Birthdays: a time to reflect

"Les anniversaires : un moment de réflexion"
French C1 writing exercise

Charles is reflecting about what his birthdays truly mean for him.

Pay attention to the hints!

Some vocabulary you may want to look up before or during this exercise: "to consider that...", "a milestone in one's life", "festive", "to touch [someone] (emotionally)", "the fact that...", "to gather as a family", "to use [something] as a pretext", "to accumulate [something]", "to be delighted to [do]", "to attach importance to", "my loved ones", "to be present", "to take a step back (figuratively)", "to matter (emotionally)", "to strengthen (bond)", "a relationship", "to cultivate (feeling)", "to leave a lasting impression", "far beyond [something]".

I’ll give you some sentences to translate into French

  • I’ll show you where you make mistakes
  • I’ll keep track of what you need to practise
  • Change my choices if you want
Start the exercise

Here's a preview of the text for the writing challenge, when you're ready click the start button above:

Although some consider that age is just a number, each year marks a milestone in my life. According to tradition, it's true that we mainly celebrate the festive aspect of birthdays. But what touches me the most is the fact that we all gather as a family and that each guest takes the time to choose a gift. However, I don't like using this event as a pretext to accumulate material possessions. In fact, although I'm delighted to receive gifts, I attach much more importance to my loved ones being present. Over the years, I have realised something essential: it's only when we take a step back that we can see what truly matters. For me, it's the time shared and the bonds that strengthen with time. In the end, it's the love and relationships that we cultivate that leave the most lasting impression, far beyond any material gift.

Thinking...