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During your on-site orientation in France, you will begin your vocabulary study. From the beginning we
encourage you to carry a small notebook to keep track of new words and expressions. We also have found
that making index cards or fiches: is a very effective way to learn groups of words. Below you will find (1)
an explanation of how fiches work, (2) words and expressions to talk about eating and drinking, (3) words
to talk about family relations and health issues, (4) words to talk about emotions and sentimental
relationships and (5) a list of fun and very useful expressions Pour mieux discuter.
Les fiches: An important technique for helping you acquire new vocabulary, and retain it as well, is to
learn vocabulary not by memorizing the French word and its definition in English, but rather by learning
groups of French words that are associated with each other. An excellent way to compile vocabulary items
learned in this way is to keep a file of index cards with headings such as La vie nocturne, Mon cours
dhistoire, La nourriture en France, etc. You should pick themes that are likely to come up in your everyday
life in France. Each card should contain no more than 9 words: 3 nouns, 3 verbs, and 3 adjectives. These
should be words you DO NOT already know.
La vie nocturne
nouns
laube
(early morning)
le billet
(admission ticket)
le/la trouble-fte
(party-pooper)
verbs
draguer
(to try to pick up)
se donner rendez-vous
(to plan to meet)
samuser
(to have a good time)
adjectives
sol/e
(tipsy)
gnial/e
(wonderful)
anim/e
(lively)
An important characteristic of the advanced speaker of French is the ability to handle situations that require
present, past and future tenses. The advanced speaker can also express likes and dislikes, opinions,
react and recommend and hypothesize about people and events. To reinforce the new vocabulary you
are acquiring, it may be helpful to use the reverse side of the index card with the nine vocabulary items to
write 4 sentences (a past tense, a reaction or recommendation, an expression of likes or dislikes and a
hypothesis.) Each fiche would contain the 9 associated words on the front and 4 four practice sentences
on the back, which combine some of the new vocabulary words and the advanced grammar structures you
want to master.
Past
Il ny avait pas de billets parce que nous sommes arrivs trop tard.
Likes /dislikes
Reaction/
Recommendation
Cest gnial que nous nous amusions toutes les nuits, sans excption.
Hypothesis
disgusting
exquisite
sweet
rotten, spoiled
burned
delicious
spicy
salty
healthy
bland
tender
smoked
with dressing
roasted
cream sauce
steamed
raw
in brine
fried
baked
boiled
grilled/broiled
barbecued
stuffed
stewed/simmered
tipsy
drunk
starving
full
very thirsty
satisfied
a big eater
picky
in shape
sweet toothed
vegetarian
to try
to sample
to digest
to be on a diet
to chew
to smell/like
to make hungry
to taste like
loving
understanding
conservative
disappointed
selfish
meddlesome
jealous
strict
demanding
involved
naf/vecharmant/eautoritairegt/efier/reproccup/erebellesoumis/ecoquin/esympa(thique)-
naive
charming
bossy
spoiled
proud
worried, concerned
rebellious
submissive
mischievous
nice
to thank
leverto praise
manquerto adjust
regretterto support emotionally faire attention to punish
obir to share
gronderto count on
se plaindre de-
allergy
cramp
surgery
sore throat
chills
constipation
fever
cold
flu
heat stroke
nausea
rash
cough
to bring up/raise
to miss someone
to regret
to pay attention to
to obey
to scold
to complain about
to frighten
to cut oneself
to cure
to faint
to hurt
to get sick
to get chilled
to have a cold
to sneeze
to stay in bed
to get dizzy
to itch
to get better
to bleed
to get a sunburn
sharp
frightened
terrified
barefoot
painful
horribleenflamm/einsupportablepledangereux/se-
horrible
swollen
unbearable
pale
dangerous
sad
embarrassed
cautious
jealous
confused
excited
flattered
fed up with
sweet, gentle
friendly
lively
full of fun
funny
courteous/polite
well-educated
charming
sensible
sensitive
Les verbes
prendre dans ses brasto hug
avertirto warn
profiter deto take advantage
embrasserto kiss
trouver sympathiqueto like a person
se marier avecto marry
partagerto share
se confier to confide in
quitterto leave someone
se disputer avecto argue with
tomber amoreux/euseto fall in love
raterto fail
draguerto try to pick up
har-dtesterto hate
rompre/casser avec - to break up with
rver deto dream about
tre dingue deto be crazy about
laisser froid/eto leave someone cold
ennuyerto bore
plaireto please
contrarierto annoy
aimerto like
sortir avecto date
stupid
crazy
spacy
meddlesome
rude
annoying
conceited
strange, weird
stingy
stubborn
nocif/vedurablepassionnantrussi/egnial/einoubliablepassager/reemport/e-
harmful
lasting
exciting
successful
wonderful
unforgettable
fleeting
stormy
in the end
to matter to
as far as...is concerned
- to be kindred spirits
It's amazing.
Quelle horreur!
How awful!
Cest incroyable!
That's incredible!
Cest passionnant!
That's fascinating!
How embarrassing!
How awesome!
Quelle chance!
What a mess!
What a bummer!
Vraiment?
Really?
Pas question!
No way!
In your dreams!