FR6: Health, Illness and Wellbeing
Parts of the body, illnesses, at the doctor/pharmacy; avoir mal à; health advice
🥗 Health, Illness and Wellbeing
Parts of the body, illnesses, at the doctor/pharmacy; avoir mal à; health advice
Key Fact: This topic covers key vocabulary and structures for health, illness and wellbeing. 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 Health, Illness and Wellbeing, 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 health, illness and wellbeing.
Q2: Write a paragraph (40-60 words) giving your opinion on health, illness and wellbeing.
Q3: Translate into French: "I think health, illness and wellbeing 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 — Health, Illness and Wellbeing:
1. For Health, Illness and Wellbeing, 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 Health, Illness and Wellbeing, include opinions and justifications, not just descriptions
5. For listening and reading, focus on key words and cognates to extract meaning
1. For Health, Illness and Wellbeing, 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 Health, Illness and Wellbeing, 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 misuse faire de and jouer à. Wrong: Je joue du tennis / je fais à le foot Correct: Je joue au tennis (= jouer à + le sport) / je fais du foot (= faire de + le sport). Students also forget partitive articles change to de/d' after negation. Wrong: Je ne mange pas du porc. Correct: Je ne mange pas de porc.
✍️ Model Answer
Full-Mark Response
Writing task: Write about parts of the body, illnesses, at the doctor/pharmacy; avoir mal à; health advice.
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: Health, Illness and Wellbeing
AO1 — Knowledge: Show understanding of Health, Illness and Wellbeing by demonstrating accurate vocabulary and grammatical structures in the target language.
AO2 — Application: Apply your knowledge of Health, Illness and Wellbeing to understand and produce language in listening, reading, speaking and writing contexts.
AO3 — Analysis & Evaluation: Analyse and evaluate linguistic features related to Health, Illness and Wellbeing, demonstrating critical awareness of meaning, context and cultural references.
📝 Exam Questions by Topic
🎬 Video Resources
Notes Détaillées
Exprimer les Symptômes et la Maladie
At GCSE, you must be able to describe symptoms and illnesses. Use avoir + noun for most symptoms: J'ai mal à la tête (I have a headache), J'ai mal au ventre (I have a stomach ache), J'ai de la fièvre (I have a fever), J'ai la grippe (I have the flu). Note: avoir mal à + le = avoir mal au, avoir mal à + les = avoir mal aux: J'ai mal aux dents (I have toothache).
The French healthcare system (le système de santé) is one of the best in the world. La Sécurité sociale provides universal coverage, and most medical costs are reimbursed. A visit to the doctor (un médecin généraliste) costs about 25€, most of which is refunded. La pharmacie plays a bigger role than in the UK — French pharmacists can prescribe certain medications and offer health advice.
Use the imperative to give health advice: Reposez-vous (Rest), Prenez des médicaments (Take medication), Boisez beaucoup d'eau (Drink lots of water). For negative advice: Ne travaillez pas trop (Don't work too much). The conditional adds politeness: Vous devriez consulter un médecin (You should see a doctor).
Exemple
J'ai mal à la gorge et j'ai de la fièvre depuis deux jours. Je pense que je dois aller chez le médecin. — I have a sore throat and I've had a fever for two days. I think I must go to the doctor.
La Santé Mentale et le Bien-être
Mental health vocabulary is increasingly important at GCSE: le stress (stress), l'anxiété (anxiety), la dépression (depression), se sentir bien/mal (to feel well/unwell), le bien-être (wellbeing), la santé mentale (mental health). French young people report increasing stress, particularly related to school pressure (la pression scolaire) and social media (les réseaux sociaux).
In France, mental health is becoming less taboo. The government launched le numéro national de prévention du suicide (3114) in 2021. Schools have les infirmières scolaires (school nurses) who can help with mental health concerns. However, access to un psychologue or un psychiatre can be difficult, especially in rural areas. In francophone Africa, mental health is still often stigmatised, though this is changing.
Discuss coping strategies using a range of tenses: Pour réduire le stress, je fais du yoga (To reduce stress, I do yoga). Quand je me sens stressé(e), je sors avec mes amis (When I feel stressed, I go out with my friends). Use the conditional for advice: On devrait parler de ses problèmes (One should talk about one's problems).
Exemple
Le stress est un grand problème chez les jeunes Français. À mon avis, on devrait en parler plus ouvertement. Faire du sport et passer du temps avec des amis aident beaucoup. — Stress is a big problem among young French people. In my opinion, we should talk about it more openly. Doing sport and spending time with friends helps a lot.
Le Système de Santé Français et Francophone
The French healthcare system is a key cultural topic. La carte Vitale is the health insurance card that every French resident carries. It stores medical information and ensures automatic reimbursement. Les mutuelles (private supplementary insurance) cover what the Sécurité sociale doesn't. This system was ranked among the best globally by the WHO.
In Sénégal, healthcare faces different challenges. Les dispensaires (health clinics) provide basic care, but rural areas have limited access to doctors. Traditional medicine (la médecine traditionnelle) plays an important role, with les guérisseurs (traditional healers) treating many conditions. In Belgium, the healthcare system is also excellent, with la mutuelle providing coverage similar to the French system.
Comparing healthcare systems is an excellent Higher tier skill: Tandis qu'en France, la Sécurité sociale rembourse la plupart des frais médicaux, au Sénégal, l'accès aux soins est plus limité, surtout dans les zones rurales. Use tandis que, cependant, and en revanche for contrast.
Exemple
En France, la Sécurité sociale rembourse environ 70% des frais médicaux. On a aussi une mutuelle pour le reste. La carte Vitale facilite les démarches. — In France, the Sécurité sociale reimburses about 70% of medical costs. You also have a mutuelle for the rest. The carte Vitale makes procedures easier.
Vocabulaire Clé
| Français | English | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| avoir mal à | to have a pain in | J'ai mal à la tête — I have a headache |
| la fièvre | fever | J'ai de la fièvre — I have a fever |
| la grippe | flu | J'ai attrapé la grippe — I caught the flu |
| le médicament | medicine/medication | Prenez ce médicament — Take this medicine |
| la pharmacie | pharmacy | Je vais à la pharmacie — I'm going to the pharmacy |
| le médecin généraliste | GP/doctor | Je dois voir le médecin — I must see the doctor |
| le bien-être | wellbeing | Le bien-être est important — Wellbeing is important |
| le stress | stress | Le stress scolaire est un problème — School stress is a problem |
| la Sécurité sociale | state health insurance | La Sécurité sociale rembourse les soins — The state health insurance reimburses care |
| la carte Vitale | French health insurance card | Présentez votre carte Vitale — Present your health insurance card |
| un dispensaire | health clinic (francophone Africa) | Le dispensaire soigne les maladies basiques — The clinic treats basic illnesses |
| se reposer | to rest | Il faut se reposer — You must rest |
Questions Supplémentaires
Q4: Vous vous sentez mal. Décrivez vos symptômes et dites ce que vous allez faire. (You feel unwell. Describe your symptoms and say what you are going to do.)
Q5: Comment peut-on améliorer le bien-être des jeunes? Donnez vos conseils. (How can young people's wellbeing be improved? Give your advice.)
Réponses Supplémentaires
- Je ne me sens pas bien depuis trois jours. J'ai mal à la gorge, j'ai de la fièvre et je tousse beaucoup. Je suis très fatigué(e). Je vais prendre rendez-vous chez le médecin et je vais rester au lit. Je dois aussi aller à la pharmacie pour acheter des médicaments. Ma mère me prépare de la soupe chaude. — I haven't been feeling well for three days. I have a sore throat, I have a fever and I'm coughing a lot. I'm very tired. I'm going to make an appointment with the doctor and I'm going to stay in bed. I must also go to the pharmacy to buy medication. My mother is making me hot soup.
- À mon avis, il faut encourager les jeunes à parler de leurs problèmes. On devrait réduire la pression scolaire et promouvoir le sport et les activités créatives. Il ne faut pas passer trop de temps sur les réseaux sociaux. En France, il y a le numéro 3114 pour les jeunes en difficulté. Je pense que les écoles devraient offrir plus de soutien psychologique. — In my opinion, we must encourage young people to talk about their problems. We should reduce school pressure and promote sport and creative activities. You must not spend too much time on social media. In France, there is the number 3114 for young people in difficulty. I think schools should offer more psychological support.
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