Context:
Yet another lesson to familiarize ourselves with elements commonly found in a typical classroom setting. After studying the French nouns of many different objects one can easily find in class, I would like now to discuss school disciplines. After finishing this lesson, each one of you should be able to look at  his/her class schedule and translate almost all subjects into French. You think you can do this? OK, let’s not waste any more time.

Goals:

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to do the following:

  • Know in French the usual disciplines listed in a school schedule .
  • Master the verb avoir (to have) and use it to list the different classes you have during a semester.

    Chapter 2 –> Lesson 4:

    Level of difficulty: Easy

    For this lesson, you will definitely need to learn how to conjugate the verb avoir, otherwise how will be able to say “I have an English class at 8 o’clock” ?

    AVOIR (to have)
    j’ ai I have
    tu as you have (familiar, singular only)
    il/elle/on a he/she/it/ one has
    nous avons we have
    vous avez you have (formal or plural)
    ils/elles ont they have (people or things)

    How to ask questions with avoir?

    Very simple. There are two methods: the inversion method and what I call the “est-ce que” method. Here, we will use the inversion method, which simply consists in inverting the position of the verb and the subject. So if you have a sentence like this one (affirmative form): “Tu as cours cet après-midi” (You have class this afternoon) and you would like to turn this affirmative sentence into an interrogation, simply invert TU AS into AS-TU and follow with the rest of the sentence: “As-tu cours cet après-midi ?” (Do you have class this afternoon ?)
    For more on this subject, you can download this PDF file explaining the French interrogative form in more details: Thumbnail The Interrogative Form

    SCHOOL SUBJECTS EXAMPLES
    la géographie Geography Elle a un cours de géographie ce matin. She has a Geography class this morning.
    l’histoire History As-tu un cours d’histoire ce semestre? Do you have a history class this semester?
    l’informatique Computer science L’informatique est un sujet passionnant. Computer science is an exciting subject.
    la géométrie Geometry Cette étudiante déteste la géométrie. This (female) student hates geometry.
    les mathématiques Mathematics Je pense que les mathématiques sont très difficiles. I think that mathematics are very difficult.
    le commerce Commerce Nous avons un cours de commerce à 13 heures. We have a commerce class at 1 P.M.
    l’anglais English (language) Marie a un cours d’anglais ce semestre Mary has an English class this semester.
    le français French (language) Le français est ma langue préférée. French is my favorite language.
    l’italien Italian (language) J’ai un cours d’italien à huit heures. I have an Italian class at 8 o’clock.
    l’allemand German(language) Mme Durand sait parler l’allemand. Mrs. Durand can speak German.
    la gymnastique Gymnastics (exercises) Karen fait de la gymnastique dans le parc. Karen does gymnastics (exercises) in the park.
    le journalisme Journalism Michel apprend le journalisme dans cette école. Michel is learning journalism in this school.
    la psychologie Psychology Anne est étudiante en psychologie. Anne is a psychology major student.
    la sociologie Sociology J’aime beaucoup la psychologie. I like Sociology very much.
    le théâtre. Theater La comédie est un genre de théâtre. Comedy is a form of theater.
    la physique. Physics Einstein était un génie de la physique. Einstein was a genius in physics.
    la biologie. Biology Vous avez un cours de biologie à 11 heures. You have a biology class at 11 o’clock.
    la musique. Music Chris adore la musique classique. Chris loves classical music.
    la philosophie. Philosophy La philosophie est utile. Philosophy is useful.
    la gestion. Management Avons-nous un cours de gestion cet après-midi? Do we have management class this afternoon?
    le dessin. Drawing Le dessin stimule la créativité chez les enfants. Drawing stimulates creativity in children.
    la danse. Dance La danse est bonne pour la santé. Dance is good for your health.
    la publicité. Advertising Sandra ne s’intéresse pas à la publicité. Sandra isn’t interested in advertising
    la chimie. Chemistry Elle a un cours de chimie ce semestre. She has a chemistry class this semester

    • 8 comments to School Subjects in French

    You must be logged in to post a comment.