write an essay in french about your perfect day

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

How to Write an Essay in French

Have something to say?

When it comes to expressing your thoughts in French , there’s nothing better than the essay.

It is, after all, the favorite form of such famed French thinkers as Montaigne, Chateaubriand, Houellebecq and Simone de Beauvoir.

In this post, I’ve outlined the four most common types of essays in French, ranked from easiest to most difficult, to help you get to know this concept better. 

Why Are French Essays Different?

Must-have french phrases for writing essays, 4 types of french essays and how to write them, 1. text summary (synthèse de texte).

• 2. Text Commentary (Commentaire de texte)

3. Dialectic Dissertation (Thèse, Antithèse, Synthèse)

• 4. Progressive Dissertation (Plan progressif)

And one more thing...

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Writing an essay in French is not the same as those typical 5-paragraph essays you’ve probably written in English.

In fact, there’s a whole other logic that has to be used to ensure that your essay meets French format standards and structure. It’s not merely writing your ideas in another language .

And that’s because the French use Cartesian logic (also known as Cartesian doubt) , developed by René Descartes , which requires a writer to begin with what is known and then lead the reader through to the logical conclusion: a paragraph that contains the thesis. Through the essay, the writer will reject all that is not certain or all that is subjective in his or her quest to find the objective truth.

Sound intriguing? Read on for more!

Before we get to the four main types of essays, here are a few French phrases that will be especially helpful as you delve into essay-writing in French:

Introductory phrases , which help you present new ideas.

Connecting phrases , which help you connect ideas and sections.

Contrasting phrases , which help you juxtapose two ideas.

Concluding phrases , which help you to introduce your conclusion.

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Try FluentU for FREE!

The text summary or synthèse de texte  is one of the easiest French writing exercises to get a handle on. It essentially involves reading a text and then summarizing it in an established number of words, while repeating no phrases that are in the original text. No analysis is called for.

A  synthèse de texte  should follow the same format as the text that is being synthesized. The arguments should be presented in the same way, and no major element of the original text should be left out of the  synthèse.

Here is an informative post about writing a synthèse de texte , written for French speakers. 

The text summary is a great exercise for exploring the following French language elements:

• Synonyms , as you will need to find other words to describe what is said in the original text.
• Nominalization , which involves turning verbs into nouns and generally cuts down on word count.
• Vocabulary , as the knowledge of more exact terms will allow you to avoid periphrases and cut down on word count.

While beginners may wish to work with only one text, advanced learners can synthesize as many as three texts in one text summary. 

Since a text summary is simple in its essence, it’s a great writing exercise that can accompany you through your entire learning process.

2. Text Commentary  (Commentaire de texte)

A text commentary or commentaire de texte   is the first writing exercise where the student is asked to present an analysis of the materials at hand, not just a summary.

That said, a  commentaire  de texte  is not a reaction piece. It involves a very delicate balance of summary and opinion, the latter of which must be presented as impersonally as possible. This can be done either by using the third person (on) or the general first person plural (nous) . The singular first person (je) should never be used in a  commentaire de texte.

A commentaire de texte  should be written in three parts:

• An introduction , where the text is presented.
• An argument , where the text is analyzed.
• A conclusion , where the analysis is summarized and elevated.

Here is a handy in-depth guide to writing a successful commentaire de texte,  written for French speakers.

Unlike with the synthesis, you will not be able to address all elements of a text in a commentary. You should not summarize the text in a commentary, at least not for the sake of summarizing. Every element of the text that you speak about in your commentary must be analyzed.

To successfully analyze a text, you will need to brush up on your figurative language. Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Here’s an introduction to figurative language in French.
• This guide to figurative language  presents the different elements in useful categories.
• This guide , intended for high school students preparing for the BAC—the exam all French high school students take, which they’re required to pass to go to university—is great for seeing examples of how to integrate figurative language into your commentaries.
• Speaking of which, here’s an example of a corrected commentary from the BAC, which will help you not only include figurative language but get a head start on writing your own commentaries.

The French answer to the 5-paragraph essay is known as the  dissertation .  Like the American 5-paragraph essay, it has an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. The stream of logic, however, is distinct.

There are actually two kinds of  dissertation,  each of which has its own rules.

The first form of  dissertation  is the dialectic dissertation , better known as  thèse, antithèse, synthèse . In this form, there are actually only two body paragraphs. After the introduction, a thesis is posited. Following the thesis, its opposite, the antithesis, is explored (and hopefully, debunked). The final paragraph, what we know as the conclusion, is the  synthesis , which addresses the strengths of the thesis, the strengths and weaknesses of the antithesis, and concludes with the reasons why the original thesis is correct.

For example, imagine that the question was, “Are computers useful to the development of the human brain?” You could begin with a section showing the ways in which computers are useful for the progression of our common intelligence—doing long calculations, creating in-depth models, etc.

Then you would delve into the problems that computers pose to human intelligence, citing examples of the ways in which spelling proficiency has decreased since the invention of spell check, for example. Finally, you would synthesize this information and conclude that the “pro” outweighs the “con.”

The key to success with this format is developing an outline before writing. The thesis must be established, with examples, and the antithesis must be supported as well. When all of the information has been organized in the outline, the writing can begin, supported by the tools you have learned from your mastery of the synthesis and commentary.

Here are a few tools to help you get writing:

• Here’s a great guide to writing a dialectic dissertation .
• Here’s an example of a plan for a dialectic dissertation , showing you the three parts of the essay as well as things to consider when writing a dialectic dissertation.

4. Progressive Dissertation ( Plan progressif)

The progressive dissertation is slightly less common, but no less useful, than the first form.

The progressive form basically consists of examining an idea via multiple points of view—a sort of deepening of the understanding of the notion, starting with a superficial perspective and ending with a deep and profound analysis.

If the dialectic dissertation is like a scale, weighing pros and cons of an idea, the progressive dissertation is like peeling an onion, uncovering more and more layers as you get to the deeper crux of the idea.

Concretely, this means that you will generally follow this layout:

• A first, elementary exploration of the idea.
• A second, more philosophical exploration of the idea.
• A third, more transcendent exploration of the idea.

This format for the dissertation is more commonly used for essays that are written in response to a philosophical question, for example, “What is a person?” or “What is justice?”

Let’s say the question was, “What is war?” In the first part, you would explore dictionary definitions—a basic idea of war, i.e. an armed conflict between two parties, usually nations. You could give examples that back up this definition, and you could narrow down the definition of the subject as much as needed. For example, you might want to make mention that not all conflicts are wars, or you might want to explore whether the “War on Terror” is a war.

In the second part, you would explore a more philosophical look at the topic, using a definition that you provide. You first explain how you plan to analyze the subject, and then you do so. In French, this is known as  poser une problématique  (establishing a thesis question), and it usually is done by first writing out a question and then exploring it using examples: “Is war a reflection of the base predilection of humans for violence?”

In the third part, you will take a step back and explore this question from a distance, taking the time to construct a natural conclusion and answer for the question.

This form may not be as useful in as many cases as the first type of essay, but it’s a good form to learn, particularly for those interested in philosophy. Here’s an in-depth guide  to writing a progressive dissertation.

As you progress in French and become more and more comfortable with writing, try your hand at each of these types of writing exercises, and even with other forms of the dissertation . You’ll soon be a pro at everything from a synthèse de texte to a dissertation!

FluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples.

For example, if you tap on the word "crois," you'll see this:

Practice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning, and play the mini-games found in our dynamic flashcards, like "fill in the blank."

All throughout, FluentU tracks the vocabulary that you’re learning and uses this information to give you a totally personalized experience. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

Your cart is empty

Have an account?

Log in to check out faster.

Estimated total

Learn French Quickly: 6-Week Self-Paced Course - Limited Time Discount!

Country/region

• Afghanistan CAD $
• Åland Islands CAD $
• Albania CAD $
• Algeria CAD $
• Andorra CAD $
• Angola CAD $
• Anguilla CAD $
• Antigua & Barbuda CAD $
• Argentina CAD $
• Armenia CAD $
• Aruba CAD $
• Ascension Island CAD $
• Australia CAD $
• Austria CAD $
• Azerbaijan CAD $
• Bahamas CAD $
• Bahrain CAD $
• Bangladesh CAD $
• Barbados CAD $
• Belarus CAD $
• Belgium CAD $
• Belize CAD $
• Benin CAD $
• Bermuda CAD $
• Bhutan CAD $
• Bolivia CAD $
• Bosnia & Herzegovina CAD $
• Botswana CAD $
• Brazil CAD $
• British Indian Ocean Territory CAD $
• British Virgin Islands CAD $
• Brunei CAD $
• Bulgaria CAD $
• Burkina Faso CAD $
• Burundi CAD $
• Cambodia CAD $
• Cameroon CAD $
• Canada CAD $
• Cape Verde CAD $
• Caribbean Netherlands CAD $
• Cayman Islands CAD $
• Central African Republic CAD $
• Chile CAD $
• China CAD $
• Christmas Island CAD $
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands CAD $
• Colombia CAD $
• Comoros CAD $
• Congo - Brazzaville CAD $
• Congo - Kinshasa CAD $
• Cook Islands CAD $
• Costa Rica CAD $
• Côte d’Ivoire CAD $
• Croatia CAD $
• Curaçao CAD $
• Cyprus CAD $
• Czechia CAD $
• Denmark CAD $
• Djibouti CAD $
• Dominica CAD $
• Dominican Republic CAD $
• Ecuador CAD $
• Egypt CAD $
• El Salvador CAD $
• Equatorial Guinea CAD $
• Eritrea CAD $
• Estonia CAD $
• Eswatini CAD $
• Ethiopia CAD $
• Falkland Islands CAD $
• Faroe Islands CAD $
• Finland CAD $
• France CAD $
• French Guiana CAD $
• French Polynesia CAD $
• French Southern Territories CAD $
• Gabon CAD $
• Gambia CAD $
• Georgia CAD $
• Germany CAD $
• Ghana CAD $
• Gibraltar CAD $
• Greece CAD $
• Greenland CAD $
• Grenada CAD $
• Guadeloupe CAD $
• Guatemala CAD $
• Guernsey CAD $
• Guinea CAD $
• Guinea-Bissau CAD $
• Guyana CAD $
• Haiti CAD $
• Honduras CAD $
• Hong Kong SAR CAD $
• Hungary CAD $
• Iceland CAD $
• India CAD $
• Indonesia CAD $
• Ireland CAD $
• Isle of Man CAD $
• Israel CAD $
• Italy CAD $
• Jamaica CAD $
• Japan CAD $
• Jersey CAD $
• Jordan CAD $
• Kazakhstan CAD $
• Kenya CAD $
• Kiribati CAD $
• Kosovo CAD $
• Kuwait CAD $
• Kyrgyzstan CAD $
• Latvia CAD $
• Lebanon CAD $
• Lesotho CAD $
• Liberia CAD $
• Libya CAD $
• Liechtenstein CAD $
• Lithuania CAD $
• Luxembourg CAD $
• Macao SAR CAD $
• Madagascar CAD $
• Malawi CAD $
• Malaysia CAD $
• Maldives CAD $
• Malta CAD $
• Martinique CAD $
• Mauritania CAD $
• Mauritius CAD $
• Mayotte CAD $
• Mexico CAD $
• Moldova CAD $
• Monaco CAD $
• Mongolia CAD $
• Montenegro CAD $
• Montserrat CAD $
• Morocco CAD $
• Mozambique CAD $
• Myanmar (Burma) CAD $
• Namibia CAD $
• Nauru CAD $
• Nepal CAD $
• Netherlands CAD $
• New Caledonia CAD $
• New Zealand CAD $
• Nicaragua CAD $
• Niger CAD $
• Nigeria CAD $
• Norfolk Island CAD $
• North Macedonia CAD $
• Norway CAD $
• Pakistan CAD $
• Palestinian Territories CAD $
• Panama CAD $
• Papua New Guinea CAD $
• Paraguay CAD $
• Philippines CAD $
• Pitcairn Islands CAD $
• Poland CAD $
• Portugal CAD $
• Qatar CAD $
• Réunion CAD $
• Romania CAD $
• Russia CAD $
• Rwanda CAD $
• Samoa CAD $
• San Marino CAD $
• São Tomé & Príncipe CAD $
• Saudi Arabia CAD $
• Senegal CAD $
• Serbia CAD $
• Seychelles CAD $
• Sierra Leone CAD $
• Singapore CAD $
• Sint Maarten CAD $
• Slovakia CAD $
• Slovenia CAD $
• Solomon Islands CAD $
• Somalia CAD $
• South Africa CAD $
• South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands CAD $
• South Korea CAD $
• South Sudan CAD $
• Spain CAD $
• Sri Lanka CAD $
• St. Barthélemy CAD $
• St. Helena CAD $
• St. Kitts & Nevis CAD $
• St. Lucia CAD $
• St. Martin CAD $
• St. Pierre & Miquelon CAD $
• St. Vincent & Grenadines CAD $
• Sudan CAD $
• Suriname CAD $
• Svalbard & Jan Mayen CAD $
• Sweden CAD $
• Switzerland CAD $
• Taiwan CAD $
• Tajikistan CAD $
• Tanzania CAD $
• Thailand CAD $
• Timor-Leste CAD $
• Tokelau CAD $
• Tonga CAD $
• Trinidad & Tobago CAD $
• Tristan da Cunha CAD $
• Tunisia CAD $
• Türkiye CAD $
• Turkmenistan CAD $
• Turks & Caicos Islands CAD $
• Tuvalu CAD $
• U.S. Outlying Islands CAD $
• Uganda CAD $
• Ukraine CAD $
• United Arab Emirates CAD $
• United Kingdom CAD $
• United States CAD $
• Uruguay CAD $
• Uzbekistan CAD $
• Vanuatu CAD $
• Vatican City CAD $
• Venezuela CAD $
• Vietnam CAD $
• Wallis & Futuna CAD $
• Western Sahara CAD $
• Yemen CAD $
• Zambia CAD $
• Zimbabwe CAD $

30 Phrases to Describe Your Daily Routine in French

How do you describe your daily routine in french what are the most common phrases and vocabulary in this article, i share my daily routine in french with 30 sentences. , table of contents.

• My morning routine
• My afternoon routine
• My evening routine
• Reflexive verbs (conjugaison) 
• The verb "faire" (to do)
• Daily routine (French video)

Le matin (In the morning)

Let's take a look at these phrases describing my morning routine including getting up and getting ready for work! 

Note that these sentences are all in present tense which describe what I usually do. 

1. Je me réveille.

2. je me lève. , 3. je me lève à sept heures..

I wake up at 7.

4. Comme tout le monde,  je regarde sur mon téléphone portable.

Like everyone, I look at my cellphone.

5. Je regarde mes messages.

I look at my messages.

6. Ensuite, je me lave le visage. 

Then, I wash my face.

7. Je me brosse les dents.

I brush my teeth.

8. Puis, je me fais du café.

And then, I make myself a coffee.

9. Je ne peux pas commencer ma journée  sans café. 

I can’t start my day without coffee.

10. Donc, je bois mon café.  

So, I drink my coffee.

11. Puis, je m’étire.

Then, I stretch.  

12. Je déjeune, bien sûr.

I have breakfast, of course.

13. Je prends mon petit déj.   

I have my breakfast. 

14. Je travaille chez moi. 

I work from home.

15. Donc, je commence tout de suite  à travailler. 

So, I start immediately working.

16. Je prépare mes cours.

I prepare my lessons. 

17. Je réponds à mes mails.  

I respond to my emails. 

French Course for Beginners 

In our self-paced beginner course, we cover all the basics of French language in only 6 weeks. We've helped hundreds of students to learn French effectively.

Learn more! 

À midi (At noon)

18. à midi, je prends mon déjeuner. .

At noon, I have my lunch. 

19. J’enseigne. 

20. je suis professeur de français..

I’m a French Teacher. 

21. Donc, j’enseigne tout l’après-midi.  

So, I teach all afternoon. 

Le soir ( In the evening)

22. après le travail, je fais une balade..

After work, I go for a walk. 

23. Ou je fais des exercices en écoutant  de la musique. 

Or I exercise while listening to music.

24. Puis, je prends une douche. /Je me lave.   

After, I take a shower. 

25. Je fais un smoothie.

I make a smoothie. 

26. Et je dîne vers sept heures.

And I have dinner around 7. 

27. Puis, je passe du temps  avec ma famille. 

Then, I spend some time with my family.

28. Vers onze heures, je vais au lit.

Around 11, I go to bed. 

29. Et je lis un peu avant de dormir.  

And I read a bit before sleeping. 

30. Enfin, je me couche.

Finally, I go to bed.

Reflexive verbs in French

To describe daily routine, we use reflexive verbs such as : "se réveiller" (to wake up), "se lever" (to get up), "se laver" (to wash yourself) and "se coucher" (to go to bed).

"Se" is called a reflexive pronoun and it changes to "me", "te" , "nous" and "vous" depending the subject.

Let's have a look.

Je me réveille (I wake up)

Tu te réveilles (You wake up)

Il/elle se réveille (He/she/one wakes up)

Nous nous réveillons (We wake up) 

Vous vous réveillez (You -plural/formal- wake up) 

Ils/elles se réveillent ( They -masculine/feminine- wake up)

Faire (To do, make) 

Similar to the reflexive verbs, the verb "faire" is a very useful verb to talk about daily routine. Let's look at these examples. 

Je fais une balade.

I go for a walk. 

Je fais des exercices.

I exercise. 

Je fais un smoothie.

The conjugaison   of the verb "faire".

Faire is an irregular verb. Here's how to conjugate it with different subjects in present tense. 

Je fais  (I do/make)

Tu fais  (You do/make)

Il/elle/on fait  (He, she, one does/makes)

Nous faisons  (We do/make)

Vous faites  (You -plural/formal- do/make)

Ils/elles font  (They -mas./fem.- do/make)

Daily routine in French video

I share new videos every week, so make sure to subscribe to my channel and follow me on Facebook , Instagram and Pinterest .

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

Subscribe to our emails

Be the first to know about new collections and exclusive offers.

Subscribe to My Newsletter

Receive free French lessons directly to your inbox and learning tips to learn French quickly.

• Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
• Opens in a new window.

Write an essay in French

Beyond the fact that writing an essay in French can be a good practice to improve your writing, you may also be asked to write one during your schooling. So, it is important to study the topic of French essay writing and get some useful tips..

» Tips and tricks for your French essay » The structure of a French essay » Sample French Essay

Tips and tricks for your French essay

When writing a French essay for school, you should always use a structured approach and good French skills to present your arguments in a focused way. Beyond French skills, there are also important formal requirements for a successful French essay. We will come back to this in detail later. First, you will find some useful tips and tricks that will help you write more compelling and better French essays in the future.

• Have a clear thesis and structure
• Do sufficient research and use reliable sources
• Use examples and arguments to support your thesis
• Avoid plagiarism and cite correctly
• Always check structure, grammar and spelling

When you write your essay at school or university, you need to make sure that the general structure of your essay, the presentation of the arguments and, above all, your French language skills play a role in the mark you will get. This is why you should definitely take a closer look at the structure of an essay as well as the most important grammar rules and formulations for French essays.

The structure of a French essay

In an essay, you deal at length and in detail with a usually given topic. When you write an essay in French, you must follow a certain structure. Below we show you what this structure looks like and give you some tips for writing the most important parts of your essay.

The Introduction

The introduction prepares the main body of your essay. You think of a meaningful title for your essay, you describe your thesis or your question, you give general information on the subject and you prepare your argument by giving an overview of your most important arguments.

Below are examples and phrases that you can use to write the introduction to your essay in French.

The title should be meaningful, concise and reflect the content of the essay.

Introductory paragraph

The first paragraph of your French essay should briefly introduce the topic and engage the reader. Here are some examples to help you write your essay:

Proposal or question

The central proposition or question of your French essay should be a clear and concise definition of the purpose of the essay. Use these examples to get a clearer idea of ​​how to write theses in French:

Overview of Arguments and Structure

At the end of your introduction, describe the structure of the main part of your essay (your outline) and outline your argument. Here are some French expressions that will certainly help you write your essay:

The body of your essay

The main part of your French essay deals with the given topic in detail. The subject is studied from all angles. The main body of your essay follows a thread of argument and discusses in detail the main arguments of your thesis previously made in the introduction.

In the body of the text, you should discuss the subject of your essay in clear and concise language. To achieve this, we give you some wording aids as well as vocabulary and phrases that you can use to write your essay in French.

Formulation tools:

French vocabulary for essays.

In the conclusion of your French essay, you address the thesis of your essay, summarize the main points of your discussion in the main body, and draw a conclusion. On the basis of the arguments and the resulting conclusions, you formulate in the conclusion of your dissertation final thoughts and suggestions for the future. It is important that you do not add new information or new arguments. This should only be done in the body of your text.

Here are some wording guides to help you write your essay in French:

Sample French Essay

Les avantages des voyages linguistiques

Malgré les difficultés potentielles, les voyages linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour leur développement personnel et académique.

Les séjours linguistiques sont des voyages organisés dans le but d'améliorer les compétences linguistiques des participants. Ces voyages peuvent se dérouler dans le pays ou à l'étranger et durer d'un week-end à plusieurs semaines. L'un des principaux avantages des séjours linguistiques est l'immersion. Entourés de locuteurs natifs, les apprenants sont contraints de pratiquer et d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques dans des situations réelles.Il s'agit d'une méthode d'apprentissage beaucoup plus efficace que le simple fait d'étudier une langue dans une salle de classe.

Un autre avantage des séjours linguistiques est l'expérience culturelle. Voyager dans un nouveau pays permet aux apprenants de découvrir de nouvelles coutumes, traditions et modes de vie, et de se familiariser avec l'histoire et la culture du pays. Cela enrichit non seulement l'expérience d'apprentissage de la langue, mais contribue également à élargir les horizons et à accroître la sensibilisation culturelle.

Cependant, les séjours linguistiques peuvent également présenter des inconvénients. Par exemple, le coût du voyage et de l'hébergement peut être élevé, en particulier pour les séjours de longue durée. En outre, les apprenants peuvent être confrontés à la barrière de la langue ou à un choc culturel, ce qui peut être difficile à surmonter. Le coût et les difficultés potentielles des séjours linguistiques peuvent sembler décourageants, mais ils offrent des avantages précieux en termes d'épanouissement personnel et scolaire.

Les compétences linguistiques et les connaissances culturelles acquises peuvent déboucher sur de nouvelles opportunités d'emploi et améliorer la communication dans un cadre professionnel. Les bourses et les aides financières rendent les séjours linguistiques plus accessibles. Le fait d'être confronté à une barrière linguistique ou à un choc culturel peut également être l'occasion d'un développement personnel. Ces avantages l'emportent largement sur les inconvénients et font des séjours linguistiques un investissement qui en vaut la peine.

En conclusion, malgré les difficultés potentielles, les séjours linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour le développement personnel et académique. Qu'il s'agisse d'un débutant ou d'un apprenant avancé, un voyage linguistique est une expérience à ne pas manquer.

Improve your writing style in French

Learn French with us. We will help you improve your writing skills.

Improve your French with Sprachcaffe

A Year abroad for high school students

Spend a unique school year abroad

Online French courses

Learn French from the comfort of your own home with an online course

Learn French on a language trip

Learn French in a French-speaking country

French Your Way

Learn French Online | Learn French Melbourne | French Voices Podcast

How to Write The Perfect French Essay For Your Exam

November 16, 2014 by Jessica 3 Comments

Here are tips to help you write a great French essay with exam requirements in mind. Once you’re done, I strongly suggest you proofread your text using my checklis t.

Note: if you’re preparing for the French VCE, there is an updated version of these exam tips in my guide  “How to Prepare for the French VCE & Reach your Maximum Score” .

While supervising exams or tutoring for exam preparation, I’ve seen too many students writing straight away on their exam copies. Stop! Resist the urge to jump on your pen and take a step back to make sure that you will be addressing all the exam requirements or you may be shooting yourself in the foot and lose precious points.

I recommend that you train with exam sample questions so that you set up good working habits and respect the required length of the essay, as well as the timing (allow at least 10 minutes for proofreading).

Crafting your French Essay

1. identify the situation: preparation work.

•   Read the topic carefully, slowly and at least twice to absorb every information/detail.
• Underline/highlight/jot down any piece of information that you are expected to reuse:
• What type of text do you need to write? (a journal entry? A formal letter? A speech? Etc). Note to VCE French exam students : refer to page 13 of the VCE French Study Design for more information about the different types of texts.
• Who are you in the situation? (yourself? A journalist? etc)
• Who are you addressing? (a friend? A large audience? Etc) à adjust the degree of formality to the situation (for example by using the “tu”/”vous” form, a casual or formal tone/register, etc)
• What are the characteristic features of the type of text you need to write? (eg a journal entry will have the date, a formal letter will start and end with a formal greeting, etc)
• What is your goal ? What are you expected to talk about / present / defend / convey?
• What are the length requirements for your French essay ? Respect the word count (there’s usually a 5% or so tolerance. Check the requirements specific to your exam)

Tip : when you practice at home, count how many words in average you fit on a line. This will give you a good indication of how many lines your text should be.

Ex: You write an average of 15 words per line. If you are required to write a 300-word French essay, you should aim for:

300 words / 15 words per line = 20 lines total.

2. Draft the outline of your essay

•  An essay typically has an introduction, a body with 2 or 3 distinct parts and a conclusion . (See if that outline is relevant to the type of text you are expected to write and adjust accordingly.)
• Use bullet points to organize your ideas.
• Don’t remain too general. A good rule is to use one main idea for each part and to back it up/reinforce in/illustrate it with one concrete example (eg. data).
• Brainstorming about things to say will also help you use a wider range of vocabulary , which will get noticed by the examiner. Are there some interesting/specific words or expressions that you can think of using in your text (example: if you are writing about global warming, brainstorm the vocab related to this topic. Brainstorm expressions to convince or disagree with something, etc)?
• Make sure you have reused every point identified in part 1 .

 3. Write your essay

•  It’s better if you have time to write or at least draft a few sentences on your draft paper rather than writing directly because:
• You want to meet the word count requirements
• You don’t want multiple words to be barred cross crossed-out and your page looking messy and great anything but neat!
• you don’t want to have to rush so much that your handwriting is really unpleasant to read (or worse, impossible to read…)
• So… monitor your time carefully!

  Structuring your text

• Visually, the eye should instantly be able to see the structure of your French essay: make paragraph and skip lines so that it doesn’t look like an unappealing large block of text.
• Use connectors/link words to structure your text and make good transitions.

4. Proofread, proofread, proofread!

•   It’s important that you allow at least 10 minutes for proofreading because there most likely are a few mistakes that you can fix very easily. It would therefore be a shame not to give yourself your best chances of success! Check out my Proofreading Checklist.

Bonne chance!

If you need any help with your essay, you can submit it to me there.

• Articles & Tutorials
• French Voices Podcast
• French Your Way Podcast
• News & Updates

info (at) frenchyourway.com.au

PO Box 166, Balaclava, Vic 3183, Australia

How to Write an Excellent French Essay (Resources Included)

Tips to write an excellent french essay.

Writing essays is challenging enough, but when you are asked to write a French essay, you are not only being asked to write in a foreign language, but to follow the conventions of another linguistic and literary tradition. Like essay-writing in any language, the essential part of writing a French essay is to convey your thoughts and observations on a certain topic in a clear and concise manner. French essays do come out of a certain tradition that is part of the training of all students who attend school in France – or at least secondary school – and when you are a French essay, it is important to be aware of this tradition.

The French philosopher Michel de Montaigne is credited with popularizing the essay form as a literary genre. His work, Essais, first published in 1580, and undergoing several subsequent publications before his death in 1592, covers a wide breadth of topics, ranging from “amitié” to “philosopher c’est apprendre à mourir”, and includes many literary references, as well as personal anecdotes. The name for this genre, essai, is the nominal form of the verb essayer, “to attempt”. We have an archaic English verb essay, meaning the same thing. The limerick that includes the phrase, “... when she essayed to drink lemonade ...” indicates an attempt to drink a beverage and has nothing to do with writing about it. But the writing form does illustrate an attempt to describe a topic in depth with the purpose of developing new insights on a particular text or corpus.

French instructors are very specific about what they would like when they ask for an essay, meaning that they will probably specify whether they would like an explication de texte, commentaire composé, or dissertation. That last essay form should not be confused with the document completed for a doctorate in anglophone countries – this is called a thèse in French, by the way. There are different formats for each of these types of essay, and different objectives for each written form.

Types of Essay

1. l’explication de texte.

An explication de texte is a type of essay for which you complete a close reading. It is usually written about a poem or a short passage within a larger work. This close reading will elucidate different themes and stylistic devices within the text. When you are completing an explication de texte, make sure to follow the structure of the text as you complete a close examination of its form and content. The format for an explication de texte consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you situate the text within its genre and historical context. This is where you can point out to your readers the general themes of the text, its form, the trajectory of your reading, and your approach to the text.

ii. The body, in which you develop your ideas, following the structure of the text. Make sure you know all of the meanings of the words used, especially the key terms that point to the themes addressed by the author. It is a good idea to look words up in the dictionary to find out any second, third, and fourth meanings that could add to the themes and forms you describe. Like a student taking an oral examination based on this type of essay writing, you will be expected to have solid knowledge of the vocabulary and grammatical structures that appear in the text. Often the significance of the language used unfolds as you explain the different components of theme, style, and composition.

iii. A conclusion, in which you sum up the general meaning of the text and the significance of the figures and forms being used. You should also give the implications of what is being addressed, and the relevance of these within a larger literary, historical, or philosophical context.

NB: If you are writing about a poem, include observations on the verse, rhyme schemes, and meter. It is a good idea to refer to a reference work on versification. If you are writing about a philosophical work, be familiar with philosophical references and definitions of concepts.

Caveat: Refrain from paraphrasing. Instead show through careful analysis of theme, style, and composition the way in which the main ideas of the text are conveyed.

2. Le commentaire composé

A commentaire composé is a methodologically codified commentary that focuses on themes in a particular text. This type of essay develops different areas of reflection through analytical argument. Such argumentation should clarify the reading that you are approaching by presenting components of the text from different perspectives. In contrast to the explication de texte, it is organized thematically rather than following the structure of the text to which it refers. The format for a commentaire composé consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you present the question you have come up with, often in relation to a prompt commenting on a thematic or stylistic aspect of the text, such as “Montrez en quoi ce texte évoque l’amour courtois” or “Qu’apporte l’absence de la ponctuation dans ce texte ?” In this section, you will be expected to delineate your approach to the text and illustrate the trajectory of your ideas so that your readers will have a clear idea of the direction these ideas will take.

ii. A tripartite body, in which you explore the question you have come up with, citing specific examples in the text that are especially pertinent to the areas of reflection you wish to explore. These citations should be explained and connected to the broad themes of your commentary, all the while providing details that draw the readers’ attention to your areas of inquiry. These different areas of inquiry may initially seem disparate or even contradictory, but eventually come together to form a harmonious reading that addresses different aspects of the text. The more obvious characteristics of the text should illuminate its subtler aspects, which allows for acute insight into the question that you are in the process of exploring.

iii. A conclusion, in which you evaluate your reading and synthesize its different areas of inquiry. This is where you may include your own opinions, but make sure that the preceding sections of your commentaire remain analytical and supported by evidence that you find in the text.

NB: Looking at verb tenses, figures of speech, and other aspects that contribute to the form of the text will help situate your reader, as will commenting on the register of language, whether this language is ornate, plain, reflects a style soutenu, or less formal patterns of speech.

Caveat: Quotations do not replace observations or comments on the text. Explain your quotations and situate them well within your own text.

3. La dissertation

The dissertation is a personal, organized, and methodical reflection on a precise question that refers to a corpus of writing. Referring to this corpus, you may be asked questions along the lines of “Que pensez-vous de l’équivalence entre l’amour et la chanson exprimée dans ces textes ?” or “Est-ce que la sagesse et la folie ont les mêmes sources?” This type of essay allows for an exploration of a question through knowledge of a corpus as well as through an individual’s cultural knowledge. The format for a dissertation consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you present the topic addressed, the significance of your argument, and the trajectory of your ideas.

ii. The body which, like a commentaire composé, consists of a tripartite development of your argument. This can follow any one of the following structures: a dialectical schema, organized into thèse, antithèse, and synthèse – an argument, its counter-argument, and its rebuttal; an analytical schema, consisting of the description of a situation, an analysis of its causes, and commentary on its consequences; a thematic schema, which consists of a reflection on a topic which you proceed to examine from different angles in an orderly fashion.

iii. A conclusion, in which you address the different ways in which you have approached the question at hand and how this deepens your insights, while placing the question within a broader context that shows room for expansion. The conclusion can open up the topic addressed to show its placement within a literary movement, or in opposition to another literary movement that follows it, for example.

NB: Approach the question at hand with as few preconceptions as possible. If you are writing on a quotation, gather all of your knowledge about its author, the work in which it appears, and the body of literature with which it is associated.

Caveat: Even for a personal reflection, such as a dissertation, avoid using the first person pronoun je. Nous or on are preferable. It is advisable not to switch from one to the other, though.

For each of these essay forms, it is a good idea to make an outline to which you can refer as you write. As your writing progresses, things may shift a bit, but having a structure on which you can rely as you gather your various ideas and information into a coherent argument provides solid foundation for a clear and well-developed essay. This also facilitates smooth transitions from one section of your essay to the next.

During your reading, you may encounter a problem, a contradiction, or a surprising turn of phrase that is difficult to figure out. Such moments in a text give you the opportunity to delve into the unique characteristics of the text or corpus to which you are referring, to propose different solutions to the problems you encounter, and to describe their significance within a larger literary, philosophical, and historical context. Essay writing allows you to become more familiar with French works, with their cultural significance, and with the French language. You can refer to the following resources to guide you in this endeavor:

Auffret, Serge et Hélène. Le commentaire composé. Paris: Hachette, 1991. Dufau, Micheline et Ellen D'Alelio. Découverte du poème: Introduction à l'explication de textes. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1967. Grammont, Maurice. Petit traité de versification française. Paris: A. Colin, 2015. Huisman, Denis et L. R. Plazolles. L’art de la dissertation littéraire : du baccalauréat au C.A.P.E.S. Paris : Société d’édition d’enseignement supérieur, 1965.

The French newspaper Le Monde also has good articles on these essay forms that prepare French students for the baccalauréat exam: CLICK HERE

This is also a website with thorough information on essay writing techniques that prepare students for the baccalauréat exam: CLICK HERE

In addition, the University of Adelaide has tips for general essay writing in French: CLICK HERE

🇫🇷 Looking for More French Resources?

Train with Glossika and get comfortable talking in French. The more you listen and speak, the better and more fluent you will be.

Glossika uses syntax to help you internalize grammatical structures and you can build up your French vocabulary along with way. You'll also learn to communicate in real-life situations, and achieve fluency by training your speaking and listening!

Sign up on Glossika and try Glossika for free:

You May Also Like:

• 10 Great Tips to Prepare to Study in France
• How to Maintain French and Continue Learning by Yourself
• Differences Between Spoken French and Written French

Subscribe to The Glossika Blog

Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox

Stay up to date! Get all the latest & greatest posts delivered straight to your inbox

Like puzzles? Check out this daily anagram game: Raganam !

• Your Favourite Cheat Sheets
• Your Messages
• Your Badges
• Your Friends
• Your Comments
• View Profile
• Edit Profile
• Change Password
• New Cheat Sheet
• Live Cheat Sheets
• Draft Cheat Sheets
• Collaborations
• Cheat Sheet Downloads
• Download This Cheat Sheet (PDF)
• Rating: ( )
• Education >
• French Cheat Sheets

Writing essays in French Cheat Sheet by JAM

Useful expressions to help structure your A level French essay.

Introd­ucing the first argument

Adding and listing arguments, listing arguments - start, listing arguments - middle, listing arguments - end, indicating the reason for something, expressing contrast / concession, introd­ucing one's own point of view, in conclusion, how's your readability.

Cheatography is sponsored by Readable.com . Check out Readable to make your content and copy more engaging and support Cheatography!

Measure Your Readability Now!

Help Us Go Positive!

We offset our carbon usage with Ecologi. Click the link below to help us!

• Languages: English français (French)
• Published: 21st September, 2013
• Last Updated: 26th February, 2020
• Rated: 5 out of 5 stars based on 9 ratings

Favourited By

these are very helpful thank you

Simple et utile, j'aime.

Add a Comment

Please enter your name.

Please enter your email address

Please enter your Comment.

Related Cheat Sheets

Latest Cheat Sheet

Random Cheat Sheet

About Cheatography

Behind the scenes.

Recent Cheat Sheet Activity

• Library Catalogue

Resources for academic writing in French

On this page, 1. purpose of this document, 2. orthographe et typographie, 3. grammaire, 4. structure de texte: vocabulaire, 5. comment construire une dissertation en français.

• 6. Outil utile : comment faire les caractères français sur n'importe quel clavier ?
• 7. Où trouver de l'aide en français ?
• 8. S'immerger d'avantage dans le français

This document offers resources to students writing in French at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It has been inspired by the recurring questions and issues encountered during consultations with students and it includes:

• Grammatical and vocabulary help
• Advice on dissertation structure and dissertation writing
• A useful tip on how to easily type special French characters on any keyboard
• Suggestions as to where students can find additional help
• Ideas on where to meet French speakers and how to get exposed to the language to improve fluency

Note: The information presented is valid as of December 2016. The rest of this information is written in French since it is intended for people with at least a basic understanding of the language.

This material is also available as a printable  pdf  and as a stand-alone website  .

2.1.1 Majuscules

2.1.1.1 Noms et adjectifs de nationalité

En anglais, les noms et adjectifs se rapportant aux langues et aux pays prennent toujours des majuscules :

I am French I speak French The French are always on strike

Ce n'est pas le cas en français.

Les adjectifs ne prennent jamais de majuscule en français. Donc: adjectifs de nationalité ou se rapportant aux langues → pas de majuscule

Je suis française La langue française

Pour les noms, il ne faut pas de majuscule lorsque l'on parle des langues. Les langues → pas de majuscule

Je parle français Le français et l'anglais

Ceci dit, lorsque l'on parle de personnes, il faut la majuscule. Les habitants d'un pays → majuscule

Les Français sont tout le temps en grève

2.1.1.2 Jours de la semaine et mois

En anglais, les jours de la semaine et les mois prennent des majuscules. Mais pas en français :

Le lundi et le mardi Le jeudi 3 mars ​Tous les dimanches de novembre

2.1.2 Ponctuation

Contrairement à l'anglais, il faut un espace avant les deux points, le point d'interrogation et le point d'exclamation :

Tu viens ? Ah non !

Les guillemets sont différents et il faut un espace entre les guillemets et le texte :

Il lui dit : « d'accord »

Note : un éditeur de texte (par exemple MS Word ou OpenOffice Writer) corrigera tout cela automatiquement si vous le mettez en français.

2.1.3 « et » et la virgule

L'usage d'une virgule avec « et » est différent en français et en anglais :

En anglais, il faut une virgule avant « and » dans une énumération qui comprend plus de deux éléments : French, English, and Spanish

En français, il n'y a pas de virgule avant « et » : Le français, l'anglais et l'espagnol

Mettre un mot au féminin peut aider à trouver sa terminaison :

chat  →  chatte ouvert →  ouverte ​remis  →  remise

3.1.1 Définition

Voix active : le sujet fait l'action

Voix passive : le sujet subit l'action et le complément d'agent (introduit par « par ») fait l'action

Le complément d'agent fait l'action (voix active) :  Notre équipe a réalisé une étude

L'action est faite PAR le complément d'agent (voix passive) :  Une étude a été réalisée PAR notre équipe

3.1.2 Formation

La voix passive se construit avec  l'auxilaire être + le participe passé du verbe .

Attention donc à ne pas confondre un temps simple à la voix passive avec un temps composé.

Par exemple, il ne faut pas confondre un verbe au présent de la voix passive avec un passé composé :

Le lapin est mangé par le loup (Présent de la voix passive. Cela équivaut à : le loup mange le lapin - maintenant)

Le lapin a mangé la salade (Passé composé de la voix active. Le lapin a mangé la salade hier)

3.1.3 Écrivez à l'actif !

Pendant longtemps, il a été d'usage d'utiliser la voix passive dans les travaux académiques, probablement par modestie. Cette habitude est tombée en désuétude, mais malheureusement les étudiants continuent trop souvent à écrire au passif, rendant les textes tortueux et le style inutilement lourd. Je vous encourage vivement à utiliser la voix active :

• la construction est beaucoup plus directe
• il est maintenant d'usage d'annoncer clairement et sans détour que nous sommes l'auteur d'un travail

3.2.1 Les adjectifs

Les adjectifs s'accordent en genre et en nombre avec le nom auquel ils se rapportent

3.2.2 Les participes passés

• Avec l'auxiliaire être Les participes passés s'accordent en genre et en nombre avec le sujet
• Avec l'auxiliaire avoir Les participes passés s'accordent en genre et en nombre avec le complément d'objet direct, si celui-ci est placé avant le verbe​
• Sinon, ils sont  invariables En aucun cas, ils ne s'accordent avec le sujet

Pas de panique, c'est en fait simple :

Auxiliaire être

Il est tombé Ils sont tombés ​Elles sont tombées

Auxiliaire avoir - COD  après  le verbe

Il a pris un verre Il a pris une pomme Il a pris des pommes

Auxiliaire avoir - COD  avant  le verbe

Il l'a pris (=le verre) Il l'a prise (=la pomme) Il les a prises (=les pommes)

[[ collapse start " 3.3 « Nous » et « on » "]]

« On », techniquement, est un équivalent de l'anglais « it »

On dit souvent que...

Mais dans le langage courant, il est utilisé à la place de « nous »

On y va (=nous y allons) On arrive ! (=nous arrivons !)

Ceci est cependant à éviter à l'écrit, à moins que l'on veuille donner au texte une connotation familière.

3.4.1 Forme

3.4.1.1 Définis

le chat/les chats the cat/the cats

3.4.1.2 Indéfinis

un chat/des chats a cat/cats

3.4.2 Usage

3.4.2.1 Définis

On sait exactement de quel individu/chose il s'agit. On pourrait le montrer du doigt. Le nom est défini

Le chat de mon voisin (Ceci suppose que mon voisin n'a qu'un chat et que, du coup, on sait exactement de quel chat il s'agit)

La Terre est ronde (Il n'y en a qu'une, donc on sait de laquelle il s'agit)

La lune (On suppose qu'il s'agit de notre lune, celle qui tourne autour de la terre, et que donc on sait de laquelle il s'agit)

3.4.2.2 Indéfinis

On ne sait pas de quel individu/chose il s'agit. Le nom est indéfini

J'ai vu un chat noir ce matin (On ne sait pas de quel chat noir il s'agit. L'information "noir" ne suffit pas à définir l'individu particulier dont il est question)

Un chat de mon voisin (Ici, cela suppose que mon voisin a plusieurs chats et du coup, on ne sait pas de quel individu il est question. Comparer ceci avec l'exemple précédant)

Une lune (Ici, on fait référence à un satellite naturel, par exemple une lune de Saturne. On ne sait donc pas de quelle lune il s'agit)

C'est en fait très similaire à l'anglais. Réfléchissez à ce que vous diriez en anglais

• Invariables
• Généralement formés à partir d'adjectifs + « ment »

grand  → grandement

4.1.1 Commencer

Premièrement D’abord Tout d'abord Au début Pour commencer

4.1.2 Continuer

Chronologiquement : 

Deuxièmement ​Ensuite Puis Après

En ajoutant : 

De plus ​Ajoutons que En outre Par ailleurs ​Aussi Egalement

4.1.3 Finir

Enfin ​Finalement Pour finir Pour terminer Pour conclure En conclusion

4.2.1 Similarités

De la même manière De la même façon ​Similairement

4.2.2 Différences

En revanche Au contraire ​Alors que ​Pourtant D'autre part ​D'un autre côté Par ailleurs

Du coup En conséquence Par conséquent Il en résulte que De ce fait Donc Ainsi C'est pourquoi

Veuillez noter que ceci ne représente que mon opinion personnelle. Les consignes que vous recevez de vos professeurs sont sans aucun doute plus importantes que les conseils que je présente ici. Si vous avez des doutes, la meilleure chose à faire est toujours de discuter avec le professeur afin d'éliminer toute confusion quant à ses attentes. Il se peut que votre professeur ait une vision différente de la mienne sur la structure d'une dissertation. Il n'y a, de toute façon, aucune règle absolue et ceci ne représente qu'une façon, parmi beaucoup d'autres, de construire un plan.

Ne vous embarquez pas dans l'écriture avant d'avoir un plan! Si vous vous lancez dans l'écriture en aveugle, vous allez perdre énormément de temps à rédiger des choses qui ne fonctionneront probablement pas et que vous devrez réécrire. Assurez vous d'avoir un plan solide avant de commencer à rédiger des phrases. Pour construire ce squelette, des tirets avec vos idées suffisent.

Pour structurer votre plan, imaginez un sablier :

L'introduction , en bleu dans le sablier, commence large et se réduit petit à petit.

Elle peut se construire en trois sous-parties :

• Une introduction du thème qui se veut très ouverte. Vous voulez intéresser un public large. Si vous commencez directement sur le sujet étroit et spécifique de votre dissertation, peu de gens n'auront envie de la lire vu que peu de gens ont un intérêt pour un sujet très pointu.
• Dans une deuxième sous-partie, vous emmenez le lecteur peu à peu vers le sujet de votre dissertation. La problématique se resserre.
• Finalement, dans une troisième partie, vous présentez votre plan. Après avoir lu cette sous-partie, le lecteur doit savoir ce qui l'attend.

Le corps de votre dissertation , en orange dans le sablier, reste ciblé sur votre sujet.

Il comporte deux à quatre parties (souvent trois). C'est là que vous présentez votre analyse. Chaque partie représentant un aspect ou un point différent.

La conclusion , en vert dans le sablier, commence étroite et s'élargit peu à peu.

Vous ne voulez pas laisser le lecteur avec cette vue très pointue d'un sujet. Vous voulez élargir vers une problématique plus large. Là aussi, trois sous-parties est assez classique :

• Une première sous-partie qui conclut votre dissertation,
• Un élargissement de la problématique,
• Une troisième sous-partie peut comporter des questions laissées ouvertes.

Vous avez votre plan et vous en êtes content. Maintenant, il est temps de commencer à rédiger… mais dans quel ordre ? La question peut vous surprendre vu que la plupart des gens commencent… par l'introduction. Erreur ! L'introduction est probablement la partie la plus difficile à écrire. Il est beaucoup plus facile de commencer par le corps de la dissertation car c'est vraiment votre sujet. A partir de là, vous pourrez assez facilement écrire la conclusion. Et finalement, à la fin, après avoir passé tout ce temps avec votre dissertation, vous serez en bien meilleure position pour attaquer cette fameuse introduction qui est si difficile.

Séparez les grandes parties (introduction, corps de la dissertation et conclusion) en sautant une ligne. Les différentes parties du corps central de votre dissertation peuvent aussi être séparées par une ligne blanche.   Chaque partie et sous-partie commence typiquement par un alinéa (« indent » en anglais). De cette façon, le lecteur peut, avant même de commencer à lire, voir la structure de votre dissertation.

Les deux à quatre parties du corps de votre dissertation doivent être équilibrées : vous ne voulez pas avoir une partie de plusieurs pages et une autre de quelques lignes. Si tel est le cas, essayez de structurer vos idées différemment en fusionnant certaines parties entre elles ou en revisitant votre plan.

Il est classique de lier les différentes parties ou sous-parties les unes avec les autres grâce à des phrases de transition qui mettent en évidence la cohésion logique de l'ensemble. Vous ne voulez pas que votre essai ressemble à une juxtaposition d'idées sans rapport les unes avec les autres.

En français, comme en anglais, il est important de citer vos sources. Le site de la bibliothèque de SFU a de nombreuses ressources sur le format à suivre : Citation guide: APA .

6. Outil utile : comment faire les caractères français sur n'importe quel clavier ?

La méthode la plus simple est d'utiliser le clavier international américain. Je n'explique pas ici comment l'activer car cela dépend de votre système d'exploitation (OS), mais les instructions sont très simples et disponibles partout sur internet. Une fois activé, le clavier international transforme :

7. Où trouver de l'aide en français ?

Le Student Learning Commons  (SLC) offre depuis l'année dernière deux services pour les étudiants écrivant en français :

• des consultations particulières hebdomadaires
• des ateliers

7.1.1 Consultations particulières

Des consultations particulières hebdomadaires sont disponibles. Prenez rendez-vous sur le site du Student Learning Commons : Academic writing resources . 

7.1.2 Ateliers

Des ateliers d'écriture en français sont organisés régulièrement. Regardez le programme sur le site du Student Learning Commons: Writing workshops .

Si vous avez des suggestions de nouveaux ateliers d'écriture en français qui vous seraient utiles, n'hésitez pas à nous en faire part en écrivant à l'adresse mail [email protected] 

7.2.1 Dictionnaires

7.2.1.1 Français

• Du  Centre National de Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales , le meilleur dictionnaire de français en ligne ! Une ressource vraiment excellente.

7.2.1.2 Français/anglais

• WordReference.com

7.2.2 Conjugaison

• Le Conjugueur  : un bon site de conjugaison 

7.2.3 Plagiat

Toutes les règles que vous avez apprises sur le plagiat dans vos travaux en anglais s'appliquent également en français. Le plagiat est un sujet sérieux que SFU traite avec beaucoup d'attention et si vous n'êtes pas sûrs des règles, je vous encourage vivement à vous familiariser avec elles en lisant les sites suivants. Pour SFU, l'ignorance n'est pas une excuse….

• Voir également: Plagiarism tutorial (SFU Library, anglais)
• Academic honesty

8. S'immerger d'avantage dans le français

8.1.1 meetup français.

• Vancouver French Langage Meetup

8.1.2 Le Centre Culturel Francophone de Vancouver

• Le Centre Culturel Francophone de Vancouver  

8.2.1 Histoire et culture

• Radio Canada : Aujourd'hui l'histoire
• France Culture : Les nuits de France Culture

8.2.2 Infos (« Informations » en France ou « Nouvelles » au Canada)

• France Inter : Le journal de 18h
• Radio Canada : Midi info  

8.2.3 Sciences et technologie

• France Culture : La marche des sciences
• Radio Canada : Les années lumières

8.3.1 Théâtre en français

Théâtre la Seizième

8.3.2 Internet

Nombreuses options pour voir des films, apprendre de nouveaux mots, améliorer sa prononciation, apprendre à conjuguer…

8.3.3 Films

De nombreux films français sont disponibles gratuitement dans les bibliothèques publiques et de SFU :

• SFU Library movie collection . See  How do I find books written in French, Chinese, and other languages? for help narrowing your search to French-language materials.
• Vancouver Public Library
• Burnaby Public Library

This guide was created by Marie-Hélène Burle, December 2016.

Writing an essay- guidance

As and a level french, essay writing.

As a rough guide you should spend about 10 minutes planning your essay, 45 minutes writing it and 5 minutes checking it.

I. Planning your essay:

It is important to plan your essay well. Make points clearly and logically so that the examiner can follow your argument. Take time to devise a plan before you start writing. This avoids rambling account and allow a structure which is easy to follow. You might find that the following points help you to plan your essay well:

· Read the question carefully. Make sure you have understood what you are being asked to do (the question may be in two parts)

· If you are completing an AS examination, the question will also have a list of bullet points to help you focus on the question. Make sure you engage with this guidance points BUT be aware that they do not in themselves give you the structure of the essay!

· It is sensible to plan your essay in French. This will prevent you writing ideas you are not able to express in the target language.

· Focus on the key words. For example, you may be asked to analyse, evaluate, explore or explain.

· Select the main point you want to make in your essay and then break this down into 3 or 4 sub-sections. They will become your paragraphs.

· Choose relevant information only!

· Decide on the order of your paragraphs. It might be a good idea to keep your strongest idea for your last paragraph. Note down linking words or phrases you can use between paragraphs to make your essay flow as a coherent and logical argument.

· Select one or two relevant and concise quotations which you can use to illustrate some of the points you make.

· Think about the suggested word count for the essay. It should always be possible to write a meaningful essay within the allocated number of words. So try to answer concisely.

· Think about how to introduce and conclude your essay, ensuring that you have answered the question set.

You might find the following template helpful to plan your essay:

II. Writing the essay:

· Remember that you are writing for a person who is reading your essay: the content should be interesting and should communicate your meaning with clarity and coherence.

· Stick to your plan and do not get side tracked into developing an argument or a point that is not relevant to the question set.

Introduction:

· It should be a single paragraph (approx. 5 lines)

· You can use a short sentence to introduce the film or the text you have studied.

· Show your understanding of the question: you should explain to your reader what you understand the question to mean, identify the issue it raises and how you are going to tackle them.

Question: Examinez le personnage de Saïd dans le film La Haine.

Introduction :

Development :

· This part will be divided into a number of interconnected paragraphs, each of which will pick up and develop the points raised in your introduction.

· Each paragraph should be introduced with a sentence stating what the paragraph is about.

· Make sure you are following a clear pathway through your paragraphs leading to your conclusion. You should move from one facet of your argument to the next, linking them conceptually by, for example, contrast, addition or comparison.

· Each paragraph must have an internal logic whereby you examine a separate point, making your argument, supporting it with evidence and possibly quotations and drawing conclusions.

· Try to have balanced paragraphs (with about the same amount of content).

Example (last paragraph):

Conclusion :

· Read through what you have written again and THEN write your conclusion.

· It should summarise your arguments succinctly

· Be careful not to simply lift passages from your development!

III. Check your work :

· Review your essay carefully and check for errors of: grammar, punctuation, accents and spelling.

· Check especially: verb endings, tenses and moods, and adjectival agreements.

· You should employ a good range of vocabulary and include terminology related to film and literature.

• Search for:

No products in the cart.

Techniques to Improve Your French

How to improve your french writing skills [do at home].

Writing is one of the hardest components of language learning. One of the reasons it can be so difficult is because you never really know if what you’re writing is correct. There are plenty of people, websites, companies out there that will tell you that in order to improve your French writing abilities you need to go out there and practice writing short stories, poems or even essays.

I really don’t like this approach because it gets you in the habit of making all sorts of mistakes. When you continuously make the same mistake over and over you internalize it and then it makes it difficult to correct because it no longer sounds wrong to you.

People also recommend that you take the time to write something and then bring it to someone, whether it be a friend, tutor, or teacher, and have them correct your mistakes.

Now, although I don’t think this is the worst thing you could do I’m still not a big fan because you still will likely write things incorrectly.

What I’m getting at here is that I firmly believe that you should never have to write anything that’s considered incorrect (whether that be grammatically incorrect or just considered incorrect by native speakers).

Now, never making a mistake is probably an impossible task, however, it definitely is possible to minimize them and correct them within seconds or minutes. How can you do this? Let’s talk about two easy-to-perform techniques that anybody can use at home.

If you were to start learning a musical instrument how would you go about it? Would you pick up whatever instrument you were learning and start right away with composing your own songs? Chances are you wouldn’t. If you’re like most people you’d start by learning songs that were written by others.

Once you felt comfortable with those you would move onto ones that were a little harder, and continue this pattern. At some point in time, after having practiced using songs that other people have written, you would start to feel confident enough to be able to compose your own songs.

Getting to this point can take quite a lot of work, but nobody denies that it takes time. Learning French is no different than learning a musical instrument.

I f you are currently learning French and struggling to write anything without the confidence that what you are writing is correct, then understand that it’s completely normal. You’re no different than the musician who doesn’t feel comfortable composing their own music.

Here’s one technique that you can do practice to improve your French writing without internalizing any mistakes. This is one of the methods that is described in the article “ How to Improve Your French [The Complete Guide] ” so if you’ve checked out that article you should be pretty familiar with it. If not, keep reading as I’ll describe it right here.

• The first step to this technique is to locate some written content that has both an English version and a French version. It should really be something that was professionally made such as a bilingual book. If you have French-learning materials that have English to French translations then start with those as they should be easier to work with. It doesn’t really matter how long your chosen content is, but the longer it is the more you’ll have to practice with.
• Take a few sentences at a time (or even just one sentence if you’d like to start slow) and study both the English and the French version until you feel quite familiar with both. Don’t worry about doing this quickly, take as much time as you need.
• Begin by taking the English version of your content and translating it into the French content. You absolutely must translate it verbatim so that you are 100% sure your translation is correct. Don’t rely too much on your own French knowledge or translation skills and just worry on relying on the French translation because you already know that it’s grammatically correct.
• Take a look at your finished translation and if you weren’t 100% correct start over from the beginning and retranslate everything. Don’t just fix each individual mistake. Go through and rewrite everything. If you just correct each mistake without doing it all over you risk internalizing some of those mistakes and that’s the last thing that you want here.
• Move through your text translating each sentence from English to French until you have completed everything. Once you feel confident translating the English version to the French version start over and translate in the opposite direction. If you would prefer, instead of translating the entire text from English to French and vice versa you can simply focus on one sentence at a time and translate back and forth. At the end of the day it really is up to you.

There’s a bit of a misconception in the world of language learning that learning through translation is a bad thing. Believe it or not translation can be an incredibly powerful tool to help you learn French when done correctly.

What you don’t want to do is translate on your own without having any clue whether or not your translation is correct OR translate vocabulary out of context. There are so many flashcard systems out there designed to teach you vocabulary that only give you one or two word translations for each foreign word.

The obvious issue with this is that there are plenty of French words that don’t have direct translations and can’t be learned by just comparing them to another word in English or another language.

That’s why you should always learn new vocabulary through complete sentences so that the full definition of the word can be captured through the context of the sentence.

If you still don’t want to use this technique because of the translation element then just leave the English content out and write the French part. If you choose to do this make sure you fully understand what you’re writing and don’t just write out the French content blindly.

There’s another easy technique that you can do at home that will help your French writing skills and involves using movies or online videos with subtitles. I find YouTube videos to work best for this, but you can choose whatever you’d like.

The only real requirement for this is that the subtitles match what’s being said exactly and don’t just capture the gist of everything. Put the subtitles on and let your video (or movie) play for a just a few seconds before pausing it. Don’t look at your video during this period, just listen to what’s being said. Write down what you heard during those few seconds to the best of your ability. This should only be a few sentences at most.

When you’re done look up and read the subtitles that should be on the screen. If what you wrote matches what’s written on the screen then great, you can play the video again and pause it again in a few seconds. If you’ve made any mistakes at all, no matter how small, try to rewrite the entire thing again.

You don’t have to rewind your video and listen to it all again (although you can if you want). Keep moving through your video until you’ve gone through it all at which point you can either start back from the beginning or move onto something new. One of the big reasons I prefer to do this with YouTube videos is that you can get through an entire video in one sitting.

Not only does this technique do wonders for your writing skills, it also can help your oral comprehension seeing as you are trying to write down what you are listening to. Although this can really be done with any video (or audio) I high recommend you do it with something that has subtitles (or at least some sort of transcript that you can use) so that you know that what you are writing is correct.

Remember, we don’t want to get into the habit of making mistakes and any mistakes that we do make we want to correct immediately.

Alright let’s recap. In our first method you have to find a piece of content that is in both English and French. Study sections of both until you feel familiar with them and then proceed translate chunks of the English text into the French text verbatim.

Either make your way through the text translating the English to the French and then do the same in the opposite direction or just take each sentence (or short paragraph) and translate it back and forth. The only real rule here is that you find something that was professionally made and translate thing exactly as they are.

Our second method just requires that you find a video or movie with French subtitles, put the subtitles on, and then proceed to listen to the video without looking at the screen. Pause it after a few seconds and try to write down what you’ve heard.

When you’re done, look up at the subtitles and verify if you’ve written everything down correctly. If not, rewrite everything without looking at the subtitles and move on.

What are some of your favorite methods to improve your French writing abilities? Comment below and let us know how they work!

Hunter Van Ry

Hunter Van Ry, the owner of Frenchplanations.com, has spent extensive periods of time living in both France and Canada learning and studying the French language. He created Frenchplanations as a way to help others improve their French with easy-to-understand explanations.

• French Grammar
• French Resources
• French Vocabulary
• French Techniques
• French Conjugations
• French-Speaking Countries
• French Culture
• French Product Reviews

Username or email address  *

Password  *

Remember me Log in

Lost your password?

Email address  *

Learn How to Write in French Easily

• Everything About
• The alphabet
• Funny phrases
• Common words
• Untranslateable Words
• Reading Hacks
• Writing Tips
• Pronunciation
• Telling time
• Learn FASTER
• More resources

By OptiLingo • 9 minute read

Improve Your Written French Today

Whether you want to pen a love letter or submit an essay in France, you need to know how to write in French. Luckily, learning how to write in French is fairly straightforward. Since French uses the Latin Alphabet, you’re already ahead of the game. Improve your writing in French fast with these easy steps.

The Basics of French Writing for Beginners

When it comes to French writing, it’s a little different than speaking French. But, if you know how to read French well, you shouldn’t have a lot of problems.

Before you read the 8 easy steps of learning to write in French, there’s one important factor in mastering French writing: practice. The only way you can truly improve your French writing skills is with a lot of practice . Make sure you write a little bit in French every day. Soon, you’ll find that writing in French is like second nature.

1. Watch Out for French Spelling

One of the biggest obstacles that throws French learners off is spelling. Unfortunately, those silent letters that you don’t pronounce are very much there in writing. Be careful how you spell certain complicated words. You need to master all parts of French grammar to write French correctly.

2. Genders Influence Grammar in French

You may already know that nouns have genders in French. They can either be masculine or feminine. And depending on the gender, different parts of a French sentence need to be conjugated.

• articles : French articles need to be conjugated to reflect the gender and the number of the noun. These can be ‘le’, ‘la’, ‘l”, and ‘les’ for definite articles, and ‘un’ and ‘une’ for indefinite articles.
• pronouns : Pronouns in French are the words that replace the name of the subject in a sentence. ‘He’, ‘she’, and ‘them’ are some examples of pronouns in English. In French, you need to use different forms of pronouns depending on the gender of the subject.
• adjectives : When you’re describing a noun, you use an adjective. And since the noun is the only reason the adjective’s there in the sentence, you need to make the adjective fit the noun in French. There are various ways to conjugate French adjectives depending on the gender and the number of the noun, so make sure you brush up on that knowledge before you write in French.

3. Careful with French Accent Marks

French accent marks also don’t do us any favors. While they’re extremely useful when it comes to French pronunciation, their writing isn’t as straightforward. Try to associate the sound with the written French word. There are only 5 accent marks in French. One is the cedilla (ç), which only works with the letter “c”, and another is the acute accent (é), which only sits on top of the letter “e”. So in practice, there are only 3 different kinds of accents you should look out for in French.

4. Follow the French Sentence Structures

English and French sentence structures are similar in many ways. Both follow the SVO (subject-verb-object) structure, which makes writing in French much easier. And just like in English, the French sentence structure is also flexible. You can switch the words around to emphasize a part of a sentence, but still have the same meaning.

• Tomorrow , I’m going to work.    Demain  je vais travailler. I’m going to work  tomorrow .   Je vais travailler  demain .

The most important part of the first sentence is the time the speaker goes to work. The second sentence focuses on the subject, the speaker instead. Still, both sentences convey the same meaning of going to work.

If you want to ask a question in French, you can do so by putting a question word at the beginning of the sentence. Common question words are:

• How  Comment
• What  Que / Qu’est-ce que queue
• What kind  Quel genre
• When  Quand
• Why   Pourquoi

You can also ask a question by switching the order of the verb and the pronoun around, and connecting them with a hyphen:

• Do you speak English?    Parlez-vous anglais ?

It’s important to remember these basic rules of French sentence structure before you start writing in French. If you want to learn how to write in French effectively, practice these 4 steps a lot.

Psst! Did you know we have a language learning app?

• It teaches you useful words and phrases.
• Presented in a natural, everyday context.
• Spaced out over time, so you absorb your new language organically.
• It’s kind of like learning the words to your new favorite song!

You’re only one click away!

How to Write in French for Intermediate Students

If you’re an intermediate French learner you’re familiar with basic French grammar, and you’re confident in writing in French. But, there’s always room to improve. Once you know the basic steps of how to write in French, it’s time to make your writing even better. You can start paying attention to style, flow, and structure. The tips below will benefit your French writing practice.

5. Try Nominalization

This useful technique will make your sentences better. Nominalization means that you make nouns in the sentence more dominant. While in English, the dominant words are verbs, in French, you can write with the focus of the noun instead, making them more meaningful. Here’s an example to demonstrate.

• Normal sentence: The ice cream is cold. – La glace est froide.
• Nominalized sentence: The ice cream is cold. – La glace, c’est droid.

6. Use French Conjunctions

Conjunctions are the tools to write complex French sentences. Without them, you’re limited to simple and boring sentence structures. As an intermediate student, you can start connecting two equal or unequal sentences to make an even more interesting phrase. Here are the different kinds of French conjunctions you can use to write better in French:

Coordinating Conjunctions:

You use these kinds of conjunctions to connect two equal sentences. The most common coordinating conjunctions in French are:

Subordinating Conjunctions:

If one of the sentences in unequal or dependent on the other, you need to use subordinating conjunctions. These connectors often show causality. The most common conjunctions in French for this category are:

7. Style and Flow

Now that you wield the power of conjunctions, you have to be careful with it. As fun as it is to write long and complicated sentences in French, it doesn’t sound good. Make sure you use appropriate sentence lengths as you’re writing in French.

Aim for shorter sentences. Make them explain your point well. But, feel free to mix the flow up with the occasional longer sentences. That’s how you write in French with a nice and smooth flow. And that’s how you perfect your French writing too. It will be a pleasure to read your work.

Writing in French for Advanced Learners

Once you mastered all of the French writing rules, you’re officially an advanced French learner. But, there may still be room to improve your French writing. If you’re looking to kick your projects up a notch, you can learn how to write essays and dissertations in French. These pointers will be useful if you ever attend school or university in France, or you want to take a language exam.

8. Get Familiar with French Essay Structure

When you’re writing an essay, you have to structure it for readability. If you want to learn how French high schoolers are taught to write their essays, this is the structure they follow: thèse-antithèse-synthèse (thesis-antithesis-synthesis). Learn how to write French essays using a traditional French essay structure.

• Introduction : You begin your essay by having an introduction, which is a context for argument.
• Thesis : In this section, you present and defend the statement of your thesis. You need to write everything that supports the topic of your essay.
• Antithesis : The antithesis follows the thesis. This is where you state conflicting evidence and explain other potential substitutes for your essay. Including an antithesis doesn’t mean that you disagree with your original thesis. You just need to show that you thought of all possibilities before arriving to your conclusion.
• Synthesis : This is your conclusion. This is where you summarize your arguments, and explain why you still stand by your original thesis despite the antithesis.

9. Use Introduction and Conclusion Vocabulary

Certain words can encourage sentence flow by introducing or concluding some parts of your work.

• tout d’abord (firstly)
• premièrement (firstly)
• deuxièmement (secondly)
• ensuite (then)
• enfin (finally)
• finalement (finally)
• pour conclure (to conclude)

You can use these words when introducing a new idea to your dissertation or essay. These words will signal the readers that they are encountering a new part or thought of your writing process.

10. Writing a Dissertation in French

This is the form of writing you encounter in French higher education. It’s a very complex form of French writing, only the most advanced and fluent French learners should attempt it. It’s also a longer piece of academic writing. It may take you weeks to complete research and write your French dissertation.

The French dissertation is similar to essay structure. But, there’s one main difference: your thesis isn’t a statement, but rather a question. It’s your job in the dissertation to take the reader through your thought process and research to answer your question. This logic is known as “ Cartesian logic .” It comes from Descartes , who was a well known French philosopher.

History of Written French

French was used in Strasbourg Oaths, and it first appeared in writing in 842 AD. Before then, Latin was the only language used for literature in Europe. However, in the 10th and 11th centuries, French appeared in some religious writings and documents but was not used up to the late 12th century or early 13th century. The first greatest French Literature work, the Song of Roland (Chanson de Roland), was published around the year 1200.

Writing in French Alone Won’t Make You Fluent

You need to learn how to write in French to be proficient in the language. But, it won’t make you fluent. The only way to become fluent is to practice speaking French. While it’s crucial to develop every area of your French knowledge, if you want to be fluent in French, you need a reliable language learning method like OptiLingo.

OptiLingo is an app that gets you speaking, not typing a language. It gives you the most common French words and phrases, so you’re guaranteed to learn the most useful vocabulary. Don’t waste time trying to learn French you’ll never use. Complement your French writing practice with fun speaking exercises when you download OptiLingo !

Related posts

How Long Does it Take to Learn French?

16 Reasons Why You Should Learn French

French Fashion and Clothes Vocabulary

Everything to Know About French Grammar

Many people believe they aren’t capable of learning a language. we believe that if you already know one language, there’s no reason you can’t learn another..

Published on October 6th, 2023 | by Adrian Lomezzo

How to Write an Essay in French Without Giving Yourself Away as a Foreigner

Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-quote-on-a-paper-5425603/

Bienvenue! Do you dream of unleashing your inner French literary genius, but worry that your writing might inadvertently reveal your foreign roots? Fret not, mes amis, as we have the ultimate guide to help you master the art of essay writing en Français!

Within these pages, we’ll navigate the intricate waters of linguistic nuances, cultural subtleties, and grammatical finesse, allowing you to exude the aura of a native French speaker effortlessly. Many students like you have embarked on this journey, seeking academic assistance from platforms like  https://paperwritten.com/  to conquer their writing pursuits.

From crafting a compelling introduction to fashioning impeccable conclusions, we’ll unveil the secrets that will leave your professors applauding your newfound linguistic prowess. So, bid adieu to those awkward linguistic giveaways and embrace the sheer elegance of French expression – all while keeping your foreign identity beautifully concealed! Let’s embark on this adventure together and unlock the true essence of writing like a native French virtuoso.

1.   Mastering French Grammar and Vocabulary: Building a Strong Foundation

To create a compelling French essay, it’s essential to lay a solid groundwork. Ensure that your French grammar is accurate and that you possess a rich vocabulary. Avoid relying on online translators, as they may yield awkward or incorrect sentences. Instead, embrace reputable dictionaries and language resources to enhance your language skills effectively.

2.   Mimic Sentence Structures: The Art of Authentic Expression

To truly immerse yourself in the French language, observe and mimic the sentence structures used by native speakers. Analyzing essays written by experienced writers can prove invaluable in grasping the authentic style required to compose a captivating essay.

3.   Use Transition Words: Crafting a Smooth Flow of Ideas

In French essays, the use of transition words and phrases plays a pivotal role in connecting ideas seamlessly. Incorporate expressions like “de plus,” “en outre,” “en conclusion,” “tout d’abord,” and “par conséquent” to add coherence and elegance to your writing.

4.   Embrace French Idioms and Expressions: Unveiling Cultural Fluency

Demonstrate a deeper understanding of the French language and culture by incorporating idioms and expressions where appropriate. However, remember to use them sparingly to avoid overwhelming your essay.

5.   Pay Attention to Formality: Striking the Right Tone

Tailor the formality of your writing to suit the context of your essay. Whether you are crafting an academic piece or a more personal creation, be mindful of your choice of vocabulary and sentence structures to match the required tone.

6.   Research Cultural References: The Power of In-depth Knowledge

If your essay touches upon French culture, history, or literature, extensive research is key. Delve into your subjects to avoid mistakes and showcase your genuine interest in the matter at hand.

7.   Avoid Direct Translations: Let French Be French

To avoid awkward phrasing, strive to think in French rather than translating directly from your native language. This will lead to a more natural and eloquent essay.

8.   Practice Writing Regularly: The Path to Proficiency

Mastering the art of French writing requires regular practice. Embrace writing in French frequently to grow more comfortable with the language and refine your unique writing style.

9.   Read French Literature: A Gateway to Inspiration

Explore the world of French literature to expose yourself to diverse writing styles. This practice will deepen your understanding of the language and immerse you further in French culture and history.

10.   Connect with French Culture: Bridges of Cultural Resonance

Incorporate cultural references that resonate with French readers, such as art, cuisine, festivals, historical figures, or social customs. Authenticity is key, so avoid relying on stereotypes.

11.   Use a French Thesaurus: Expanding Your Linguistic Palette

Discovering new contextually appropriate words can elevate your writing. Embrace a French thesaurus to find synonyms that may not be apparent through direct translations.

12.   Master French Punctuation: The Finishing Touch

Take care to use correct French punctuation marks, such as guillemets (« ») for quotes and proper accent marks. These subtle details add a professional touch to your essay.

13.   Practice French Rhetorical Devices: Crafting Eloquent Prose

Experiment with rhetorical devices like parallelism, repetition, and antithesis to lend depth and sophistication to your writing.

14.   Pay Attention to Word Order: Unlocking French Sentence Structure

French boasts a unique sentence structure distinct from English. Dive into the intricacies of subject-verb-object order and grasp the art of organizing sentences to sidestep common foreign mistakes. Embracing this essential aspect will elevate your writing to a truly native level.

15.   Use French Idiomatic Expressions: Infuse Cultural Flair

Enrich your prose with the colorful tapestry of French idioms, reflecting the vibrant essence of the culture. Yet, a word of caution – wield them with finesse, for the strategic placement of an idiom can imbue your essay with unparalleled flair and authenticity.

16.   Master Pronouns and Agreement: The Dance of Language

The dance of pronouns, nouns, and adjectives requires your keen attention. Like a skilled performer, ensure their seamless alignment to avoid inadvertently revealing your non-native status. Mastering this harmony is key to writing like a true Francophone.

17.   Understand Subtle Connotations: Unveiling Linguistic Shades

Delve into the labyrinth of French words, where subtle connotations diverge from their English counterparts. Familiarize yourself with these delicate nuances, for it is in their mastery that your writing shall find refinement.

18.   Study Formal and Informal Registers: Tailoring Language to Purpose

Akin to selecting the perfect outfit for each occasion, comprehend the art of using formal and informal language. Consider your essay’s purpose and audience, and with this knowledge, enhance your authenticity, seamlessly aligning with the appropriate linguistic register.

19.   Practice Dialogue Writing: Conversing with Eloquence

Embark on the journey of dialogue writing to enrich your linguistic repertoire. As you hone your conversational skills, watch as authenticity gracefully weaves itself into your written work, enchanting readers with its charm.

20.   Seek Feedback: A Second Set of Eyes

To refine your essay further, seek the guidance of a native French speaker or language tutor from the  best cheap essay writing services . Their valuable feedback can uncover any language or cultural mistakes you may have made, allowing you to make necessary improvements.

Equip yourself with these priceless tips and set forth on your quest to master the art of French writing. Embrace the language’s allure, immerse in its rich culture, and watch your words flow with grace and poise. À la plume! Let the pen become your ally in crafting captivating prose that echoes with authenticity and charm. 

Header Photo Credit by George Milton: https://www.pexels.com/photo/smiling-woman-in-eyeglasses-with-books-7034478/

About the Author

Adrian Lomezzo is a content writer and likes to write about technology and education. He understands the concern of parents due to the evolving technology and researches deeply in that area. When he is not researching, he buries himself in books along with his favorite cup of hot chocolate.

Related Posts

Veronique Gallo On Tour With Her Latest Show “Femme De Vie” In California →

Beyond Shakespeare: Expanding Horizons with London’s Diverse Theatre Scene →

Three French authors from San Diego present their new books  →

Martine Couralet-Laing reveals behind the scenes of the city of angels in DreamLAnd →

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Welcome to French Quarter Magazine (FQM) – your passport to a journey through France, the United States and beyond!

French Quarter Magazine is a dynamic bilingual publication, based in Las Vegas, that celebrates the finest in art, culture, entertainment, lifestyle, fashion, food, travel, sports and history. Whether you're longing for a taste of Parisian elegance or the vibrancy of American culture, we've got you covered.

Our mission is to create a link and to bridge the gap between the United States and France by promoting exchanges and offering a unique reading experience through our bilingual publication. From the charming streets of Paris to the bustling avenues of New York City, our articles provide a captivating exploration of diverse cultural landscapes. Written by our dedicated team of contributors from around the world, they cover everything from the latest places to visit or stay, to new spectacles and exhibitions, to the opening of exciting restaurants or stores, fashion trends, and the nuanced history of French-American relations.

With a focus on women empowering women and excellence, we showcase individuals who make a positive impact in our communities. Through cultural events, conferences, and engaging content, we strive to enrich understanding of history, culture, and the arts, while preserving and transmitting valuable skills and knowledge.

At French Quarter Magazine, we cherish culture as a precious and diverse treasure that should be celebrated. That's why we provide a platform for individuals and businesses with interests in both countries to connect, network, and engage. Through our engaging content and cultural events, we strive to foster understanding and appreciation of the unique qualities of each culture, while also highlighting their shared values.

So why not join us on a journey of discovery? Whether you're seeking inspiration or information, French Quarter Magazine is the perfect publication for you.

Step into a world of lifestyle, entertainment, cultural exchanges with French Quarter Magazine! Subscribe today to receive our weekly newsletters and special offers, and step into a world of endless possibilities.

PROMOTE MY BUSINESS

Donate we need your help, become an ambassador, virtual and in-person events with fqm, your opinion matters , learning french, recent posts.

RECENT COMMENTS

Merci pour votre commentaire intéressant, Annick ! Désolée pour la réponse tardive. Nous avons dû restructurer notre équipe. Nous sommes…

Thank you for your continued support and for being a regular visitor to our website, Cameron! Sorry for the late…

Bonjour! Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez apprécié l'article ! Désolée pour la réponse très tardive. Nous avons dû restructurer…

Thank you for sharing that interesting piece of information, Mike! As for "Alors on Danse" by Stromae, while it didn't…

Thank you so much, Jaya! I'm delighted that you enjoyed the article and found it informative. Exploring the cultural differences…

©2023 French Quarter Magazine

• Sponsorships, Partnerships and Advertising
• Privacy Policies

Discover our new and improved website at www.frenchquartermagazine.com ! We look forward to welcoming you there !

Describe your daily routine in French

Learn how to describe your daily routine in French

In any language, it is important to know how to describe your daily activities! In this lesson, we will  learn how to describe your daily routines in French, illustrated with some pictures and examples sentences. You can listen to the audio for each word, to learn how to pronounce it correctly.

When speaking with a French speaker, you are likely going to want to at least refer to your daily routine, so learning vocabulary about this topic is a good thing for your learning process.

Knowing these words and phrases is also excellent for listening to other people as they are likely to talk about their daily routines and you are going to want to be able to understand what they are saying.

Vocabulary about daily routine in French

Se réveiller = To wake up

Je me réveille à 7 heures du matin. = I wake up at 7 in the morning.

Se lever du lit = To get up from bed

Je me lève du lit à 8 heures. = I get up from bed at 8 o’clock.

Faire son lit = To make bed

Je fais mon lit tous les jours. = I make my bed every day.

Aller aux toilettes = To go to toilet

Je vais aux toilettes. = I go to toilet.

Se brosser les dents = To brush teeth

Je me brosse les dents trois fois par jour. = I brush my teeth three times a day.

Se laver le visage = To wash face

Je me lave le visage avec de l’eau froide. = I wash my face with cold water.

Se doucher = To shower

Je me douche pendant 15 minutes. = I shower for 15 minutes.

S’habiller = Get dressed

Je m’habille en 5 minutes. = I get dressed in 5 minutes.

Se maquiller = To put on make-up

Elle se maquille pendant 1 heure. = She puts on make-up for 1 hour.

Prendre le petit-déjeuner = To have breakfast

J’aime prendre un petit-déjeuner. = I like having breakfast.

Aller à l’école = To go to school

Je vais à l’école en bus. = I go to school by bus.

Aller au travail = To go to work

Je vais au travail à 9h. = I go to work at 9am.

Déjeuner = To have lunch

Je déjeune à midi. = I have lunch at noon.

Rentrer à la maison = To go home

Je rentre à la maison à 19h. = I go home at 7pm.

Arriver à la maison = To arrive at home

J’arrive à la maison à 20h. = I arrive at home at 8pm.

Faire ses devoirs = To do homework

Je n’aime pas faire mes devoirs. = I don’t like to do my homework.

Dîner = To have dinner

Je dîne avec mes parents. = I have dinner with my parents.

Regarder la télé = To watch TV

Je regarde la télé avec ma copine. = I watch TV with my girlfriend.

Écouter de la musique = To listen to music

J’aime écouter de la musique. = I like listening to music.

Aller au lit = To go to bed

Je vais au lit à 23h. = I go to bed at 11pm.

Dormir = To sleep

Je dors vers 23h30. = I sleep around 11.30pm.

More examples without audio : 

Se rendre au travail en voiture = Drive to work

Prendre un taxi = Take a taxi

Attendre le bus = Wait for the bus

Préparer le dîner = Prepare dinner

Faire la lessive/Faire le linge = Do the laundry

Accrocher les vêtements = Hang the clothes

Repasser les vêtements = Iron the clothes

Plier le linge = Fold the laundry

Prendre un bain = Take a bath

Se brosser les cheveux = Brush your hair

Surfer sur internet = Surf the net

Aller faire les courses = Go shopping

Faire du sport = To exercise

Laver la voiture = Wash the car

Jouer avec des amis = Play with friends

Sortir avec des amis = Go out with friends

Prendre des photos = To take pictures

Jouer de la guitare = Play guitar

Lire les nouvelles = Read the news

Arroser les plantes = Water the plant

Aller se promener = Go for a walk

Nourrir le chien = Feed the dog

Nourrir le chat = Feed the cat

Promener le chien = Walk the dog

Sortir les poubelles = Take out the rubbish

Balayer le sol = Sweep the floor

Faire la vaisselle = Wash the dishes

Nettoyer les fenêtres = Clean windows

Ramasser les feuilles = Rake the leaves

Tondre la pelouse = Cut the grass

You can also learn watch our video to learn how to describe your daily routine in French :

We hope this lesson was helpful for you, if you have any questions, please leave a comment.

Tags: daily activities daily routine vocabulary

You may also like...

List of common and useful verbs in French

French Clothes Vocabulary: Learn the Essential Words

French Conversation – Practice your speaking and listening

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Next story  French Test Beginner – Level A1-A2
• Previous story  Learn French Idioms

Recent Posts

• Learn French vocabulary with pictures
• French reading practice for beginners
• Weather vocabulary in French
• Family vocabulary words in French
• French reading practice – 10 Texts with audio – English Translation

Recent Comments

• Passionate on French Sentences for Beginners
• Admin on Learn French vocabulary with pictures
• Huong on Learn French vocabulary with pictures
• Suhani on French Test Beginner – Level A1-A2
• Admin on French Quiz Beginner – Level A1-A2

Learn the body parts in French

Introduction to French Verbs

Kitchenware Vocabulary In French

Restaurant Vocabulary in French

French Listening Comprehension Test For Beginner – 1

French Test Level A1 – C’est, S’est, Ces, Ses

• Write for us
• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions

20+ Easy Ways To Describe Your Daily Routine In French With Vocabulary & Example

• Post author: Elijah Logan
• Post last modified: April 26, 2024
• Post category: French Vocabulary / Popular Reviews

Are you struggling to describe your daily routine in French? If yes, then this article is for you.

Interaction with others is something you cannot avoid. As a French learner, there will be times when you will be required to make small talk or engage in entire conversations with others.

One of the most common things people ask while talking to others is their day and daily lifestyle or routine.

The lexicon of everyday activities is quite crucial in French. Thus you must boost your daily routine vocabulary to learn how to describe your routine, and what French daily life looks like.

To help you learn better, we have explained each part with practice examples.

So, let us begin and help you write your daily routine essay in French for everyday practice.

10 phrases sur la routine quotidienne en français. – 10 phrases about the daily routine in French.

• Je me réveille tous les matins à 6h00. – I wake up every morning at 6:00 a.m.
• Je me lave le visage et je vais me promener dans le jardin et faire du jogging. – I wash my face and go for a walk in the garden and jogging.
• Je rentre à la maison, je me douche et je me prépare pour l’école. – I come home, shower and get ready for school.
• Après le petit déjeuner, je pars pour l’école à 8h30. – After breakfast, I leave for school at 8:30 am.
• Je change de vêtements en rentrant de l’école à 14h. – I change my clothes when I get home from school at 2 p.m.
• Puis, après avoir mangé, je me repose un moment. – Then, after eating, I rest for a while.
• Je me lève à 16h00 pour faire mes devoirs. – I get up at 4:00 p.m. to do my.
• À 17 heures. Je sors jouer au foot. – At 5 p.m. I go out to play football.
• J’étudie régulièrement pendant 2 heures après être rentré à la maison. – I study regularly for 2 hours after coming home.
• Le soir, je dîne avec tous les membres de la famille devant la télé et à 22h00 Je fais mon lit et je m’endors. – In the evening, I have dinner with all the members of the family in front of the TV and at 10:00 p.m. I make my bed and fall asleep.

Avantages de suivre une routine quotidienne : Benefits of following a daily routine

• La routine quotidienne nous aide à travailler sur notre objectif et à l’atteindre. – The daily routine helps us work on our goal and achieve it.
• Nous évitons la procrastination. – We avoid procrastination.
• Nous apprenons quel travail est important pour nous et quel travail n’est pas important pour nous. – We learn which work is important to us and which work is not important to us.
• Nous obtenons une idée sur la façon de passer toute notre journée. – We get an idea of how to spend our whole day.
• Suivre une routine quotidienne nous permet de travailler avec une plus grande efficacité. – Following a daily routine allows us to work with greater efficiency.
• Notre confiance augmente. – Our confidence increases.
• La routine quotidienne nous fait gagner un temps précieux. – The daily routine saves us precious time.
• Notre stress est réduit. – Our stress is reduced.

Also Check: Mastering French Numbers 0 to 100

Table of Contents

What Does The French Lifestyle Looks Like?

Like what is generally shown in movies and television series, ordinary French people are not always riding away on their bicycles with a baguette under their arm.

The average lifestyle of France is not as stereotypical as Hollywood has made us believe with its portrayal of daily routine in French essays.

In France, most people work on the weekdays for only up to 35 hours which is mandated by French laws. The weekends are official to relax, plus there are plenty of holidays & vacation days to take advantage of.

This perfect balance between life & work provides an excellent opportunity for the natives to explore hobbies & personal growth.

Average Daily Life in France – Look At Their Lifestyle

Every country has its own daily routine that is followed by most citizens.

In France, adults & school-going children usually wake up by 7:00 in the morning. They can properly work on their morning routine to reach their schools & offices by 8:30 AM.

Suggestion: Read 5 Short Stories Written In French To Kick-Start Your Language Skills.

Like most countries, a typical workday in France begins at 9:00 AM. But unlike most countries, its lunch break can last up to two hours.

And the day usually ends around 6:00 PM. The remaining evening hours are spent relaxing and doing favorite activities.

Most French people typically have their dinner between 7 & 8 PM with the entire family. The weekends are all for family. People like to spend quality time with their family & friends.

People can finally relax on their days off because of French law called “Right To Disconnect,” which prohibits employees from reading work emails.

Thus you can see how well managed an average day is in France and how well people can handle their personal & professional life.

Explore Easy Breakage of Daily Routine In French In 3 Different Parts

The daily routine is an integral part of our life. It provides stability & comfort, allowing us to better manage our daily obligations and maximize time for personal activities.

Also Check: Learn Color Vocabulary in French with Examples of Color Usage

A day filled with proper rhythm & activities is not just limited to the morning. People do different daily activities, which is valid for French people.

In France, daily routine can vary depending on various factors, including age, profession, place of residence, and personal preferences.

Thus to help you understand better, below, we have divided the daily routine in French using reflexive verbs & examples into three parts: morning, midday, and evening.

1. Morning Routine/Activities With French Examples

Our mornings are filled with several activities, from waking up to getting ready for school, college, or work.

One of the crucial things you will notice while learning & practicing the French daily morning routine vocabulary is that it contains many reflexive verbs.

Don’t Miss To Checkout: Explore the 9 Most Beautiful Ways to Say Good Luck in French Language .

The reason is that your daily activities are described by you, making you both the subject and object for the verb.

Check out the most common morning routine vocabulary you must know:

• To Wake Up – Se réveiller
• To Get Up – Se lever
• Early – Tôt, / De bonne heure
• Late – Tard
• To Sleep – Dormir
• To Sleep In – Faire La Grasse Matinée
• To Be Early – Être en avance
• To Hurry, Rush – Se dépêcher
• To Wash Yourself – Se laver
• To Take A Shower – Prendre une Douche / Se doucher
• To Brush Your Teeth – Se brosser / Laver les dents
• To Put On Makeup – Se maquiller
• To Get Dressed – S’habiller
• To Change Clothes – Se changer
• To Put On Your Shoes – mettre ses chaussures
• To Have A Coffee – Prendre Un café
• To Have Breakfast – Prendre Le Petit-Déjeuner
• I wake up at 7 am – Je me lève à sept heures
• I exercise for half hour and then take my shower- Je fais du sport pendant une demi-heure puis je prends une douche.
• I get dressed and put on my makeup- Je m’habille et je me maquille.
• I take a shower before having breakfast- Je prends une douche avant le petit-déjeuner.
• I have a coffee and I hurry to my office- Je prends un café et je me dépêche d’aller à mon bureau.

2. Midday Routine/Activities In French Paragraph

If you wish to describe your daily routine in French correctly, you need to learn about the different parts of the day in French.

Following your morning routine, the next one is the midday routine. It is the time that most people spend outside the house. Some of you are in our schools or colleges, while others are working hard at your jobs.

This particular time of the day concludes everything you do, from leaving the house to returning to it.

When describing your afternoon activities, you mostly build the sentence stating you are going somewhere, eating something, taking a mode of transportation, doing an activity & more.

Check out the most common afternoon everyday vocabulary you must know:

• To Leave The House – Partir de la maison
• The Metro- Le métro
• The Bus- Le bus
• The Car- La Voiture
• The Train- Le train
• To Drive – Conduire
• To Work – Au Travail
• To The Office- Au Bureau
• To School – À L’école
• To The Library – À La Bibliothèque
• To The Gym – À La Salle De Spor
• To The Café – au Café
• To A Restaurant – Au Restaurant
• To A Friend’s House – Chez un/une ami(e)
• To The Doctor – Chez Le Médecin
• To The Dentist – Chez Le Dentiste
• To Have Lunch – Déjeuner
• To Work – Travailler
• To Study – Étudier
• To Go Grocery Shopping, Run Errands – Faire Les Courses
• To Go To The Market – Aller Au Marché
• I have lunch with my friends – Je déjeune avec mes copains.
• I take the bus to work- Je prends le bus pour aller au travail.
• I have a meeting with my clients- J’ai un rendez-vous avec mes clients.
• I go grocery shopping after work – Je vais faire les courses après le travail.
• I go to the gym after work – Je vais à la salle de sport après le travail.

3. Evening/Late-Afternoon Routine Activities

The evening or late afternoon activities describe everything you do, from when you leave school or work to when you go to bed.

Related: How to Say ‘What?’ in French : 7 Easy Phrases You Need to Know.

Below you will find some words that have the same meanings. Thus you can use them as a synonym.

For example, the verbs rentrer, revenir, and retourner all mean to return (mainly home) and thus can be used synonymously.

Check out the most common evening everyday vocabulary you must know:

• To Come Home – Rentrer/Revenir/Retourner À La Maison
• To Prepare A Meal – Préparer Un Repas
• To Have Dinner – Dîner
• To Cook – Faire La Cuisine/cuisiner
• To Set The Table – Mettre La Table
• To Serve The Meal – Servir Le Repas
• To Clear The Table – Débarasser La Table
• To Do The Dishes – Faire La Vaisselle
• To Do The Laundry- Faire La Lessive
• To Iron – Repasser
• To Do Household Chores – Faire Le Ménage
• To Clean – Nettoyer
• To Sweep – Balayer
• To Relax – Se Reposer, Se Détendre
• To Take A Nap – Faire Une Sieste
• A Novel- un roman
• A Newspaper- Le Journal
• To Music- De La Musique
• To The Radio- La Radio
• To Watch Tv – Regarder La Télévision
• To Go To Bed – Aller Au Lit
• To Go To Bed – Se Coucher
• To Fall Asleep – S’endormir
• I go home – Je retourne/rentre à la maison/rentre chez moi
• I rest a bit- Je me repose un peu.
• I watch TV – Je regarde la télé.
• I make dinner – Je prepare le diner.
• I do household chores – Je fais le ménage.
• I take a warm shower – Je prends une douche chaude.
• I go to bed at 10pm – Je me couche à vingt-deux heures.

What Does The Daily Routine Of French Students Look Like?

If you want to understand the true importance of everyday activities for French people, you can do it well by exploring daily routines in French examples.

Life of students is almost similar on every continent. The early mornings, back-to-back classes, a lunch break, a little hangout with friends, doing some errands & activities, spending time with family, dinner, & to bed.

Also Read: Explore 100+ Happy Birthday Wishes In French For Every Person .

Thus, if you want to learn to describe your or my daily routine in french for students, all you need to do is break down your tasks of the day and then put them together in a paragraph.

To help you learn better, we have an example of the daily routine of most French students that can help you understand better.

Here is a daily routine of a French student:

• Wake up early in the morning – Se réveiller tôt le matin
• Take a shower or bath – Prendre une douche ou un bain
• Brush teeth and hair – Se brosser les dents et les cheveux
• Get dressed for the day – S’habiller pour la journée
• Have breakfast, such as bread with jam, coffee or tea – Prendre son petit-déjeuner, par exemple du pain avec de la confiture, du café ou du thé.
• Go to school or university – Aller à l’école ou à l’université
• Lunch at noon, usually a hot meal- Déjeuner à midi, généralement un repas chaud
• Return to classes- Retourner en classe
• Running errands or other personal activities – Faire des courses ou d’autresactivités personnelles
• Dinner with family or friends, often lighter than lunch- Dîner en famille ou avec des amis, souvent plus léger que le déjeuner.
• Watching television, reading a book or spending time with loved ones- Regarder la télévision, lire un livre ou passer du temps avec des proches.
• Going to bed early to rest before the next day.- Se coucher tôt pour se reposer avant le lendemain.

Of course, this routine can vary depending on personal preferences and daily obligations.

Daily Routine In French Paragraphs Using Reflexive Verbs

Now that you know what a day in a French student’s life looks like, you can easily comprehend your life in the French language.

Also Check: Easy French Short Stories – Improve French Listening & Speaking Skills

Below is a paragraph explaining a student’s whole day’s activity, from waking up to going to bed.  We have an example in both English & French for you to compare & understand the words’ usage & meaning.

I wake up around 6 in the morning. I jog for about half an hour and then hop into the shower. 

After showering, I get ready for school or university. Proper dressing and good makeup are a must.

I eat a healthy breakfast with my family, which is generally cooked by my mother. I leave the house at 8 and take an 8:30 AM bus to reach my destination.

There are lectures all day, and in my free time, I eat lunch and practice my guitar skills.

After school, I hang out with friends for an hour or two and make sure I get home by 7.

As soon as I reach home, I take a warm shower to get rid of the day’s tiredness. Then I help my mom in the kitchen, and we always have dinner around 8 PM.

After that, I focus my attention on studying and usually go to sleep around 1 AM.

Je me reveille vers 6 heures du matin. Je fais du jogging pendant environ une demi-heure, puis je prends une douche. 

Après la douche, je me prépare pour l’école ou l’université. Une tenue correcte et un bon maquillage sont indispensables.

Je prends un petit-déjeuner sain avec ma famille, généralement préparé par ma mère. Je quitte la maison à 8 heures et monte dans le bus de 8h30 pour me rendre à ma destination.

Il y a des cours toute la journée, et pendant mon temps libre, je déjeune et je m’entraîne à la guitare.

Après l’école, je passe une heure ou deux avec des amis et je m’assure de rentrer à la maison à 19 heures.

Dès que j’arrive à la maison, je prends une douche chaude pour me débarrasser de la fatigue de la journée. Ensuite, j’aide ma mère à cuisiner et nous dînons toujours vers 20 heures.

Après cela, je me concentre sur mes études et je m’endors généralement vers une heure du matin.

French Daily Routine Vocabulary With English Translation

Now that you know what a daily routine is and its importance for French people via various examples, we have a treat for you.

Similar Post: Say Goodnight in Style: 9 Simple Ways To Wish “Good Night” In French With Examples & Pronunciation.

Learning never stops. And if you are learning a new language, you must keep brushing your brain to retain all the information.

Like saying hello in French or greeting in French, there is a bunch of French vocabulary related to the daily routine.

Knowing them will make it easy for you to easily converse with a fellow French speaker.

• Daily Routine – Le Quotidien
• Answer Messages – Répondre Aux Messages
• Brush Teeth – Se Brosser Les Dents
• Change – Se Changer
• Chat – Bavarder
• Dance – Danser
• Discuss – Discuter
• Do Homework – Faire Les Devoirs
• Dream – Rêver
• Dress up – S’habiller
• Drive – Conduire
• Eat Breakfast – Prendre Le Petit Déjeuner
• Eat Dinner – Dîner
• Eat Lunch – Déjeuner
• Fall Asleep – S’endormir
• Get Up- Se Lever
• Go Home – Rentrer À La Maison
• Go To An Evening Party – Aller À Une Soirée
• Go To Bed – Se Coucher
• Go To School – Aller À L’école
• Go To The Disco/Nightclub – Aller En Boîte
• Go To The Gym – Aller Au Gymnase
• Go To Work – Aller Au Travail
• Groom Oneself – Faire Sa Toilette
• Have A Coffee/Soda – Boire Un Café/Soda
• Have A Snack – Prendre Un Goûter
• Have Fun – S’amuser
• Hurry – Se Dépêcher
• Listen To Music – Écouter De La Musique
• Make Phone Calls – Téléphoner
• Meet Friends – Rencontrer/Retrouver Des Amis
• Prepare Dinner – Préparer Le Dîner
• Read The news paper – Lire Le Journal
• Rest – Se Reposer
• Shave – Se Raser
• Sleep – Dormir
• Study – Étudier
• Take A Shower – Prendre Une Douche
• take the bus/subway – prendre le bus/le métro
• wake up – se réveiller
• walk the dog – promener/sortir le chien
• walk (going on foot) – marcher/aller à pied
• walk/stretch one’s legs (taking a walk) – faire une balade/faire une promenade
• wash – se laver
• watch TV- regarder la télé

Top FAQs About Daily Routine Essay In French

What is routine.

The pre-established plan for doing any job is called the routine.

How important is routine in our life?

Routine is very important in our life, it motivates us to do any work on time which is useful for success in our life.

What should a student’s daily routine look like?

If we are students, we have to follow the daily routine in order to achieve our goals.

Discussing your daily life is the go-to way to start a conversation. 

If you wish to spark a conversation with a stranger or genuinely want to tell or know about someone’s day, you should learn how to converse about daily routine in french.

Knowing the standard terms related to almost all everyday activities will help you understand others better plus convey your thoughts clearly.

This article covers all the essential vocabulary with easy examples to boost your French learning of daily activities.

You Might Also Like

Mastering French Indefinite Articles: A Comprehensive Guide For Learners

A Beginner’s Guide To French Days Of The Week (Les Jours de la Semaine) With Audio

15 Easiest Ways To Learn French Fast And Effectively For Beginners

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

French Essay: Topics, Tips, and Examples [2024 Updated]

Nowadays, knowing several foreign languages is no longer surprising. For example, learning French is common for English-speaking countries. So, getting an assignment on this subject won’t be a surprise for a student.

Writing a French essay, you can dwell into:

• the history of the French language;
• various dialects;
• its grammatical features;
• similarities between French and English (or another language);
• the distribution of the language around the globe.

One studying the language may penetrate the rich French culture and comprehend the nation itself. Besides, writing a French essay can develop the author’s writing skills and broaden their outlook. And even if you make mistakes doing so, it’s not the end of the world. The fact that you’re able to recognize them is already good enough, and you can fix complex errors using a free essay rewriter .

Our writers prepared French essay topics and tips for you to nail your task. See the examples below for better understanding.

📯 French Essay Topics

Are you one of those who are assigned to write French essays? Then we suggest you pick out some of the following problems to investigate:

• History of the French language;
• Dialects of the French language;
• French phonology ;
• French orthography;
• French grammar ;
• French alphabet.

The suggested topics are too vague and need narrowing. You may single out some aspects and analyze it in your paper. An excellent French essay topic should be:

• Broad for you to have enough room to develop your arguments;
• Narrow enough for you to be able to concentrate on one or several points;
• It should also be creative and original. You want people to enjoy reading it, right?
• Most importantly, the topic should be interesting for you.

If the essay topics seem too formal to you, study, for example, your progress in analyzing the French language. Alternatively, you can state what attracts you in the language and explain why. You may also do a comparative analysis of French and some other languages. Comparing French with English may turn out to be a fascinating task to cope with. Both languages will benefit from your French essay writing.

Here are some topics and French essay examples you can consider writing about:

• Your progress in learning the French language . Here you can write about your personal experience learning the French language. What techniques do you apply, and what motivates you personally? You can explain why you have to learn how to speak French.
• How are the French language and culture in Southern France different from Parisian? In this essay, you can compare the Southern French dialect and culture with the one in Paris. What are some of the critical phonetic, grammar, and linguistic characteristics of Southern French?
• Parisian dialect as a standard of French. When people think about the French language, the Parisian variant immediately comes to mind. In this essay, you can analyze why Parisian French became the standard version.
• Why do you enjoy learning French? This essay focuses on your personal preferences and likes in the process of learning. What makes it fun and enjoyable? Is it French movies, French literature, or understanding French written work documents?
• French influence on English . Although English is a Germanic language, it looks and sounds a lot like French. The influence which French had on English is significant. Look at some historical reasons (the Norman invasion in particular) and why English benefited from it.
• French language in 19th century Russia. Not everyone knows that French was the official language of the Russian elite in the 19th century. Discuss the reasons why and what influence French culture had on Russian literature, music, and language.
• The effect of the French language on the development of English writing . More than 10,000 French words came into the English language. Not only did the vocabulary of English get more prosperous, but the French way of spelling and letter convention influenced English orthography.
• What caused French to become an aristocratic language in Europe? The reasons why the French language became so dominant throughout Europe are broad. In this essay, you can focus on economic grounds, cultural or political reasons.
• An analysis of Canadian French. This essay can be a comparative analysis of Canadian and European French. What are the main differences? What are some similarities between the two variants?
• Is there any similarity between French and German ? All of the languages in the Indo-European language family have some similarities. Therefore, French and German are not exceptions. You can focus on sentence structure, word order, pronunciation, or phonetics.
• The popular strategies in English-French translation .
• Describe the challenges of French language acquisition.
• Analyze the peculiarities of French vowel pronunciation.
• Cultural events and their traditions in French-speaking countries .
• Discuss the advantages of learning French .
• Examine the semantic peculiarities of the French language.
• Explore the role of watching movies in the French language learning process.
• Comparison of language education theories .
• Analyze the impact of French language learning on your personality.
• Describe the methods you’ve used to improve your French language fluency and which turned out to be the most effective.
• Similarities and differences between realism and naturalism in Spanish and French literature .
• What is the role of the French language in the modern world?
• Advantages and disadvantages of knowledge of multiple languages .
• Discuss the role of the French language in the United States.
• The specifics of learning French in early childhood.
• Compare the grammar peculiarities of English and French languages.
• How is the concept of friendship interpreted in American and French cultures?
• Analyze the correlation between the history of France and French language development.
• Explore the origin of the French language.
• Verbal and non-verbal communication in French culture.
• Examine the crucial role of French literature in learning French.
• Describe the relationship between French culture and language.
• Is it a good idea to integrate bilingual programs in early childhood education?
• Discuss the best ways to prepare for the speaking exam in French.
• The role of audiovisual materials in learning French.
• What difficulties did you face when learning to write in French?
• The essential role of sociocultural context when translating from French.
• Compare the customs of French, Chinese, and Hispanic cultures.
• The best methods of learning the second language .
• Describe the best ways of promoting language development for French language learners.
• Analyze the methods of French word formation .
• Would you like to become a French language teacher?
• Analysis of the food words in English and other European languages.
• Examine the specifics of the French language in former French colonies .

Do not treat your French essay as an ordinary task to undertake. Make it as creative as possible!

🖋️ How to Write a French Essay

Note that writing on some language problems requires more than your knowledge of the subject matter. It also tests your abilities to present them in terms of academic writing.

Special care should be taken concerning the following:

• The structural organization of your French essay.

Mostly, it is similar to any other academic essay :

• It should start with a hook . In simple terms, it is the opening sentence or two of your writing. It can be a quote, a short story, or a catchy statement that grabs the reader’s attention.

Here’s an example of from the sample essay:

Every language is a mirror of society, a living organism that exists and changes under the influence of historical, political, and social conditions.

• The next part of your essay is a thesis statement . Typically, it should be placed at the end of the first paragraph. The thesis statement’s purpose is to state the central idea in one or two phrases.

Here is a thesis statement from our French essay example:

Today, it is common to study English as a foreign language, as an international means of communication. However, this does not diminish the importance of learning other foreign language like French.

• After that, the body of the essay should start. This part of the composition usually has three separate paragraphs. These paragraphs can include research, supporting evidence, and arguments that prove the point of view.
• The conclusion brings together all the points of the essay. It goes back to the thesis statement and explains the broader importance of the topic. It is the last chance to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Here is an example form our French essay sample:

To conclude, the above discussion provides evidence and arguments that maintain the position according to which learning French is a necessity nowadays. The crucial points are as follows; first, French has a long tradition of international language; second, French is spoken around the globe; third, it is a language of international relationships. The opposing position that English is sufficient for appropriate global communication was claimed unreasonable – an emphasis in this regard was on the essence of cultural and language diversity.

• The logical organization of your French essay .

There are some ways in which you can coherently write your essay. The following three aspects can guide you when organizing your French essay:

• Topic sentence : you should mind linking elements within the paragraphs and between them. First of all, each section should include a topic sentence. It aims to identify the central idea and express an overall direction in which the writer will develop the paragraph.

The demand for knowledge of a language has changed in recent years.

• Concluding sentence: each paragraph should also include a concluding sentence. It asserts the main idea of the section and sums up all the information said in it.

It may be claimed that in a period of rather an aggressive introduction of the Anglo-American language in the world, the French need to persistently and resolutely defend their language, their national interests, and calls on other nations to preserve linguistic diversity.

• Linking words: it is crucial to use linking words in your essay. Linking words show relationships between ideas. It can be used to build sentences together to develop a cohesive paragraph.

To see the full essay sample, check the link below:

• Grammar, spelling, and vocabulary.

The last step in writing an A+ French essay is proofreading and editing. Before submitting your academic paper, make sure to pay attention to grammar, spelling, and vocabulary mistakes . Without proofreading, your writing can contain typos and errors that will not leave a good impression.

Good luck with your French essay writing! We hope the article was helpful. If so, share it with your peers and leave a comment below to let us know what you think.

This might be interesting for you:

• How to Write an Expository Essay in Simple Steps
• Nursing Reflective Essay Example and Guidelines for Students
• Essay on Dengue Fever: How to Write + Free Examples
• Objective Essay Writing: How to Write, Topics and Examples
• Organizing an Essay: Jerry Plotnick, College Writing Centre, University of Toronto
• Organizing an Essay: Study Guide Zone
• Paragraphs & Topic Sentences: Writing Guides, Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University Bloomington
• Thesis Generator: Ashford Writing Center
• Proofreading: The Writing Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Basic Essay and Paragraph Format: Utah Valley University
• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to LinkedIn
• Share to email

Dissertation critique writing develops the students’ critical and logical thinking abilities. When composing, the students learn to analyze the works conducted by other researchers. To critique a dissertation, you should: Thoroughly read the paper.Take notes and summarize the text (you can even try and use auto summarizer for that).Interpret and...

An opinion essay is a formal piece of writing which presents the author’s point of view on a particular subject supported by reasoning and examples. The opposing viewpoint is also suggested, but it is followed by arguments that show its inconsistency. Take a look at the guide prepared by Custom-writing experts to...

So, you need to accomplish your discursive essay writing. The typical questions most students ask are: How do you write it? What is discursive essay? A discursive essay is an academic paper that involves a discussion on a particular topic. It is usually assigned to college students. You may be...

How to write a narrative essay? To do that, you need to know what a narrative essay is. It is an academic text usually written as a story and containing all the usual elements of a story. Narrative essays are often personal, experiential, and creative. Still, they should be made...

It’s not hard to see why Americanism is one of the most popular essay topics. The concept of Americanism is in the center of the US identity. Writing an essay about it is an excellent way to find out more about this great country.

An art critique paper involves a comprehensive analysis and assessment of an artwork. Though this looks a bit complicated, the task doesn’t require a lot of time if you have sufficient critique writing skills. It’s an interesting assignment for students of art colleges as well as high schoolers. All you...

An article review is an academic assignment that invites you to study a piece of academic research closely. Then, you should present its summary and critically evaluate it using the knowledge you’ve gained in class and during your independent study. If you get such a task at college or university,...

Short essays answer a specific question on the subject. They usually are anywhere between 250 words and 750 words long. A paper with less than 250 words isn’t considered a finished text, so it doesn’t fall under the category of a short essay. Essays of such format are required for...

When you hear the phrase “spiritual leadership,” you probably think it’s only associated with religion. But did you know that this form of leadership can also be found in business? The book Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda by Henry and Richard Blackaby is a good starting point...

High school and college students often face challenges when crafting a compare-and-contrast essay. A well-written paper of this kind needs to be structured appropriately to earn you good grades. Knowing how to organize your ideas allows you to present your ideas in a coherent and logical manner This article by...

“If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?” is one of the most debatable philosophical questions regarding observation and perception. Many tried to answer it, including the English philosopher John Locke. Do you need to explore Locke’s perspective on this question in your essay? You are on the right...

The long-standing debate surrounding abortion has many opponents and advocates. Groups known as Pro-Choice and Pro-Life argue which approach is better, with no easy solution in sight. This ethical complexity is what makes abortion a popular topic for argumentative writing. As a student, you need to tackle it appropriately. If...

It is not helpful to me.

Thanks for the help with out this i wouldn’t even know what to do on my essay

Hi, do you also do French powerpoint presentation?

Good advice. Thanks.

This was a very great help. I’m writing a French essay, and I know, thanks to your post and the provided tips on French essay writing, I will pass!

Hi! I just want to thank you for your ideas and tips for writing French essays! Write a French paper in English or write an essay for the French by an American) Funny.

Thanks a lot for the help.

No problem, Sash:) Good luck!

[email protected]

REQUEST A QUOTE

Telling your holidays in French

Drrriiiiiiing !!!

It is the start of the new school year, students and learners of French are back to lessons! 

How to restart the brain gently? Telling your holidays in French is an excellent back to school exercise to keep your mind on vacation a little longer.

Vacances Actives gives you the right tips to make the start of the new school year a pleasant one that refreshes your French as a Foreign Language (FFL) skills and stimulates exchanges!

Recounting  one’s holidays: a complete linguistic exercise

Holidays, a good subject to create an exchange and integrate.

At the start of the school year, the first lessons of the year can impress students and it is important to facilitate dialogue between them . Whether a learner is shy or not, speaking is never an easy exercise in a new group whose members you don’t know. And the task falls to the teacher to stimulate the pupils and to encourage them to speak. Recounting your holidays in French is an excellent “ice breaker” : in turn, or as part of a two-person dialogue, the pupils share their experience and describe their holiday destination. Travel, sport, leisure, geography: so many subjects that allow students and teachers to find common points and perfect topics of conversation to facilitate their integration.

A story that mobilizes a lot of knowledge in French

“En juillet, je partis à Nice et j’ai allé à la mer”. ( = with mistakes :“In July, I left for Nice and I went to the sea”. )

Coming back from vacation can be hard for the learner’s brain. We will not hold it against him, these mistakes are very common!

First of all, recounting one’s vacation requires using the concordance of times from the past. Here is an opportunity to work on the conjugation and use of the past tense, simple and imperfect past. This exercise is not suitable for all language levels, but it can be adapted with a simplified version, using only the past tense. Here is a good introduction to discover this grammatical tense, if it is on the program for the year.  

Also, recounting one’s holidays is an opportunity to express one’s preferences, feelings and emotions . ‘I liked, I preferred, I loved, I regretted, I hated…” : so many personal formulas to testify to a moment or a pleasant or not pleasant activity. This exercise opens up many possibilities for discussion. And for those who have not had the chance to go on a trip, the exchange can be oriented towards the wish, the future desire to discover a destination, or to do a particular activity. 

Describing one’s holidays: a wide range of vocabulary

The description exercise is an effective way to mobilize a lot of French vocabulary words . Many lexical fields can be used, depending on the activities and the destination in question. It is a good idea to provide students with vocabulary sheets to help them describe their vacation. The sea, the mountains, the countryside, sport, leisure, transport, accommodation, weather, geography, etc. are among the main themes that can be used for this exercise. 

In particular, very dense vocabulary supports can be found on the site: https://www.lepointdufle.net/pseigner/lexique_vacances-fiches-pedagogiques.htm#h

Exercise materials to tell about one’s holidays in French

Orally: a set of questions relating to the holidays.

In pairs or in the form of a group forum, the exercise which consists of recounting one’s holidays can be easily set up with a set of questions . It is true that at the resumption of lessons, learners generally have difficulty finding their words and developing a speech in front of others. It is up to the teacher to guide them through a framework of dialogue:

• Did you go on vacation this summer? 
• Where did you go? 
• At what period? How long ? 
• With whom did you go)? 
• How did you spend your time? What activities? What visits have you made? 
• Have you had any meetings? (a question open to several interpretations!)
• Did you speak French during the holidays? 
• What do you plan to do for the next vacation?

If the speaking is still too timid and the students are not very verbose on the subject, then an ultimate exercise can help them. The idea is to ask them to identify which student in the group has had a vacation most like theirs ! As a result, the pupils question the others in the form of a game and discover a maximum of common points. A good way to untie tongues.

In writing: essay or travel diary

For higher French as a foreign Language (FFL) levels, it is interesting to work on written expression on this question. In writing, an essay for example, the story of the holidays can be developed further but the exercise will lose its interactive and playful side. 

On the other hand, to tell their vacation, students can rely on their travel diary. This can be used as “summer homework”. The travel journal is a very effective activity for working on students’ written expression and creativity. We have devoted a generous article to it with tips and suggestions: Create your linguistic travel diary. Some teachers go so far as to organize contests within the class!

The postcard exercise

Writing a postcard is a tradition that is being lost… It is an opportunity to revive it and to suggest that the pupils tell their holidays in French in a reduced format. It only takes a few minutes for learners to address the postcard to the person of their choice.   This approach is well suited to the first levels of FLE: it allows students to give a synthetic account of their adventures. Borrowing in the telegraphic style or with a more literary tone, they use a few well-chosen words to quickly describe the destination and give their impressions. 

The teacher can play the game to the end by printing a nice photo in the appropriate format to illustrate the vacation destinations of his students, or provide a set of ready-to-use postcards!

Tell your holiday stories on Instagram !

Why not do this exercise on social media? Teachers, you can create an Instagram account dedicated to your class, and start the exercise. Students should choose and post a photo and then write a clear description. Destination, anecdotes, exciting visits… The end result: an aesthetic and complete picture illustrating the holidays for the whole FFL class, to show and share!

Summer peregrinations are an excellent topic of conversation and story to mobilize knowledge and develop French vocabulary. 

The exercise can very well be applied when returning from a language study trip, where each of the learners will share an anecdote or an opinion on the trip made. 

So many good ideas to encourage travel and learning French!

Anniversary: OUR top 7 language stay memories

Bordeaux travel diary: from dordogne to arcachon., visit france during the paris olympics in 2024, privacy overview.