Study Notes
Overview
This guide covers the AQA GCSE French topic of 'Technology in everyday life' (La technologie dans la vie quotidienne). This is a core part of Theme 1 and is a favourite for examiners because it tests a wide range of vocabulary and grammatical structures in a modern context. Candidates are expected to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of social media, mobile technology, and the internet. To gain full marks, you must demonstrate the ability to use three time frames (past, present, and future), justify your opinions with sophisticated language, and show a firm grasp of topic-specific vocabulary. This guide will break down these key areas, providing you with the tools to confidently tackle any question on this topic.
Key Vocabulary & Concepts
Mastering vocabulary is essential. Examiners award credit for using a wide range of topic-specific words and phrases. Below is a breakdown of essential terms.
Devices & Actions (Les Appareils et Les Actions)
| French Term | English Translation | Gender | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le portable | Mobile phone | Masculine | J'utilise mon portable tous les jours. |
| L'ordinateur (m) | Computer | Masculine | Mon ordinateur est essentiel pour mes devoirs. |
| La tablette | Tablet | Feminine | Ma tablette est plus grande que mon portable. |
| Les réseaux sociaux | Social media | Masculine (plural) | Je passe trop de temps sur les réseaux sociaux. |
| Télécharger | To download | N/A | Hier, j'ai téléchargé une nouvelle application. |
| Envoyer un texto | To send a text | N/A | Je vais envoyer un texto à mon ami. |
| Partager | To share | N/A | J'aime partager des photos avec ma famille. |
Opinions: Advantages & Disadvantages
Examiners look for balanced arguments. You must be able to discuss both the positive and negative aspects of technology.
Advantages (Les Avantages):
- Pratique: Practical/Convenient
- Indispensable: Essential
- Utile: Useful
- Rester en contact: To stay in touch
- Se tenir au courant: To keep up to date
Disadvantages (Les Inconvénients):
- Le cyberharcèlement: Cyberbullying
- Nocif / Nocive: Harmful
- Dangereux / Dangereuse: Dangerous
- Accro: Addicted
- Une perte de temps: A waste of time
Key Grammatical Structures
Using a variety of grammatical structures is crucial for reaching the top mark bands. This includes manipulating tenses and using complex sentences.
Using Three Time Frames
To get top marks in the 150-word writing task, you MUST use past, present, and future tenses.
- Past (Passé): Use the imperfect for habits ('Quand j'étais jeune, j'utilisais...') and the perfect tense for specific actions ('Hier, j'ai utilisé...').
- Present (Présent): Describe your current habits ('Normalement, j'utilise...').
- Future (Futur): Use the near future ('Je vais utiliser...') or the simple future ('J'utiliserai...') to talk about your future intentions.
Justifying Opinions
Simple opinions are not enough. You must justify them using sophisticated structures.
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