Theme 5: International and global dimension
The 'Who am I?' thematic scope falls under the 'My personal world' thematic context. It focuses on enabling students to communicate about themselves, their family, friends, and relationships, as well as expressing their identity, likes, dislikes, and opinions.
Topic Overview
Theme 5: International and global dimension explores the role of French in the world and France's place in global affairs. You will study topics such as international organisations, global challenges like climate change and poverty, and the cultural and economic ties between French-speaking countries. This theme also covers the importance of learning French as a global language and how it can open up opportunities in travel, work, and diplomacy.
Understanding this theme is crucial because it connects your language skills to real-world issues and contexts. You will learn to discuss complex topics such as globalisation, environmental protection, and international cooperation, which are frequently featured in the speaking and writing exams. Mastering this theme will help you express opinions, justify arguments, and use a wider range of vocabulary and structures, boosting your overall grade.
This theme builds on earlier themes like 'Identity and culture' and 'Local area, holiday and travel' by expanding your perspective to a global scale. It also prepares you for the 'Translation into French' task, where you may need to convey ideas about international issues. By the end of this theme, you should be able to hold a conversation or write an essay about France's role in the world and global challenges, using appropriate tenses and complex sentences.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →International organisations: Know the names and roles of key bodies like l'ONU (UN), l'OMS (WHO), and l'UE (EU), and be able to discuss their work in French.
- →Global challenges: Be able to describe environmental issues (le réchauffement climatique, la pollution) and social issues (la pauvreté, les inégalités) using appropriate vocabulary and conditional structures.
- →Francophonie: Understand the concept of la Francophonie – the community of French-speaking countries – and its cultural and economic significance.
- →Globalisation: Discuss the pros and cons of globalisation, including its impact on culture, economy, and the environment, using phrases like 'd'un côté... de l'autre côté...'.
- →Volunteering and charity work: Learn vocabulary for international aid (l'aide humanitaire, les ONG) and be able to describe personal or hypothetical involvement using the conditional tense.
What You Need to Demonstrate
Key skills and knowledge for this topic
- Clear and comprehensible pronunciation
- Accurate use of vocabulary from the prescribed list
- Accurate application of grammatical structures
- Ability to convey and elicit information
- Ability to give and justify opinions
- Ability to refer to past, present, and future events
- Effective communication in formal and informal contexts
Marking Points
Key points examiners look for in your answers
- Clear and comprehensible pronunciation
- Accurate use of vocabulary from the prescribed list
- Accurate application of grammatical structures
- Ability to convey and elicit information
- Ability to give and justify opinions
- Ability to refer to past, present, and future events
- Effective communication in formal and informal contexts
Examiner Tips
Expert advice for maximising your marks
- 💡Use the 15 minutes preparation time effectively to annotate texts and make notes
- 💡Practice pronunciation of sound-symbol correspondences for the read aloud task
- 💡Ensure responses to picture tasks address the compulsory details: people, location, and activity
- 💡Use the prescribed vocabulary list as a foundation but do not feel limited by it in productive tasks
- 💡Familiarize yourself with the names of people used in assessments from Appendix 3
- 💡Use a range of tenses: In your speaking and writing, combine present, past (passé composé, imperfect), and future (simple future or 'aller + infinitive') when discussing global issues. For example, 'L'année dernière, il y a eu une conférence sur le climat. Maintenant, les gouvernements prennent des mesures. À l'avenir, nous devrons agir davantage.'
- 💡Incorporate opinion phrases: Examiners look for justified opinions. Use phrases like 'À mon avis', 'Je pense que', 'Il est essentiel de', and 'Je suis convaincu(e) que' to express your views clearly. Always follow with a reason or example.
- 💡Learn key statistics and facts: Mentioning specific data (e.g., '80% de la population mondiale vit dans des pays francophones?') can impress examiners. However, ensure accuracy – it's better to use general estimates like 'beaucoup de' or 'la plupart de' if unsure.
Common Mistakes
Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers
- Confusing unfamiliar names of people with necessary vocabulary
- Failure to address all bullet points in writing tasks
- Inaccurate use of gendered language or agreements
- Lack of development in responses to elicit higher marks
- Over-reliance on simple sentence structures
- Misconception: 'Globalisation only has negative effects.' Correction: While globalisation can lead to cultural homogenisation and environmental damage, it also promotes economic growth, cultural exchange, and access to technology. In your exam, you should present a balanced view.
- Misconception: 'France is the only French-speaking country.' Correction: French is an official language in 29 countries across multiple continents. You should be able to name a few, like le Canada (Québec), la Belgique, la Suisse, le Sénégal, and le Maroc.
- Misconception: 'The conditional tense is only for polite requests.' Correction: In this theme, the conditional is essential for expressing hypothetical situations, such as 'Si j'étais président, je réduirais la pollution' (If I were president, I would reduce pollution).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •Theme 1: Identity and culture – understanding how to talk about yourself, your family, and your daily life provides a foundation for discussing broader cultural and global topics.
- •Theme 2: Local area, holiday and travel – knowledge of describing places and travel experiences helps when discussing international tourism and cultural exchange.
- •Basic knowledge of the conditional tense – you should be familiar with forming and using the conditional (e.g., 'je voudrais', 'on pourrait') to discuss hypothetical global scenarios.
Study Guide Available
Comprehensive revision notes & examples
Likely Command Words
How questions on this topic are typically asked
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