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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Un problème écologique : Extended writing and speaking, photo description

I can exploit texts and photos to create extended spoken and written responses about ongoing environmental issues using a range of complex structures.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
AQA

Un problème écologique : Extended writing and speaking, photo description

I can exploit texts and photos to create extended spoken and written responses about ongoing environmental issues using a range of complex structures.

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. Infinitives used as nouns, en train de and venir de can be combined in discussion about issues such as climate change.
  2. Care must be taken when translating infinitives as nouns, venir de and en train de into English.
  3. Reading texts can be exploited to enrich our vocabulary on challenging and current issues.
  4. Immediate repetition of a speaking task, with reduced support, improves performance.

Keywords

  • Infinitive - form of the verb giving its general meaning, with no subject or tense

  • Gerund - verb in English ending in -ing which functions as a noun

Common misconception

All similar looking French and English words have the same meaning.

Often, French words have multiple meanings and it is important to choose the right one for the given context e.g. 'durable' means durable and sustainable.

For the final speaking task, you may wish to guide students individually as to how much support they can have in front of them when they present.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

Mini whiteboard and pen; (ideally) facilities for voice recording.

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word best fits the gap in this sentence? Il fait plus en juillet qu'en février.
titre
mort
Correct answer: chaud
froid
Q2.
Where do object pronouns go in a sentence in French?
Correct answer: before the verb
after the verb
before the noun
after the noun
Q3.
Match the French and English object pronouns.
Correct Answer:me,me, to me
tick

me, to me

Correct Answer:te,you, to you
tick

you, to you

Correct Answer:le,him, it
tick

him, it

Correct Answer:la,her, it
tick

her, it

Correct Answer:lui,to him, to her, to it
tick

to him, to her, to it

Correct Answer:les,them
tick

them

Q4.
Put the words in order to translate: My brother, I often give him money.
1 - mon
2 - frère
3 - je
4 - lui
5 - donne
6 - souvent
7 - de l'argent
Q5.
How are infinitives used as nouns at the start of a sentence translated to English?
With the word 'to' in front of them e.g. 'trouver' - to find.
In their conjugated form e.g. 'trouve' - find or finds.
Correct answer: In their gerund form e.g. 'trouver' - finding
In their past participle form e.g. 'trouver' - found.
Q6.
Which word best fts the gap in this sentence? ' l'émission de gaz polluants peut arrêter le réchauffement de la terre.' Reducing the emission of polluting gases can stop global warming.
réduction
réduit
réduisons
Correct answer: réduire

6 Questions

Q1.
Which is the best translation of 'durables' in this sentence? 'Trouver des solutions durables est essentiel.'
Correct Answer: sustainable
Q2.
Which phrase means to have just done?
être en train de faire
Correct answer: venir de faire
avoir faim
faire attention à
Q3.
Which form should the verb 'found' be in when using 'venir de' to say 'I have just found ten euros'?
Correct Answer: infinitive, trouver
Q4.
Which form should the verb 'looking' be in when using 'être en train de' to say 'I am in the process of looking for a solution'?
Correct Answer: infinitive, chercher
Q5.
Order the words correctly to translate the sentence: We are in the process of winning the fight.
1 - nous
2 - sommes
3 - en
4 - train
5 - de
6 - gagner
7 - la lutte
Q6.
Order the words correctly to translate this sentence: Brazil has just reduced the number of trees cut down.
1 - le Brésil
2 - vient
3 - de
4 - réduire
5 - le nombre
6 - d'arbres
7 - coupés

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