Have there been times when you tried speaking French in your classroom or anywhere in school, but you struggled as a result of limited vocabulary? This can happen anywhere and to anyone; it’ll be almost impossible to communicate effectively when you do not have an ample vocabulary in your target language. Parents, teachers, and instructors can teach you grammar, phonetics, syntax and morphology, but no one can help you develop your vocabulary. It takes conscious effort, diligence and consistency to do that. However, in this article, we’ll explore some French vocabulary and phrases that students can use in the classroom and school environment.

General School Vocabulary

• L’école – school • La classe – class • Le professeur – teacher • L’élève – student • Le tableau – board • Le cahier – notebook • Le stylo – pen • Le crayon – pencil • Le livre – book • La règle – ruler • Le sac – bag • La chaise – chair • La table – table • La cour de récréation – playground • Les devoirs – homework • L’examen / le test – exam / test • Un collège - middle school) • Un lycée (high school) • Un étudiant / une étudiante - student • Le directeur / la directrice - principal • Un(e) camarade d’école / de classe - classmate • Un(e) secrétaire - secretary • Un bibliothécaire / une bibliothécaire - librarian • Un gardien / une gardienne – janitor

Common School-related Verbs

• Aller à l’école - to go to school • Apprendre - to learn • Avoir une leçon - to have a lesson • Etudier - to study • Faire les devoirs - to do homework • Lire - to read • Ecrire - to write • Passer un examen - to take an exam • Poser une question - to ask a question • Prendre des notes - to take notes • Réussir à un examen - to pass an exam • Echouer à un examen - to fail an exam

Useful Phrases for the Classroom

1. Bonjour, Monsieur/Madame! – Good morning, Sir/Ma’am!
2. Présent(e), Professeur! – Present, Teacher!
3. Puis-je entrer? – May I come in?
4. Puis-je sortir? – May I go out?
5. Je ne comprends pas. – I don’t understand.
6. Pouvez-vous répéter, s’il vous plaît? – Can you repeat, please?
7. Comment dit-on … en français? – How do you say … in French?
8. J’ai une question. – I have a question.
9. Merci beaucoup. – Thank you very much.
10. Désolé(e) pour le retard. – Sorry for being late.
11. Tu peux me prêter un stylo? – Can you lend me a pen?
12. À plus tard! – See you later!
13. On révise ensemble? – Shall we study together?

Everyday School Expressions

1. La cloche a sonné. – The bell has rung.
2. Allons en classe. – Let’s go to class.
3. Silence, s’il vous plaît! – Silence, please!
4. Ouvrez vos cahiers. – Open your notebooks.
5. Écrivez la leçon. – Write the lesson.
6. Lisez à voix haute. – Read aloud.
7. Fermez vos livres. – Close your books.
8. Rangez vos affaires. – Pack up your things.

These words and phrases are basic for communication in a school environment. They will help navigate school life and classroom interactions in French effectively. However, this is not all there is; it is essential that you keep adding to your vocabulary bank daily for efficiency.