Writing Practice - Informal Open-Response: Media and Technology

Your turn to write

In the exam you write a short informal response about media and technology - to a French-speaking friend, not a teacher. This module builds that skill. The golden rule of an informal answer: write to "tu", keep the tone relaxed, and always back up an opinion with a reason - parce que (because). Get the register and the reasons right, and the marks follow.

Media and tech words

Here is a core set for this topic. You will reuse them in your writing at the end.

What télécharger means in French

What does the French verb "télécharger" mean?

• To download
• To telephone
• To watch television
• To charge a battery

Match French to English

Informal or formal?

An open-response to a friend is informal. Getting the register right is worth real marks - here is the difference.

Which is informal?

You are writing to a French friend. Which is the correct informal way to ask "do you like online games?"

• Tu aimes les jeux en ligne?
• Vous aimez les jeux en ligne?
• Ils aiment les jeux en ligne?
• J'aime les jeux en ligne?

Say what you usually do

Most of an informal answer is about your habits - what you usually do online - so you write in the present tense. Regular -er verbs follow one pattern: je regarde (I watch), tu regardes (you watch), nous jouons (we play), vous téléchargez (you download). Learn the endings -e, -es, -ons, -ez and you can describe anyone's online routine.

Present-tense endings

Le week-end, je _____ des films, tu _____ de la musique, nous _____ en ligne, et vous _____ des jeux.

Talk about what changed

To impress, describe a changed habit with a negative. ne... plus means "not anymore": "Je ne regarde plus la télé" - I don't watch TV anymore. At Higher, ne... que means "only": "Je ne joue qu'en ligne" - I only play online. Wrap the verb in the two parts and your writing jumps a grade.

What makes a strong answer?

Select the TWO things that lift an informal open-response to a higher mark.

• Giving an opinion AND a reason with parce que
• Using connectives like et, mais and aussi to join ideas
• Writing some sentences in English to be safe
• Using "vous" to sound polite to your friend

Build your answer

Put the parts of a strong informal answer into a sensible order.

• Open with a friendly line, using tu
• Give your opinion on the topic, with parce que
• Add detail about what you usually do online (present tense)
• Mention a habit that has changed, using ne... plus
• Close by asking your friend a question

Choose your words

Three moments in your answer. Choose the best French each time.

• You want to say you love downloading music, informally and with a reason.
• You want to say you do not watch TV anymore.
• You want to end by asking your friend about their habits.

Ecris! (1)

Write about 40 words in French, to a friend, about the technology you use. Keep it informal - use tu if you ask a question.

• Say what you like doing online, with a reason (parce que)
• Use the present tense for what you usually do (je regarde, je joue...)
• Include at least one media word from this module (le jeu, la chanson, télécharger...)
• End by asking your friend a question, using tu

Ecris! (2)

Write about 40 words describing how your technology habits have changed. Use a negative such as ne... plus.

• Say one thing you used to do but do not do anymore (ne... plus)
• Give an opinion with a reason (parce que)
• Use connectives (et, mais, aussi) to join your ideas
• Keep the register informal throughout (tu, relaxed tone)