Letters (Junior Cert French): Revision Notes
Letters
What is a short letter?
A short letter in French is an informal piece of writing to someone you know well, such as a friend, family member, or pen pal. These letters are personal and casual in tone, allowing you to share news, ask questions, and maintain relationships. In Junior Cycle French exams, you'll typically be asked to write a letter of 80-100 words covering specific topics like holidays, activities, or daily life.
The purpose of letter writing is to demonstrate your ability to communicate naturally in French using appropriate informal register, correct tenses, and relevant vocabulary.
Remember that French letters use an informal register (tutoiement), which means using "tu" instead of "vous" and casual expressions throughout. This reflects the personal nature of correspondence between people who know each other well.
Structure and guidelines
Your letter should follow a clear structure that French speakers recognise:
Essential Letter Structure:
Opening: Start with a greeting and address the person by name. Use "Cher" (for males) or "Chère" (for females) followed by the name, or simply "Salut" for a more casual approach.
Body: Include 2-3 short paragraphs covering the required topics. Ask how the person is doing early in the letter, share your news using different tenses, and respond to any questions from their previous letter.
Closing: End with an appropriate sign-off like "À bientôt" (see you soon) or "Bisous" (kisses), followed by your name.
Remember to keep the tone warm and friendly throughout, as this reflects the informal register expected in personal letters.
Vocabulary bank
| French | English |
|---|---|
| cher / chère | dear |
| salut / bonjour | hi / hello |
| merci pour ta lettre / tonne cadeau | thanks for your letter / your gift |
| j'espère que tu vas bien | I hope you are well |
| je t'écris pour... | I am writing to you to... |
| comment ça va ? | how are you? |
| je vais bien / ça va bien | I am well / things are going well |
| je suis à... / je reste chez... | I am in... / staying at... |
| hier / aujourd'hui / demain | yesterday / today / tomorrow |
| je suis allé(e) / je vais aller | I went / I am going |
| j'ai visité / j'ai vu | I visited / I saw |
| il fait beau / chaud / froid | the weather is nice / hot / cold |
| à bientôt / amitiés / bisous | see you soon / best wishes / kisses |
| réponds-moi vite ! | write back soon! |
Phrase bank
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Cher Paul, merci pour ta lettre | Dear Paul, thanks for your letter |
| J'espère que tu vas bien et que ta famille va bien aussi | I hope you are well and that your family is well too |
| Je t'écris pour te raconter mes vacances | I am writing to tell you about my holidays |
| Hier, j'ai visité un musée intéressant avec ma classe | Yesterday, I visited an interesting museum with my class |
| Aujourd'hui, il fait très chaud et nous allons à la plage | Today, it's very hot and we're going to the beach |
| Demain, nous allons faire une excursion en montagne | Tomorrow, we are going on a trip to the mountains |
| Donne-moi de tes nouvelles bientôt ! | Give me your news soon! |
| À bientôt, grosses bises | See you soon, big hugs |
Worked Example: Complete Short Letter
Chère Marie,
Merci pour ta lettre ! J'espère que tu vas bien. Je t'écris de Londres où je passe mes vacances avec ma famille. Hier, nous avons visité Big Ben et c'était fantastique. Aujourd'hui, il fait beau et nous allons faire du shopping à Oxford Street. Demain, nous rentrons à Dublin.
Comment vont tes vacances en Espagne ? Envoie-moi des photos !
À bientôt, Bisous, Sarah
Word count: 68 words
Common subjects in short letters
Typical Topics for French Letters:
When writing letters, you'll often need to cover these typical topics:
- Greetings and thanks: Always acknowledge their previous letter or gift
- Holiday descriptions: Share where you've been and what you've done
- Activities: Describe past, present, or future plans using appropriate tenses
- Weather and location: Mention where you are and what the weather is like
- Friends and family: Ask about their loved ones and share news about yours
- Closing greetings and sign-off: End appropriately with warm wishes
False friends and common confusions
Watch Out for These Common Mistakes:
Be careful with these commonly confused words that can cause problems in your writing:
lettre (letter/correspondence) ≠ letter in the alphabet sense - use "lettre de l'alphabet"
carte (card/postcard) ≠ map - unless the context is clear, specify "carte postale" for postcard
jour (day) vs journée (whole day/all day) - "jour" is the calendar day, "journée" emphasises duration
actuellement (currently) ≠ actually - this means "right now," not "in fact"
salut (hi/bye) - the meaning depends on context, but in letters it's typically a greeting
Remember that letters are informal, so using casual expressions like "bisous" or "à bientôt" with friends is perfectly appropriate and expected.
Strategies and tips
Getting started: Begin with a greeting and express thanks if responding to their letter. This creates a natural, polite opening that French speakers expect.
Show interest: Always ask how the person is doing early in your letter. This demonstrates good French social etiquette and provides natural conversation flow.
Use varied tenses: Include past, present, and future tenses to show your range. For example, describe what you did yesterday, what you're doing today, and your plans for tomorrow.
Express opinions: Include at least one personal opinion using phrases like "c'était génial" (it was great) or "je pense que..." (I think that...). This shows you can express personal views in French.
Keep it simple: Write short, clear sentences rather than attempting complex structures. This reduces errors and improves clarity.
End appropriately: Finish with a suitable closing phrase and ask them to write back. This maintains the personal connection that letters are meant to create.
Common Student Errors to Avoid:
- Using formal register when informal is required
- Forgetting to ask how the recipient is doing
- Missing accents on common words like "à," "où," and "préféré"
- Incorrect word order, especially with time expressions
- Mixing up masculine and feminine forms of adjectives
Key Points to Remember:
- Start every letter with a greeting and thanks - it shows good French manners
- Ask "comment ça va?" early in your letter to demonstrate natural conversation skills
- Use past, present, and future tenses to show your grammatical range
- Keep sentences short and clear to avoid unnecessary mistakes
- End with warm closing words like "bisous" or "à bientôt" - informal letters should feel friendly and personal