est complètement nul ! | It's completely rubbish! |
| Il y a trop de pression. | There's too much pressure. |
| Ce n'est pas assez intéressant. | It's not interesting enough. |
Practice Example: Identifying Opinions
Read this sentence: "À mon avis, les réseaux sociaux sont à la fois utiles et dangereux."
Step 1: Spot the opinion marker - "À mon avis" (in my opinion) Step 2: Identify the topic - "les réseaux sociaux" (social media) Step 3: Find the judgement - "utiles et dangereux" (useful and dangerous) Step 4: Conclusion - This person has a mixed opinion about social media
Common topics in opinion texts
When preparing for opinion-based reading tasks, expect to encounter these popular themes:
School life: Students often express views about exams, homework, stress, teachers, and different school subjects. Writers might discuss whether they find certain subjects useful or boring.
Sport and health: Texts frequently explore opinions about the importance of physical activity, team sports versus individual sports, and the connection between exercise and wellbeing.
Technology: Young people commonly share their thoughts about phones, social media, gaming, and internet use. Writers might discuss advantages and disadvantages of digital technology.
Lifestyle choices: Opinion texts often cover topics like free time activities, family life, fashion trends, and music preferences.
These topics reflect issues that matter to teenagers, making them perfect for Junior Cycle French exams. Familiarising yourself with related vocabulary in each area will give you a significant advantage.
Types of questions you might encounter
Exam questions about opinion texts typically ask you to:
- Identify what the writer's opinion is about a specific topic
- Determine whether they agree or disagree with a particular statement
- Explain what advantages or disadvantages are mentioned
- Find examples or reasons that support their viewpoint
- Decide if the opinion expressed is positive, negative, or mixed
Question Pattern Recognition: Most opinion questions follow predictable patterns. Practice identifying these question types in past papers to develop your recognition skills.
False friends and common confusions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Be particularly careful with these tricky words that can catch you out:
Actuellement means "currently", not "actually" (which would be "en fait" in French)
Sujet means "topic", not just "school subject" (which is "matière")
Collège refers to secondary school for ages 11-15, not college/university (which is "la fac")
Sensible means "sensitive", not "sensible/reasonable" (which is "raisonnable")
Grand can mean "big/tall" or "great/impressive/important" depending on context
Important note about tone: When a student says "c'est nul", this means "it's rubbish", not "it's nothing" - always pay attention to the emotional tone of opinion words.
Strategies and tips
Look for opinion markers: Underline phrases like "je pense que" and "à mon avis" as these clearly signal that an opinion is being expressed.
Focus on descriptive adjectives: Words like "utile", "ennuyeux", and "passionnant" reveal the writer's attitude towards the topic, so they're crucial for understanding the overall opinion.
Reading Strategy: Create a mental checklist as you read - opinion markers, topic identification, positive/negative adjectives, and supporting reasons. This systematic approach improves comprehension accuracy.
Notice advantages versus disadvantages: Opinion texts often present both sides of an argument, so watch for words like "avantage" and "inconvénient" to understand the full picture.
Pay attention to intensifiers: Words like "trop", "très", and "pas du tout" help you judge how strongly someone feels about something.
Consider the context: Think about whether the topic relates to school, sport, or technology, as this guides you towards the relevant vocabulary you should expect.
Distinguish facts from opinions: Remember that facts describe what is true, while opinions express what someone thinks or feels about those facts.
Key Points to Remember:
- Opinion texts ask you to understand what someone thinks or feels, not just what happened
- Key opinion phrases like "à mon avis" and "je pense que" are your signposts to important information
- Descriptive adjectives reveal whether someone's opinion is positive or negative
- Watch out for false friends like "actuellement" which don't mean what they appear to mean in English
- Context clues about the topic (school, sport, technology) help you predict relevant vocabulary