FR12: Technology in Everyday Life
Social media, internet, smartphones; advantages and dangers; opinions on technology use
🎮 Technology in Everyday Life
Social media, internet, smartphones; advantages and dangers; opinions on technology use
Key Fact: This topic covers key vocabulary and structures for technology in everyday life. 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 Technology in Everyday Life, 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 technology in everyday life.
Q2: Write a paragraph (40-60 words) giving your opinion on technology in everyday life.
Q3: Translate into French: "I think technology in everyday life 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 — Technology in Everyday Life:
1. For Technology in Everyday Life, 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 Technology in Everyday Life, include opinions and justifications, not just descriptions
5. For listening and reading, focus on key words and cognates to extract meaning
1. For Technology in Everyday Life, 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 Technology in Everyday Life, 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 forget to use the perfect tense for completed past activities. Wrong: Hier, je joue au foot. Correct: Hier, j'ai joué au foot (perfect tense for completed past actions). Students also mix up à and en with countries. Wrong: Je vais à France. Correct: Je vais en France (en with feminine countries starting with consonant).
✍️ Model Answer
Full-Mark Response
Writing task: Write about social media, internet, smartphones; advantages and dangers; opinions on technology use.
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: Technology in Everyday Life
AO1 — Knowledge: Show understanding of Technology in Everyday Life by demonstrating accurate vocabulary and grammatical structures in the target language.
AO2 — Application: Apply your knowledge of Technology in Everyday Life to understand and produce language in listening, reading, speaking and writing contexts.
AO3 — Analysis & Evaluation: Analyse and evaluate linguistic features related to Technology in Everyday Life, demonstrating critical awareness of meaning, context and cultural references.
📝 Exam Questions by Topic
🎬 Video Resources
Notes Détaillées
La Technologie au Quotidien
Technology vocabulary: le smartphone (smartphone), l'ordinateur (computer), la tablette (tablet), internet (the internet), les réseaux sociaux (social media), une application (an app), télécharger (to download), mettre en ligne (to upload/post online), un abonnement (a subscription), le Wi-Fi. French tech vocabulary often borrows from English: le chat, le blog, le streaming, le podcast — but these words are masculine in French.
France has high internet penetration — over 90% of the population is online. La fibre optique (fibre optic) is available in most cities, though rural areas still face la fracture numérique (digital divide). The French government has invested heavily in le plan France Très Haut Débit to provide high-speed internet to all by 2025. In Sénégal, mobile internet is more common than fixed broadband — le mobile money (Orange Money) is revolutionary for financial inclusion.
Discuss technology habits using different tenses: Chaque matin, je vérifie mes messages sur mon smartphone (Every morning, I check my messages on my smartphone). Avant, je jouais aux jeux vidéo, mais maintenant, je préfère lire (Before, I played video games, but now I prefer reading). À l'avenir, la technologie sera encore plus présente (In the future, technology will be even more present).
Exemple
En France, plus de 90% de la population utilise internet. Cependant, il y a une fracture numérique entre les villes et les zones rurales. — In France, over 90% of the population uses the internet. However, there is a digital divide between cities and rural areas.
Les Réseaux Sociaux et les Risques
Social media vocabulary: les réseaux sociaux (social media), un influenceur/une influenceuse (influencer), un abonné (follower), un like (a like), partager (to share), publier (to post), un fil d'actualité (news feed), la cyberviolence (cyberbullying), le harcèlement en ligne (online harassment). French teens use many of the same platforms as British teens — Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat — but French law adds specific protections.
France has strict laws on social media. La loi contre les contenus haineux sur internet (2019) requires platforms to remove hateful content within 24 hours or face fines of up to 1.25 million euros. Le délit de cyberharcèlement (cyberbullying offence) can lead to two years in prison and a 30,000€ fine. Since 2023, social media companies must verify users' ages — children under 15 need parental consent.
Express balanced opinions about social media: D'un côté, les réseaux sociaux permettent de rester en contact avec ses amis, mais d'un autre côté, ils peuvent causer l'anxiété et la dépression. Use cependant and tandis que for contrast. The concept of l'image de soi (self-image) and la comparaison sociale (social comparison) are important discussion points.
Exemple
D'un côté, les réseaux sociaux sont utiles pour communiquer, mais d'un autre côté, la cyberviolence est un problème grave. La loi française oblige les plateformes à supprimer les contenus haineux en 24 heures. — On one hand, social media is useful for communication, but on the other hand, cyberbullying is a serious problem. French law requires platforms to remove hateful content within 24 hours.
La Technologie dans la Francophonie
Technology adoption varies across the francophone world. In France, le Minitel — an early online service launched in 1982 — was a world-first precursor to the internet. Today, France is a tech hub with la French Tech, a government initiative supporting startups. Paris is home to Station F, the world's largest startup campus.
In Sénégal, technology is transforming daily life. Orange Money and Wave are mobile payment services that have revolutionised financial transactions — many Senegalese people use their phones to pay for everything from market goods to bus fares, bypassing traditional banking. In Rwanda (a francophone country), les drones deliver blood and medical supplies to remote hospitals. In Québec, Montreal is a major hub for video game development, home to studios like Ubisoft.
Discuss the digital divide: Tandis qu'en France, la fibre optique est disponible dans les grandes villes, en Afrique francophone, l'accès à internet reste limité dans les zones rurales. This comparison demonstrates cultural awareness and uses complex structures.
Exemple
Au Sénégal, Orange Money permet de payer tout avec le téléphone — c'est une révolution financière. Au Québec, Montréal est un centre important pour le développement des jeux vidéo. — In Sénégal, Orange Money allows you to pay for everything with your phone — it's a financial revolution. In Québec, Montreal is an important centre for video game development.
Vocabulaire Clé
| Français | English | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| le smartphone | smartphone | Mon smartphone est indispensable — My smartphone is essential |
| les réseaux sociaux | social media | Je passe trop de temps sur les réseaux sociaux — I spend too much time on social media |
| télécharger | to download | J'ai téléchargé une nouvelle application — I downloaded a new app |
| la fracture numérique | digital divide | La fracture numérique existe entre les villes et les campagnes — The digital divide exists between cities and rural areas |
| la cyberviolence | cyberbullying | La cyberviolence est un problème grave — Cyberbullying is a serious problem |
| le harcèlement en ligne | online harassment | Le harcèlement en ligne est puni par la loi — Online harassment is punished by law |
| un influenceur / une influenceuse | influencer | Les influenceurs ont un grand impact — Influencers have a big impact |
| la French Tech | French Tech (startup initiative) | La French Tech soutient les startups — French Tech supports startups |
| l'Orange Money | mobile payment service (Africa) | Orange Money est très utilisé au Sénégal — Orange Money is widely used in Sénégal |
| la fibre optique | fibre optic | La fibre optique est rapide — Fibre optic is fast |
| un abonnement | subscription | J'ai un abonnement Netflix — I have a Netflix subscription |
| le streaming | streaming | Le streaming est très populaire — Streaming is very popular |
Questions Supplémentaires
Q4: Quels réseaux sociaux utilisez-vous? Quels sont les avantages et les inconvénients? (What social media do you use? What are the advantages and disadvantages?)
Q5: Comment la technologie a-t-elle changé la vie dans un pays francophone? (How has technology changed life in a francophone country?)
Réponses Supplémentaires
- J'utilise Instagram et TikTok tous les jours. Les avantages, c'est que je peux rester en contact avec mes amis et découvrir des contenus intéressants. Cependant, les inconvénients sont nombreux: je passe trop de temps sur mon téléphone, je me compare souvent aux autres et ça peut causer de l'anxiété. La cyberviolence est aussi un danger. À mon avis, il faut limiter le temps d'écran et faire attention à ce qu'on partage en ligne. — I use Instagram and TikTok every day. The advantages are that I can stay in contact with my friends and discover interesting content. However, the disadvantages are numerous: I spend too much time on my phone, I often compare myself to others and it can cause anxiety. Cyberbullying is also a danger. In my opinion, you must limit screen time and be careful about what you share online.
- Au Sénégal, la technologie a transformé la vie quotidienne. Orange Money permet de payer tout avec le téléphone — même au marché! C'est une révolution pour les personnes qui n'ont pas de compte bancaire. Cependant, il y a encore une fracture numérique dans les zones rurales où l'accès à internet est limité. Tandis qu'à Dakar, presque tout le monde a un smartphone, dans les villages, la connexion est souvent lente ou inexistante. — In Sénégal, technology has transformed daily life. Orange Money allows you to pay for everything with your phone — even at the market! It's a revolution for people who don't have a bank account. However, there is still a digital divide in rural areas where internet access is limited. Whereas in Dakar, almost everyone has a smartphone, in the villages, the connection is often slow or nonexistent.
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