Speaking Practice - Picture Task and Conversation: Studying and My Future
Get ready for the speaking exam on studying and the future. Build the vocabulary, master the near future tense (aller + infinitive), and practise structuring a picture-task answer in French.
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Ready to speak 📸
In the speaking exam you describe a **picture** and hold a **conversation**. This module prepares you for the theme **Studying and My Future** (les études et l'avenir). You will build the key vocabulary, master the **near future** tense for talking about your plans, and practise structuring a good spoken answer. Everything here is in real French - accents and all - because in speaking and writing the accents matter.
The words you need 📚
Learn these with their articles - the gender matters.
Match the French to the English 🔗
- les devoirs
- le lycée
- le métier
- décider
- homework
- sixth-form college
- a job or profession
- to decide
What does it mean? 🎓
What does "Je vais étudier à l'université" mean?
- I am going to study at university
- I studied at university yesterday
- I would like to leave university
- I never go to university
Talking about the future 🔮
The easiest way to talk about plans is the **near future** (le futur proche): **aller (conjugated) + an infinitive**: je **vais** étudier (I am going to study), tu **vas** travailler, nous **allons** voyager. At Higher tier you can also use the **future simple** (j'étudierai = I will study) and the **conditional** (je voudrais = I would like) for aspirations. Now practise the near future.
Complete the plan ✏️
Après le _____, je vais étudier les _____ que j'aime. À l'_____, je _____ devenir professeur. Mon amie va faire un _____.
Two ways to say the future 🆚
Both talk about what will happen, but the near future is simpler and enough for a strong answer.
Which use the near future? ✅
Select the TWO sentences that use the near future (aller + infinitive).
- Je vais travailler en France
- Nous allons voyager cet été
- J'étudierai les mathématiques
- Je voudrais être médecin
Match each phrase to its meaning 🗣️
- Je vais étudier
- Je voudrais voyager
- Après le lycée
- À l'avenir
- I am going to study
- I would like to travel
- After sixth form
- In the future
Build a strong answer 🪜
An interactive activity.
Describing the photo 💬
In the picture task, what does "Dans l'image, il y a..." mean?
- In the picture, there is...
- In the future, I will...
- In my opinion, I think...
- Yesterday, there was...
Hold the conversation 🧭
An interactive activity.
Your turn: prepare an answer ✍️
An interactive activity.
The grade-9 habit 🌟
Top speaking answers do three things. First, they **get the accents and genders right** - étudier, le lycée, les matières, l'avenir - because accuracy is marked. Second, they **use the near future confidently** (je vais + infinitive) and, at Higher tier, reach for the future simple or conditional to describe ambitions. Third, they **develop every answer**: describe, give an opinion with a reason (parce que...), and link it to yourself and your future - never a bare one-word reply.