Choosing the Gap-Year Programme
Tom is in Year 12 and has B1 French. He has saved €2,600 and must be back in Brisbane by 20 July for university enrolment. He is comparing two gap-year programmes. Programme A: Lyon, 8 weeks, €2,400 tuition only, starts 5 September, requires a B2 certificate by 1 August, accommodation not included. Programme B: Bordeaux, 12 weeks, €2,200 including accommodation, starts 15 January, requires B1, includes 60 hours of community volunteering, ends 10 April. Tom's B1 results arrive in December; he hopes to 'pick up' B2 in a few weeks. His parents will not cover extra costs. He also wants evidence of community engagement for a future health degree.
1. Recommend a programme and justify the recommendation against Tom's budget, level, dates and goals.
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Recommend Programme B (Bordeaux).
- Level: Tom has B1 and his results arrive in December. Programme A requires a certified B2 by 1 August, which is unrealistic in the time available; hoping to
pick upB2 in a few weeks is not a plan. Programme B requires B1, which he already has. - Budget: Tom has €2,600. Programme A costs €2,400 tuition only, leaving €200 for accommodation and living costs, which is not feasible. Programme B costs €2,200 including accommodation, so it fits.
- Dates: Programme B ends 10 April, well before the 20 July return deadline. Programme A's September start would also fit the return date, but the other constraints rule it out.
- Goals: Programme B includes 60 hours of community volunteering, which directly supports Tom's future health degree.
Programme A is attractive on prestige but fails on certification, cost and practical support. The judgement is to prioritise feasibility over aspiration.
2. Write one French sentence using 'si' to explain the condition under which Tom could have chosen Programme A.
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Si j'avais obtenu un certificat B2 avant le 1er août et disposé d'un budget plus important, j'aurais choisi le programme de Lyon.
Reasoning: This is an unreal past condition, so it needs si + plus-que-parfait (j'avais obtenu, j'avais disposé) followed by the conditionnel passé (j'aurais choisi). A present conditional sentence such as Si j'obtiens mon B2... would describe a real future possibility, which is not the situation: the August deadline has already made Programme A impossible for this year.
3. Draft a 50–60 word paragraph in French for Programme B's application explaining his motivation and one relevant experience.
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Je souhaite participer au programme Français en action à Bordeaux car il correspond à mon niveau B1 et me permettra de progresser tout en m'engageant dans la communauté. J'ai déjà fait du bénévolat dans une maison de retraite à Brisbane, où j'ai animé des activités pour les résidents. Cette expérience m'a appris à communiquer avec des personnes de tous âges et a confirmé mon intérêt pour les études de santé. Je suis motivé et prêt à m'investir dans les 60 heures de volontariat.
Reasoning: The paragraph links the programme's B1 entry level and volunteering component to Tom's actual experience, rather than making generic claims. The retirement-home example is specific and relevant to a health degree. The final sentence signals commitment to the 60-hour requirement, which is the programme's distinctive obligation.