FR10: Future Plans and Careers
Jobs, careers, further study; future plans; conditional tense (je voudrais); applications
🎓 Future Plans and Careers
Jobs, careers, further study; future plans; conditional tense (je voudrais); applications
Key Fact: This topic covers key vocabulary and structures for future plans and careers. You need to know the topic vocabulary, be able to use it in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing), and express opinions with reasons.
📋 Key Vocabulary and Structures
For Future Plans and Careers, you must know:
- Topic-specific vocabulary (nouns, verbs, adjectives)
- Key grammar structures for this topic area
- How to express and justify opinions
- How to describe past, present and future related to this topic
- Cultural knowledge about French-speaking countries and communities
❓ Practice Questions
Q1: Write 4 sentences in French about future plans and careers.
Q2: Write a paragraph (40-60 words) giving your opinion on future plans and careers.
Q3: Translate into French: "I think future plans and careers is important because..."
✅ Answers
- Four sentences using topic vocabulary, with correct adjective agreement, articles and verb conjugation. Include at least two different tenses for Higher tier.
- A structured paragraph with: introduction (à mon avis...), opinion with reason (je pense que... parce que...), a different viewpoint (cependant...), and a conclusion (en conclusion...). Use connecting words and varied vocabulary.
- "Je pense que [topic] est important(e) parce que..." — ensure adjective agreement (important vs importante depending on noun gender), correct verb form, and give a specific reason.
🎯 Exam Tips
- Use a range of tenses (present, past, future) to access higher marks
- Include opinions with reasons (je pense que... parce que...)
- Check adjective agreement (gender and number) before finishing
- Use complex structures: negation (ne...pas, ne...jamais), pronouns (le, la, les), conjunctions (cependant, donc, en plus)
- Include cultural references to French-speaking countries
- For writing: plan your response, check verb conjugations, re-read for errors
📝 Exam Technique
French Exam Tips — Future Plans and Careers:
1. For Future Plans and Careers, use a range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures to access higher marks
2. Check verb tenses, agreements and word order carefully in your written work
3. In translation tasks, translate meaning rather than word-for-word
4. When writing about Future Plans and Careers, include opinions and justifications, not just descriptions
5. For listening and reading, focus on key words and cognates to extract meaning
1. For Future Plans and Careers, use a range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures to access higher marks
2. Check verb tenses, agreements and word order carefully in your written work
3. In translation tasks, translate meaning rather than word-for-word
4. When writing about Future Plans and Careers, include opinions and justifications, not just descriptions
5. For listening and reading, focus on key words and cognates to extract meaning
⚠️ Common Errors
Watch Out!
Students often confuse the conditional and future tenses. Wrong: Je voudrais (means "I would like" not "I will"). Correct: Je voudrais être = I would like to be (conditional); je serai = I will be (future). Students also forget to use the infinitive after modal verbs. Wrong: Je dois fais mes devoirs. Correct: Je dois faire mes devoirs.
✍️ Model Answer
Full-Mark Response
Writing task: Write about jobs, careers, further study; future plans; conditional tense (je voudrais); applications.
A grade 9 answer will: use at least three tenses accurately; include complex structures (subordinate clauses, pronouns, negation); show precise grammar (agreement, conjugation, spelling); express and justify opinions; include cultural knowledge; use a wide range of vocabulary; be well-organised with connecting words (cependant, en revanche, de plus, en conclusion).
Mark scheme: Content (relevance and detail) + Quality of language (accuracy and range) = total marks
📊 AO Deep Dive
Assessment Objective Focus: Future Plans and Careers
AO1 — Knowledge: Show understanding of Future Plans and Careers by demonstrating accurate vocabulary and grammatical structures in the target language.
AO2 — Application: Apply your knowledge of Future Plans and Careers to understand and produce language in listening, reading, speaking and writing contexts.
AO3 — Analysis & Evaluation: Analyse and evaluate linguistic features related to Future Plans and Careers, demonstrating critical awareness of meaning, context and cultural references.
📝 Exam Questions by Topic
🎬 Video Resources
Notes Détaillées
Les Métiers et les Ambitions
Discussing future careers requires a wide range of job vocabulary: médecin (doctor), ingénieur(e) (engineer), avocat(e) (lawyer), journaliste (journalist), informaticien(ne) (IT professional), professeur(e) (teacher), architecte (architect), vétérinaire (vet). Note that many professions have feminine forms: un professeur / une professeure (or une prof informally), un infirmier / une infirmière.
Use the future tense and conditional to express career plans: Je voudrais devenir médecin (I would like to become a doctor), J'aimerais travailler dans l'informatique (I would like to work in IT), Plus tard, je serai avocate (Later, I will be a lawyer). The verb devenir (to become) uses être as its auxiliary: je suis devenu(e).
In France, career guidance is offered through le CIO (Centre d'Information et d'Orientation) and Parcoursup, the online platform for university applications. Les stages (work placements) are a mandatory part of many French courses — students in seconde (age 15–16) do a one-week stage d'observation (observation placement) to explore career options.
Exemple
Je voudrais devenir ingénieure dans le domaine de l'environnement. Plus tard, j'aimerais travailler pour une entreprise qui développe des énergies renouvelables. — I would like to become an engineer in the environmental field. Later, I would like to work for a company developing renewable energy.
Les Études Supérieures et Parcoursup
After the bac, French students have several pathways. L'université (university) offers three-year degrees (la licence) and is open to all bac holders. Les classes préparatoires (prep classes, known as les prépas) are intensive two-year courses preparing for les grandes écoles — France's elite institutions like Sciences Po, l'École Polytechnique, and HEC. Les BTS and les BUT are two- and three-year vocational courses.
Parcoursup is the national platform for higher education applications. Students list their wishes (les vœux) and universities respond. This system replaced the old APB in 2018. The process can be stressful — many students don't get their first choice. In 2024, over 900,000 candidates applied through Parcoursup.
Discuss study plans using a range of structures: Après le bac, j'ai l'intention de faire une licence de droit (After the bac, I intend to do a law degree). Je prévois d'entrer en prépa (I plan to enter prépa). Si j'obtiens de bonnes notes, je pourrai aller à Sciences Po (If I get good marks, I will be able to go to Sciences Po). Use si + present, future for conditional plans.
Exemple
Après le bac, je vais m'inscrire sur Parcoursup. J'ai l'intention de faire une licence de sciences, puis je voudrais entrer en classe préparatoire pour intégrer une grande école. — After the bac, I'm going to register on Parcoursup. I intend to do a science degree, then I would like to enter a prep class to get into a grande école.
Le Travail dans la Francophonie
Work culture varies across the francophone world. In France, the legal working week is 35 hours (la semaine de 35 heures), introduced in 2000. Workers get a minimum of five weeks' paid holiday (les congés payés), and many enjoy more. La retraite (retirement) age was raised from 62 to 64 in 2023, causing massive protests — a key cultural point showing the French tradition of la grève (striking).
In Québec, the work culture is more North American, with 40-hour weeks and only two to three weeks of holiday. However, Québécois workers benefit from workplace health and safety protections. In Belgium, the four-day week is being trialled in some sectors. In Sénégal, le secteur informel (informal sector) employs the majority of workers — street vendors, artisans, and small traders.
For the exam, discuss work preferences: Je préférerais travailler à mon compte (I would prefer to be self-employed). L'avantage d'être fonctionnaire, c'est la sécurité de l'emploi (The advantage of being a civil servant is job security). Use comparatives: En France, on a plus de vacances qu'au Québec, mais les salaires sont souvent plus bas.
Exemple
En France, la semaine de travail est de 35 heures et on a cinq semaines de congés payés. Les Français font souvent la grève pour défendre leurs droits. — In France, the working week is 35 hours and you get five weeks of paid holiday. French people often go on strike to defend their rights.
Vocabulaire Clé
| Français | English | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| devenir | to become | Je voudrais devenir médecin — I would like to become a doctor |
| les études supérieures | higher education | Après le bac, je fais des études supérieures — After the bac, I do higher education |
| Parcoursup | university application platform | Je m'inscris sur Parcoursup — I register on Parcoursup |
| les grandes écoles | elite universities | Les grandes écoles sont très sélectives — The grandes écoles are very selective |
| la licence | bachelor's degree | Je fais une licence de droit — I'm doing a law degree |
| un stage | work placement/internship | Je fais un stage en entreprise — I'm doing a work placement |
| la semaine de 35 heures | 35-hour working week | En France, la semaine est de 35 heures — In France, the week is 35 hours |
| les congés payés | paid holiday | On a cinq semaines de congés payés — You get five weeks of paid holiday |
| la grève | strike | Les Français font souvent la grève — French people often go on strike |
| le secteur informel | informal sector | Au Sénégal, le secteur informel est important — In Sénégal, the informal sector is important |
| travailler à mon compte | to be self-employed | Je voudrais travailler à mon compte — I would like to be self-employed |
| la retraite | retirement | L'âge de la retraite est 64 ans — The retirement age is 64 |
Questions Supplémentaires
Q4: Quels sont vos projets d'avenir? Décrivez vos ambitions professionnelles. (What are your future plans? Describe your professional ambitions.)
Q5: Comparez la culture du travail en France et dans un autre pays francophone. (Compare work culture in France and another francophone country.)
Réponses Supplémentaires
- Après le bac, j'ai l'intention de m'inscrire sur Parcoursup pour faire une licence de sciences politiques. Je voudrais devenir journaliste parce que j'aime écrire et m'informer sur le monde. Si j'obtiens de bonnes notes, je pourrai entrer à Sciences Po. Plus tard, j'aimerais travailler pour un journal français ou international. Cependant, je sais que c'est un métier compétitif. — After the bac, I intend to register on Parcoursup to do a political science degree. I would like to become a journalist because I like writing and informing myself about the world. If I get good marks, I will be able to enter Sciences Po. Later, I would like to work for a French or international newspaper. However, I know it's a competitive profession.
- En France, la semaine de travail est de 35 heures et on a cinq semaines de congés payés. Les Français font souvent la grève pour défendre leurs droits. Tandis qu'en France, la retraite est à 64 ans, au Québec, le système est différent — la semaine est de 40 heures et on a seulement deux ou trois semaines de vacances. Cependant, au Québec, les salaires sont souvent plus élevés. Au Sénégal, le secteur informel emploie la majorité des travailleurs et les conditions sont très différentes. — In France, the working week is 35 hours and you get five weeks of paid holiday. French people often go on strike to defend their rights. Whereas in France, retirement is at 64, in Québec, the system is different — the week is 40 hours and you only get two or three weeks of holiday. However, in Québec, salaries are often higher. In Sénégal, the informal sector employs the majority of workers and conditions are very different.
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