Reading and Translation: Education and Work
Read a short French text about school and future work, check you understand it, and practise translating key sentences into English.
Practise it before the paper, not after
Free, interactive practice on the words and structures the examiner keeps asking for.
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A text about school and work
Read this short French text about Marie. Voici Marie. Elle est élève dans un collège. Sa matière préférée est la géographie. Elle fait ses devoirs chaque soir. Dans le futur, elle va aller à la faculté et travailler dans une grande entreprise. Now work through the activities to check you understand it and to practise translating it.
Pupil, subject, homework, company
Learn these four words before you read. Each French word is shown with its English meaning.
School or work?
It helps to sort the words into school and work.
Translation tip
When you translate, read the whole sentence first for the general meaning, then check the details. Translate whole phrases rather than single words so the English sounds natural. Watch small words like ses, which means her or his.
Match the word
- élève
- collège
- matière
- devoirs
- A pupil
- A school
- A subject
- Homework
Match more words
- géographie
- faculté
- entreprise
- travailler
- Geography
- University
- A company
- To work
Understand the text
In the text, what is the favourite subject of Marie?
- Geography.
- History.
- Maths.
- Science.
Spot the school words
Select the TWO French words that are about school.
- élève
- devoirs
- entreprise
- travailler
Build a sentence
Order these French words to say she does her homework.
- elle
- fait
- ses
- devoirs
Complete the translations
In French, a pupil is an _____ and a school subject is a _____. The word for homework is _____. To say to work you use _____, and a company is an _____.
French keeps the article English drops
Reading is easier once you can build the sentences yourself. French keeps articles English drops, and a grade-9 answer never stops at the opinion: - Je suis élève dans un collège = "I am a pupil at a school". je suis is "I am". French uses un before collège where English would say "a school" - the article is part of the pattern. - J'aime les matières parce que c'est intéressant = "I like the subjects because it is interesting". j'aime is "I like". French needs les in front of matières where English drops it, and parce que then joins the reason.
Attach a reason, in French
A grade-9 answer attaches a reason to the opinion. Which of these does that?
- J'aime les matières parce que c'est intéressant
- J'aime les matières
- J'aime matières parce que c'est intéressant
- Je suis élève dans un collège
Spot the school words
Tap the TWO French words about school.
- élève
- entreprise
- devoirs
- travailler
- faculté
Choose the translation
For each French sentence, choose the correct English translation.
- Elle fait ses devoirs.
- Sa matière préférée est la géographie.
- Elle va travailler dans une entreprise.
Translate the text
Translate these two French sentences into English: Elle est élève dans un collège. Dans le futur, elle va travailler dans une entreprise.
- Translate the first sentence
- Translate the second sentence
- Check that your English sounds natural