Activités avant et aujourd'hui: extended speaking, photo description
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can successfully combine imperfect and present tenses to compare and contrast past and current activities in speaking, and I can accurately translate the imperfect tense into English.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- The imperfect tense is used to describe what you 'used to' do and what 'was happening' or you 'were doing'.
- When translating the imperfect tense, think carefully about which English meaning would make most sense for the context.
- Combining the imperfect tense and the present tense is a useful way to contrast past and present activities.
Keywords
Imperfect tense - tense used to describe how things were or used to be in the past, or to say what was happening
Common misconception
The imperfect tense only has one translation e.g. 'used to'.
Students must be aware that the imperfect tense can be translated differently according to context and intended meaning e.g. 'used to', 'was doing' or 'did'.
Teacher tip
Two photographs are described and contrasted in the second learning cycle. Teachers might prefer students to describe only one photograph and to build up more detail.
Equipment
Mini whiteboards and pens would be useful if available.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Some of our videos, including non-English language videos, do not have captions.
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the subject pronoun to the verb ending for the verb 'rentrer' - to go in , come in, come back, go back in.
rentrais
rentrait
rentrions
rentriez
rentraient
Q2.Select the possible uses of the imperfect tense.
Q3.What category of word is 'progrès'?
Q4.Translate the sentence: He always used to turn on the TV at the weekend.
Q5.Match the vocabulary together.
average, medium
success
worse, less well
thought
from now on
Q6.What is the translation of 'auparavant'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Select the possible translations of the imperfect tense.
Q2.Select the appropriate translation of 'je parlais': Je parlais avec le voisin quand le chien est venu dans le salon.
Q3.Select the correct translation of 'je jouais': Quand j'étais petit, je jouais dans le jardin chaque jour.
Q4.Make a meaningful sentence from the French vocabulary.
Q5.Match the vocabulary.
point
favour
worker
to check, inspect, control
professional
fault
Q6.What is the French phrase for 'timetable'?
To help you plan your 10 French lesson on: Activités avant et aujourd'hui: extended speaking, photo description, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 French lesson on: Activités avant et aujourd'hui: extended speaking, photo description, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 French lessons from the People and lifestyle: Mes amis unit, dive into the full secondary French curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.