Theme 1: People & Lifestyle in AQA French
What is Theme 1?
In the AQA GCSE French 2024 specification, Theme 1: People and Lifestyle comprises three core topics(AQA):
- Identity and relationships with others – family, friends, personal values, and future aspirations.
- Healthy living and lifestyle – discussing diet, exercise, wellbeing, and habits.
- Education and work – school life, career goals, qualifications, and workplace experience.
Why these topics matter
- Identity & Relationships: Provides vocabulary and structures to talk about yourself, your family, and friendships - essential for meaningful personal communication.
- Healthy Lifestyle: Equips students to discuss food choices, health issues, and habits—a crucial topic in both personal and social conversations.
- Education & Work: Enables discussion of school, future plans, and career ambitions - vital content for interviews, cultural exchanges, or study abroad settings.
These themes build not only linguistic skills (vocabulary, grammar, expression) but also cultural competency, critical thinking, and self-reflection.
Real-world scenarios - speaking French beyond the classroom
| Scenario | How Theme 1 helps |
|---|---|
| Chatting with a host family | “Je m’appelle…, mes parents sont…” (Identity & relationships) |
| Asking about meals or health at a French dentist | Using healthy lifestyle language |
| Discussing ambitions on a student exchange | Speaking about education and work topics |
Language learners gain confidence in everyday interactions, whether eating a meal in Paris, discussing sports habits in Quebec, or planning academic pathways in Brussels.
Broader benefits of learning French in England
Learning French isn’t just academic - it’s a gateway to global opportunities and personal growth:
- Cognitive & career advantages: Studies show multilingual individuals have improved mental agility and better job prospects.
- Economic impact: The UK benefits directly from language skills - investing £1 in language education yields around £2 in returns.
- Cultural engagement: French is Britain’s most‑taught foreign language, bridging us socially and historically with France and francophone cultures.
Recommended reading
For more on why learning French matters in England, check out this great Cambridge blog: “'But Miss, why do I need to learn French?’” — it describes how bilingual skills open doors not just academically but culturally and cognitively.
Final thoughts for teachers and students
Theme 1: People and Lifestyle is more than a curriculum requirement - it’s a foundational tool to connect learners to authentic French conversations about self, wellbeing, and future aspirations. These are universal themes that resonate in real‑life: at home, abroad, and in future careers.
By integrating thematic content with cultural context and relevant examples - like chatting with French-speaking peers or understanding health advice - teachers can help students see the real-world value of their language learning journey.
Check out our Theme 1 Resources, to help bring this to life either for your revision, or the classroom.
