Exercise and lifestyle
Exercice et mode de vie
- Talk about the benefits of exercising and sports
- Talk about your daily exercise routines
This lesson explores daily exercise routines and the benefits of sport, introducing key French expressions like "faire du sport" (to exercise), "se dépenser" (to expend energy), and "améliorer la santé" (improve health). Students will practice discussing lifestyle habits and planning regular physical activity.
Vocabulary (18) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercice 1: Conversation exercise
Instruction:
- Do you exercise? If yes, what do you do? (Do you exercise? If yes, what do you do?)
- How do you include exercise in your daily life? (How do you include exercise in your daily life?)
- Do you usually feel tired or full of energy after exercising? (Do you usually feel tired or full of energy after exercising?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Je fais du yoga tous les jours. Je fais aussi des étirements. I do Yoga everyday. I also do stretching. |
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Je fais de la musculation à la salle de sport trois fois par semaine. J'aime ça parce que cela me rend fort. I lift weights in the gym three times a week. I like it because it makes me feel strong. |
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Je vais à pied à mon bureau au lieu de prendre la voiture. I walk to my office instead of taking the car. |
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J'ai une piscine, donc chaque matin je nage pendant une demi-heure. I have a swimming pool so every morning I swim for half an hour. |
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Je me sens toujours bien après avoir fait de l'exercice. Cela me donne de l'énergie. I always feel good after doing some kind of exercise. It gives me energy. |
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Je me sens fatigué après avoir fait de l'exercice. En général, je me couche tôt un jour comme celui-là. I feel tired after working out. Usually I go to bed early on such a day. |
| ... |
Exercise 2: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Quand j'étais plus jeune, je _____ beaucoup en faisant de la course à pied.
(When I was younger, I _____ a lot of energy running.)2. Chaque semaine, je _____ pendant mes entraînements de musculation au gymnase.
(Every week, I _____ energy during my weight training sessions at the gym.)3. Avant, nous _____ plus facilement grâce aux routines sportives que nous suivions.
(Before, we _____ energy more easily thanks to the sports routines we followed.)4. Quand il faisait beau, ils _____ en jouant au football dans le parc avec des amis.
(When the weather was nice, they _____ energy playing soccer in the park with friends.)Exercise 4: Exercise and lifestyle
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Se dépenser - Se dépenser
Imparfait
- je me dépensais
- tu te dépensais
- il/elle/on se dépensait
- nous nous dépensions
- vous vous dépensiez
- ils/elles se dépensaient
Être - être
Imparfait
- j'étais
- tu étais
- il/elle/on était
- nous étions
- vous étiez
- ils/elles étaient
Prendre - Prendre
Imparfait
- je prenais
- tu prenais
- il/elle/on prenait
- nous prenions
- vous preniez
- ils/elles prenaient
Aimer - Aimer
Imparfait
- j'aimais
- tu aimais
- il/elle/on aimait
- nous aimions
- vous aimiez
- ils/elles aimaient
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Se dépenser to exert oneself Share Copied!
imparfait
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') me dépensais | I was exerting myself |
| (tu) te dépensais | you were exerting yourself |
| (il/elle/on) se dépensait | he/she/one was exerting himself/herself/oneself |
| nous dépensions | We were exerting ourselves |
| vous dépensiez | You exerted yourself |
| (ils/elles) se dépensaient | they exerted themselves |
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Lesson Overview: Exercise and Lifestyle in French
This A2 level lesson focuses on practical vocabulary and expressions related to exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It provides learners with dialogues to discuss the benefits of sports, describe daily exercise routines, and share tips for incorporating physical activity into busy schedules.
Key Vocabulary and Expressions
- faire du sport – to do sport/exercise
- le jogging – jogging
- la santé – health
- réduire le stress – to reduce stress
- le vélo – cycling
- le yoga – yoga
- la natation – swimming
Lesson Content
The lesson contains structured dialogues designed for pair conversations. For example, in "Discuter des bienfaits du sport," learners practice speaking about the energy and health benefits of sports. Another dialogue focuses on describing personal routines, such as cycling every morning or doing yoga to relax, helping to express habits in French.
Additionally, the lesson highlights advice for fitting exercise into a busy lifestyle, with phrases like "Tu peux commencer par de petites promenades pendant ta pause déjeuner" (You can start with short walks during your lunch break) to build practical speaking skills.
Focus on Verb Usage
The lesson places particular emphasis on the verb se dépenser (to expend energy, to exercise) conjugated in the imparfait tense. Examples include:
- "Quand j'étais plus jeune, je me dépensais beaucoup en faisant de la course à pied." (When I was younger, I used to expend a lot of energy running.)
- "Chaque semaine, je me dépensais pendant mes entraînements." (Every week, I used to work out hard during my training sessions.)
Other verbs frequently used in imparfait to discuss past habits are être, prendre, and aimer.
Understanding French Expressions About Exercise
French uses reflexive verbs like se dépenser to express physical exertion, which differs from English where a reflexive structure is not typically used. Addressing routines and habits often relies on the imparfait tense to indicate repeated or ongoing past actions.
Useful phrase structures include:
- faire du + sport/exercise – to do a specific sport.
- je me dépense – I work out/exercise (literally, 'I expend myself').
- Je fais du jogging trois fois par semaine – I go jogging three times a week.
These patterns help learners naturally talk about exercises, benefits, and habitual actions in a conversational context.
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