Question 1

How do I talk about my family in French for the GCSE speaking exam?

Accepted Answer

Start by introducing your family members using 'Dans ma famille, il y a...' and describe them with adjectives (e.g., 'mon père est grand et patient'). Use possessive adjectives (mon, ma, mes) correctly. To get higher marks, add opinions (e.g., 'Je m'entends bien avec ma sœur parce qu'elle est drôle') and use different tenses (e.g., 'Quand j'étais petit, je jouais souvent avec mon frère').

Question 2

What are the key differences between French and British customs I should know for the exam?

Accepted Answer

Focus on festivals like Noël (Christmas) and Pâques (Easter) in France vs. UK. For example, in France, children leave shoes by the fireplace for Père Noël, not stockings. Also, La Fête Nationale (14 July) is like our Bonfire Night but with military parades. Use comparatives: 'En France, on fête Noël le 25 décembre, mais on mange souvent de la bûche de Noël, alors qu'au Royaume-Uni, on mange de la dinde.'

Question 3

How can I remember the gender of French nouns for describing people?

Accepted Answer

Learn nouns with their article (le/la) from the start. For people, the gender often matches the person's gender (e.g., le père, la mère). For professions, many have masculine and feminine forms (e.g., un acteur/une actrice). Use memory tricks: words ending in -tion, -sion, -té are usually feminine; words ending in -age, -ment are usually masculine. Practice with flashcards.

Question 4

What tenses do I need to use for Theme 1 in the writing exam?

Accepted Answer

You should use at least three tenses: present (e.g., je fais), perfect/past (e.g., j'ai fait), and future (e.g., je vais faire or je ferai). For higher marks, also use the imperfect (e.g., je faisais) to describe past habits or background. Example: 'Normalement, je joue au foot le samedi. La semaine dernière, j'ai joué un match important. À l'avenir, je vais m'entraîner plus souvent.'

Question 5

How do I express my opinion about technology in French?

Accepted Answer

Use phrases like 'À mon avis', 'Je pense que', 'Je trouve que'. For example: 'À mon avis, les réseaux sociaux sont utiles pour rester en contact, mais ils peuvent aussi être une perte de temps.' Justify with reasons (parce que, car) and add a contrasting point (cependant, par contre). Use vocabulary like 'les avantages' and 'les inconvénients'.

Theme 1: Identity and culture

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in EDEXCEL GCSE French

Ambitions

Bringing the world together

Cultural life

Daily life

How to Revise Theme 1: Identity and culture — Edexcel GCSE French

Examiner Tips for Theme 1: Identity and culture

Common Mistakes in Theme 1: Identity and culture

Key Marking Points