About This Lesson
Use Planning a short presentation about study habits to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Je dois faire une courte présentation la semaine prochaine.
zhuh DWAH FEHR ewn KOORT pray-zahn-tah-SYOHN lah suh-MEN proh-SHEN I have to give a short presentation next week.
B
Commence par un plan clair avant d’écrire des phrases complètes.
kuh-MAHNS pahr uhn PLAHN KLEHR ah-VAHN day-KREER day FRAHZ kohm-PLEHT Start with a clear outline before writing full sentences.
A
Mon sujet est la façon dont j’ai changé mes habitudes d’étude.
mohn soo-ZHAY eh lah fah-SOHN dohn zhay shahn-ZHAY may zah-bee-TEWD day-TEWD My topic is how I changed my study habits.
B
C’est un sujet auquel on peut s’identifier, alors réfléchis à ce que le public va apprendre.
say uhn soo-ZHAY oh-KEL ohn puh say-dee-dahn-tee-FYAY ah-LOHR ruh-flay-SHEE ah suh kuh luh pyoo-BLEEK vah ah-PRAHN-DRUH That is relatable, so think about what the audience will learn.
A
Je veux expliquer le problème, le changement et le résultat.
zhuh vuh eks-plee-KAY luh proh-BLEHM luh shahnzh-MAHN ay luh ray-zewl-TAH I want to explain the problem, the change, and the result.
B
Cette structure fonctionne. Ajoute des transitions simples entre ces parties.
set strewk-TEWR fohnk-SYOHN. ah-ZHOOT day trahn-zee-SYOHN SEH(N)PL ahn-TRUH say pahr-TEE That structure works. Add simple transitions between those parts.
A
Est-ce que je devrais mémoriser toute la présentation ?
ess kuh zhuh duh-VRAY may-moh-ree-ZAY toot lah pray-zahn-tah-SYOHN Should I memorize the whole presentation?
B
Répète avec des notes pour avoir l’air plus naturel.
ray-PEHT ah-VEK day NOHT poor ah-VWAHR LEHR plew nah-tew-REL Rehearse with notes so you sound more natural.
A
Je vais m’entraîner deux fois et m’enregistrer.
zhuh vay mahn-tray-NAY DUH fwah ay mahn-ruh-zhee-STRAY I will practice twice and record myself.
B
Cela t’aidera à améliorer ton rythme et à paraître plus sûr de toi.
suh-LAH tay-duh-RAH ah ah-may-lyoh-RAY tohn REETM ay ah pah-REHTR plew SEWR duh TWAH That will help you improve your timing and sound more confident.Word by Word
Je
In “Je dois faire une courte présentation”, Je means “I” and identifies the speaker. It is used before a verb when the speaker talks about their own action or obligation, such as planning a presentation.
dois
In “Je dois faire”, dois expresses an obligation: the speaker has to give the presentation. A reusable pattern is Je dois + an infinitive when saying what you need to do, for example when preparing for a class.
faire
In “faire une courte présentation”, faire is used for giving or doing a presentation. Reuse faire with an activity or task when describing something you need to carry out, such as a presentation.
une
In “une courte présentation”, une introduces one unspecified feminine singular presentation, meaning “a”. Reuse une before a feminine singular noun when mentioning one item or activity for the first time, such as a short presentation.
courte
In “une courte présentation”, courte describes the presentation as short. It agrees with présentation here; reuse this form before a feminine singular noun when describing something brief, such as a short talk.
présentation
In “une courte présentation”, présentation means a presentation or talk prepared for an audience. Reuse it when discussing a planned spoken presentation, for example one you have to give next week.
la
In “la semaine prochaine”, la refers to the specific week being discussed and means “the”. Reuse la before a singular noun when referring to a particular time or thing, such as the coming week.
semaine
In “la semaine prochaine”, semaine means “week” and identifies the time of the presentation. Reuse la semaine with a time description when arranging an activity or deadline.
prochaine
In “la semaine prochaine”, prochaine means “next” and places the presentation in the coming week. Reuse it after a feminine singular time expression when referring to the next occurrence, such as the next week.
Commence
In “Commence par un plan clair”, Commence tells one person to start with something. A reusable pattern is Commence par + a first step, useful when giving advice about organizing work.
par
In “Commence par un plan clair”, par marks the point or step where the activity should begin. Reuse Commence par + a noun when telling someone what to do first, for example starting with an outline.
un
In “un plan clair”, un introduces one unspecified masculine singular outline or plan, meaning “a”. Reuse un before a masculine singular noun when presenting one possible item or step.
plan
In “un plan clair”, plan means an outline that organizes the presentation. Reuse it when discussing the structure of a talk, document, or project before developing the full details.
clair
In “un plan clair”, clair describes the outline as easy to understand. Reuse it after a masculine singular noun when evaluating whether an explanation or organization is clear.
avant
In “avant d’écrire des phrases complètes”, avant places one action before another and means “before”. Reuse avant de + an infinitive when giving the order of tasks, such as making an outline before writing.
d’écrire
In “avant d’écrire des phrases complètes”, d’écrire means “writing” or “to write” after avant. The d’ is de before the vowel sound at the beginning of écrire; reuse avant d’écrire + an object when sequencing writing tasks.
des
In “des phrases complètes”, des introduces several unspecified sentences and means “some” in this context. Reuse des before a plural noun when referring to more than one unspecified item, such as sentences to be written.
phrases
In “des phrases complètes”, phrases means “sentences”. Reuse it when discussing written language, especially when asking someone to write or revise several sentences.
complètes
In “des phrases complètes”, complètes describes the sentences as complete rather than partial. It agrees with the plural noun phrases here; reuse it when assessing whether written sentences contain all the needed information.
Mon
In “Mon sujet est”, Mon means “my” and identifies the speaker’s topic. Reuse Mon before a singular noun when introducing something that belongs to or concerns you, such as your presentation topic.
sujet
In “Mon sujet est la façon dont j’ai changé mes habitudes d’étude”, sujet means “topic” or “subject”. Reuse it when introducing what a presentation, discussion, or piece of writing is about.
est
In “Mon sujet est”, est links the topic to the information that defines it and means “is”. Reuse it to identify or describe a subject, such as when stating what your presentation is about.
façon
In “la façon dont j’ai changé mes habitudes d’étude”, façon means “way” or “manner”. The pattern la façon dont introduces how something happened; use it when explaining the method or manner of a change.
dont
In “la façon dont j’ai changé”, dont links façon to the clause explaining how the change happened. Reuse the pattern la façon dont + a clause when describing how an action or development occurred.
j’ai
In “j’ai changé mes habitudes d’étude”, j’ai means “I have” and forms the speaker’s statement about a change already made. Reuse j’ai + a completed-action form when talking about something you have done or experienced.
changé
In “j’ai changé mes habitudes d’étude”, changé means “changed” and describes the speaker’s alteration of their study habits. Reuse it with an object when reporting a change you have made to a routine, plan, or method.
mes
In “mes habitudes d’étude”, mes means “my” and refers to several habits belonging to the speaker. Reuse mes before a plural noun when talking about multiple things connected with you, such as your study habits.
habitudes
In “mes habitudes d’étude”, habitudes means repeated habits or routines. Reuse it when discussing regular behavior, especially routines that can be changed or improved through practice.
d’étude
In “mes habitudes d’étude”, d’étude specifies that the habits concern studying. Reuse this expression after a noun when identifying something as study-related, such as study habits or study materials.
C’est
In “C’est un sujet auquel on peut s’identifier”, C’est introduces an evaluation or identification and means “that is” or “it is”. Reuse C’est + a noun phrase when commenting on or identifying something just mentioned.
auquel
In “un sujet auquel on peut s’identifier”, auquel links the topic to the people who can identify with it and means “to which”. It combines the link expressed by à with the reference to the subject; reuse it in a pattern such as un sujet auquel someone can respond or relate.
on
In “auquel on peut s’identifier”, on refers generally to people rather than to one named person. Reuse on as the subject of a general statement, especially in the pattern on peut + an infinitive when describing what people can do.
peut
In “on peut s’identifier”, peut expresses ability or possibility: people can identify with the topic. Reuse peut before an infinitive when saying that someone is able or permitted to do something.
s’identifier
In “on peut s’identifier”, s’identifier means to identify with or relate to something. Reuse it when describing a person’s connection with an experience, topic, or character that feels familiar to them.
alors
In “alors réfléchis à ce que le public va apprendre”, alors connects the relatable topic to the advice that follows and means “so” or “then”. Reuse it to introduce a consequence or next step after explaining a situation.
réfléchis
In “réfléchis à ce que le public va apprendre”, réfléchis tells one person to think carefully about something. Reuse réfléchis à + a topic when advising someone to consider an idea before making a decision or preparing a plan.
à
In “réfléchis à ce que le public va apprendre”, à links the act of thinking to the subject being considered. Reuse réfléchir à or réfléchis à + a topic when discussing what someone should think about.
ce
In “ce que le public va apprendre”, ce helps refer to an unspecified thing that the audience will learn. Together with que, it forms the pattern ce que + a clause, useful when considering or asking what someone will do or learn.
que
In “ce que le public va apprendre”, que completes the construction meaning “what”; it also appears in “Est-ce que” as part of a yes-or-no question marker. Because its meaning depends on the construction, reuse ce que + a clause for “what” and Est-ce que + a clause for a direct question.
le
In “le public”, le refers to the specific audience for the presentation and means “the”. Reuse le before a singular masculine noun when referring to a particular person, group, or thing already relevant to the discussion.
public
In “le public”, public means the audience listening to the presentation. Reuse it when discussing the people who watch, listen to, or receive a talk or performance.
va
In “le public va apprendre”, va contributes the meaning “is going to” or “will” and points to a future result. It is used with an infinitive in the pattern va + infinitive; here the speaker predicts what the audience will learn.
apprendre
In “va apprendre”, apprendre means “learn” and describes the knowledge the audience will gain. Reuse va apprendre when talking about what someone is going to learn from a lesson, talk, or explanation.
veux
In “Je veux expliquer”, veux expresses the speaker’s intention or desire to explain something. Reuse Je veux + an infinitive when stating what you want or intend to do, for example explaining a problem.
expliquer
In “expliquer le problème”, expliquer means “explain” and introduces information that makes something clear. Reuse expliquer + an object when presenting the reasons, details, or process behind a topic.
problème
In “le problème”, problème means the difficulty or issue being discussed in the presentation. Reuse it when describing the difficulty that comes before a change or solution.
changement
In “le changement”, changement means the change made to the study habits. Reuse it when describing a modification between an earlier situation and a later one.
et
In “le problème, le changement et le résultat”, et joins the final item to the two preceding items and means “and”. Reuse it to connect words or ideas in a sequence, such as the three parts of a presentation.
résultat
In “le résultat”, résultat means the outcome that follows the change. Reuse it when explaining what happened because of an action, decision, or new habit.
Cette
In “Cette structure fonctionne”, Cette points to the specific structure just discussed and means “this”. Reuse Cette before a singular noun when referring to a particular feminine item that is present in the conversation.
structure
In “Cette structure fonctionne”, structure means the organization of the presentation into its main parts. Reuse it when discussing how a talk, text, or plan is arranged.
fonctionne
In “Cette structure fonctionne”, fonctionne means “works” in the sense that the structure is effective. Reuse it when evaluating whether a plan, method, or arrangement produces a good result.
Ajoute
In “Ajoute des transitions simples”, Ajoute tells one person to add something. A reusable pattern is Ajoute + an object when giving a practical instruction about improving a text or presentation.
transitions
In “Ajoute des transitions simples”, transitions means linking phrases or moves between parts of the presentation. Reuse it when discussing how a speaker or writer connects one section to the next.
simples
In “des transitions simples”, simples describes the transitions as easy or uncomplicated. It modifies the plural noun transitions; reuse it when recommending clear, uncomplicated elements in a plan or explanation.
entre
In “entre ces parties”, entre shows the relationship or position separating the different sections and means “between”. Reuse entre + plural nouns when describing something located or placed between two or more items.
ces
In “ces parties”, ces points to the particular parts of the presentation already mentioned and means “these”. Reuse ces before a plural noun when referring to specific items in the current discussion.
parties
In “entre ces parties”, parties means the sections of the presentation. Reuse it when dividing a talk, text, or plan into distinct sections.
Est-ce que
In “Est-ce que je devrais mémoriser”, Est-ce que introduces a yes-or-no question. Est-ce begins the question structure and que completes it before the clause; reuse Est-ce que + a clause when asking directly for advice or information.
devrais
In “je devrais mémoriser”, devrais expresses “should” and presents memorizing as a possible recommendation. Reuse Je devrais + an infinitive when asking or discussing what would be advisable to do.
mémoriser
In “mémoriser toute la présentation”, mémoriser means “memorize” and refers to learning the presentation by heart. Reuse it with the material to be learned when discussing preparation for a speech, exam, or performance.
toute
In “toute la présentation”, toute means “the whole” or “the entire” and applies to the complete presentation. Reuse toute before a feminine singular noun when emphasizing that nothing from the item is left out.
Répète
In “Répète avec des notes”, Répète tells one person to rehearse or repeat something. Reuse Répète + a support or activity when giving someone an instruction to practice before speaking publicly.
avec
In “avec des notes”, avec means “with” and identifies the notes as the material used during rehearsal. Reuse avec + a noun when explaining what tool, person, or support accompanies an activity.
notes
In “avec des notes”, notes means notes used as prompts during the presentation rehearsal. Reuse it when referring to brief written reminders that support speaking without requiring every sentence to be memorized.
pour
In “pour avoir l’air plus naturel”, pour introduces the purpose of rehearsing and means “in order to”. Reuse pour + an infinitive when explaining why someone performs an action.
avoir l’air
In “avoir l’air plus naturel”, avoir l’air means “seem” or “look” and describes how the speaker comes across. Avoir contributes the idea of having, while l’air contributes appearance; reuse avoir l’air + an adjective when describing someone’s impression or appearance in a situation.
plus
In “plus naturel”, plus means “more” and marks an increase in naturalness. Reuse plus + an adjective when comparing how someone or something appears before and after improvement.
naturel
In “avoir l’air plus naturel”, naturel describes the speaker’s delivery as natural rather than forced. Reuse it after avoir l’air when evaluating how someone sounds or appears while speaking.
vais
In “Je vais m’entraîner”, vais contributes the meaning “am going to” and introduces the speaker’s planned practice. It is used with an infinitive for a near-future plan; reuse Je vais + an infinitive when stating what you intend to do soon.
m’entraîner
In “Je vais m’entraîner deux fois”, m’entraîner means “practice” or “train” oneself. The initial pronoun refers back to the speaker; reuse Je vais m’entraîner when describing a personal practice plan for a skill or performance.
fois
In “deux fois”, fois means “times” and counts how often the speaker will practice. Reuse a number + fois when stating the frequency of an action, such as practicing twice before a presentation.
Cela
In “Cela t’aidera”, Cela refers to the practice and recording just mentioned and means “that” or “it”. Reuse Cela + a verb when explaining the effect or consequence of an action or situation.
t’aidera
In “Cela t’aidera à améliorer”, t’aidera means “will help you”; the initial pronoun identifies the person receiving the help, and the rest expresses future help. Reuse the pattern aider someone à + an infinitive when saying that an action will support someone in improving or completing something.
améliorer
In “t’aidera à améliorer ton rythme”, améliorer means “improve” and refers to making the presentation timing better. Reuse aider someone à améliorer + an object when describing practice that develops a specific skill.
ton
In “ton rythme”, ton means “your” and refers to something belonging to the person being addressed. Reuse ton before a singular noun when speaking directly to one person about their skill, habit, or performance.
rythme
In “améliorer ton rythme”, rythme refers to the timing and pace of the presentation. Reuse it when discussing how quickly or evenly someone speaks, practices, or performs.
paraître
In “à paraître plus sûr de toi”, paraître means “appear” or “come across” and describes the impression the speaker gives. Reuse à paraître + an adjective when discussing how someone will seem to other people.
sûr
In “plus sûr de toi”, sûr describes the speaker as more confident or sure of themselves. Reuse the expression plus sûr de toi when encouraging someone to appear more confident in front of an audience.
de
In “sûr de toi”, de links sûr to the person in whom the confidence is placed. Reuse sûr de + a person or thing when describing being confident or certain about that person or thing.
toi
In “sûr de toi”, toi refers to the person being addressed and means “you”. Its stressed form appears after de; reuse de toi when referring directly to the listener in a phrase about their confidence or ability.
Grammar Points
auquel + s’identifier
un sujet auquel on peut s’identifier
uhn soo-ZHAY oh-KEL ohn puh say-dee-dahn-tee-FYAYa topic one can relate to
auquel links a noun to the idea of relating to it; s’identifier uses the reflexive form.
avoir l’air + adjectif
Le plan a l’air clair.
luh PLAHN ah LEHR KLEHRThe outline seems clear.
After avoir l’air, use an adjective to describe how something seems or sounds.
French Vocabulary
avant
prep
ah-VAHN
before
avant d’écrire
clair
adj
KLEHR
clear
un plan clair
Commence
verb
kuh-MAHNS
start; begin
Commence par un plan clair.
complètes
adj
kohm-PLEHT
complete; full
des phrases complètes
courte
adj
KOORT
short
une courte présentation
écrire
verb
ay-KREER
to write
avant d’écrire des phrases complètes
faire
verb
FEHR
to give; to do
Je dois faire une courte présentation.
phrases
noun
FRAHZ
sentences
des phrases complètes
plan
noun
PLAHN
outline; plan
un plan clair
présentation
noun
pray-zahn-tah-SYOHN
presentation
une courte présentation
semaine prochaine
phrase
suh-MEN proh-SHEN
next week
la semaine prochaine
sujet
noun
soo-ZHAY
topic; subject
Mon sujet est la façon dont...
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
outline; plan
Show Answer
planpresentation
Show Answer
présentationto give; to do
Show Answer
faireclear