Translating into English
Translating from French into English means finding natural English, not clunky word-for-word phrasing.
Part of your national curriculum
- Writing: Translate short written text from the foreign language into English, conveying meaning accurately
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Translate short written text from the foreign language into English, conveying meaning accurately
Key learning points
- • Idioms need natural English
- • False friends
- • Keeping the right tense
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 14 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 14
Watch first
Translating into English
An English teaching video on this topic from French made Easy. Watch it, then scroll down for the lesson.
In a nutshell
Translate short written text from the foreign language into English, conveying meaning accurately
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 14
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Idioms need natural English
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 14
Learn
Idioms need natural English
'Il fait froid' translates literally as 'it makes cold', but the natural English is 'it is cold'. A good translation captures meaning, not just individual words.
Explore the idea
Part 4 of 14
Learn
False friends
'Actuellement' does not mean 'actually' — it means 'currently/at present'. Watching for these false friends prevents embarrassing translation mistakes in exams and real conversation.
Quick check
Part 5 of 14
Quick check
The natural translation of 'il fait froid' is...
Reset break
Part 6 of 14
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 2 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 7 of 14
Quick check
'Actuellement' actually means...
Learning cycle
Part 8 of 14
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Keeping the right tense
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 9 of 14
Learn
Keeping the right tense
'J'avais faim' should be translated as 'I was hungry' (imperfect tense), not 'I have hunger' or 'I am hungry', to convey the original past meaning accurately.
Quick check
Part 10 of 14
Quick check
'J'avais faim' should be translated as...
Challenge round
Part 11 of 14
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 12 of 14
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
'Il fait froid' translates literally as 'it makes cold', but the natural ____ is 'it is cold'.
Mastery quiz
Part 13 of 14
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Translating into English
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. The natural translation of 'il fait froid' is...
2. 'Actuellement' actually means...
3. 'J'avais faim' should be translated as...
Lesson round-up
Part 14 of 14
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
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Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaDo the work
Your written work for this lesson
This is the part you'd do in your book at school. Pick the pieces below, write here or on paper, and photograph anything you draw or work out.
Une journée à Lyon
Samedi matin, je me lève à sept heures et demie. Je prends le petit déjeuner avec ma sœur — du pain, du beurre et un chocolat chaud. Ensuite, nous prenons le bus jusqu'au centre-ville.
J'aime beaucoup Lyon parce qu'il y a un grand marché près du fleuve. Ma sœur préfère les magasins, mais moi, je préfère le marché : c'est moins cher et c'est plus intéressant. À midi, nous mangeons un sandwich au parc.
L'après-midi, il commence à pleuvoir, alors nous rentrons à la maison en tram. Le soir, je fais mes devoirs et je regarde un film avec mes parents.
Original text written for Good Learning Co.
Reading questions
- In English, say what the writer does in the morning, at midday and in the evening.
- Find the phrases that give an opinion and a reason, and copy them out.
- Write 8–10 sentences about your own Saturday, using at least three phrases from the text.
Written practice
WritingWrite the sentences out in the language, then translate them back into English.
8–10 sentences
Vocabulary page
Working outCopy the new words, cover them, and test yourself. Note the ones you keep missing.
15 words
Saved as you type.
Part 1 of 14 · Watch & discover
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Translate short written text from the foreign language into English, conveying meaning accurately