This AP French lesson explains AP French contemporary life step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on AP French contemporary life and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: The AP French Contemporary Life theme covers education, careers, leisure, travel, holidays and traditions. To score well, use precise vocabulary, compare francophone communities with your own, and support each idea with a cultural detail. Comparatives, contrast words and past tenses make descriptions clear and mature.
Level: AP French Language and Culture · Standards: AP French Language and Culture (College Board CED), Theme: Contemporary Life
AP French contemporary life: the lesson
How do education systems differ across the francophone world?
To compare schools, learn the stages and the exact words. In France, students attend le collège, then le lycée, and pass le baccalauréat. In Québec, l’école secondaire is followed by le cégep, then university. In Switzerland, la maturité opens the door to higher education.
Words that mislead
A collège is a middle school. Un élève goes to school, un étudiant goes to university. Passer un examen is to sit an exam; to pass it is réussir.
How do you talk about careers and leisure?
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un stage | an internship |
| une bourse | a scholarship |
| un emploi à temps partiel | a part-time job |
| un entretien d’embauche | a job interview |
| le bénévolat | volunteering |
| les loisirs | leisure activities |
Compare and contrast
Use plus / moins / aussi + adjective + que, and autant de + noun + que. To oppose two groups, use alors que or tandis que: Les Français fêtent le 14 juillet, alors que les Québécois fêtent le 24 juin. — The French celebrate July 14, whereas Québécois celebrate June 24.
Talking about travel
- Nous avons passé une semaine à Fort-de-France, où nous avons goûté des fruits que nous ne connaissions pas. — We spent a week in Fort-de-France, where we tasted fruit we did not know.
- Si je pouvais, je partirais un an à l’étranger pour apprendre une autre langue. — If I could, I would leave for a year abroad to learn another language.
Notice the relative pronouns où and que: they let you pack two ideas into one sentence, a habit that raises the level of any answer.
How do you describe holidays and traditions?
Use the present with on for customs: En janvier, on partage la galette des rois. — In January, people share the king cake. Add il est de tradition de + infinitive and la coutume veut que + subjunctive for a more formal register. For a story about a trip, the passé composé gives the events and the imperfect gives the setting: Il faisait beau quand nous sommes arrivés à Tahiti.
Dates to know
The Fête de la Musique, held on June 21, was launched in France in 1982. Québec’s national holiday is the Saint-Jean-Baptiste on June 24. In France, la rentrée is the back-to-school period at the end of the summer holidays.
Zoé’s tip
In a cultural comparison, give one similarity and one difference, then say what you would like to try. That small structure earns clear, personal answers.
Key points to remember
- Un élève goes to school up to the lycée; un étudiant studies at a university or college.
- Le collège in France is middle school, not college.
- Réussir un examen means to pass; passer un examen means to take it.
- Québec has the cégep between secondary school and university.
- Contrast with alors que or tandis que when you compare two communities.
Studies, Work, Leisure and Traditions Across the Francophone World: frequently asked questions
What does the AP French Contemporary Life theme include?
It includes education, careers, leisure, travel, holidays and traditions. Tasks ask you to compare practices in francophone communities with your own.
What is the difference between un élève and un étudiant?
Un élève attends primary or secondary school, up to the lycée. Un étudiant attends university or higher education.
Does passer un examen mean to pass an exam?
No. Passer un examen means to take or sit an exam. To pass it, say réussir un examen or être reçu.
What is a cégep in Québec?
A cégep is a public college between secondary school and university. It offers pre-university and technical programs.
How do I contrast two cultures in French?
Use alors que or tandis que to oppose two statements. Add en revanche to start a new sentence of contrast.