A1.1 – Unité 10 : Les transports et la ville

French transportation vocabulary for children

Children are naturally fascinated by vehicles, streets, and the movement of a city. This unit, centered on French transportation vocabulary for children, introduces essential words to describe how people move around and the places they go. From voiture (car) and bus to vélo (bike) and train, kids learn practical vocabulary that connects to their daily experiences. Parents will find this unit especially engaging because transportation and the city are both exciting topics and useful in real-life communication.

What your child will learn in this unit

By the end of this unit, your child will be able to:

• Name common vehicles (car, bus, bike, train, airplane).
• Say how they travel (Je vais en voiture / à vélo).
• Talk about places in town (school, park, shop).
• Use basic prepositions of direction (à gauche, à droite, tout droit).
• Understand simple instructions for moving around the city.
• Count from 46 to 50.
• Express speed or manner with simple words (vite, lentement).
• Ask and answer questions: Comment tu vas à l’école ?

These skills allow children to describe their movements and understand simple directions in French.

A playful and interactive approach

Each 30-minute lesson is designed to connect vocabulary with action. Children don’t just hear the words—they imagine themselves moving through the city and choosing how to travel. Activities include:

• Role-plays: pretending to go to school by bike or bus.
• Interactive games: matching vehicles with names and sounds.
• Listening tasks: short dialogues about how children travel.
• Pronunciation practice: working on French nasal sounds in train and avion.
• City map activities: following simple instructions to move around a playful map.

By combining imagination, action, and practice, kids make connections between vocabulary and real-world experiences.

Mid-unit and final progress checks

Two checkpoints ensure structured learning:

• Lesson 6: A short review of transportation words, numbers 46–50, and prepositions of direction.
• Lesson 13: A final quiz testing vocabulary, listening comprehension, and simple sentences about moving in the city (≥50% pass mark).

These reviews are designed to be interactive and motivating, reinforcing progress while keeping lessons stress-free.

Cultural connection

Transportation is not just vocabulary—it is part of everyday life in France. Children discover typical French vehicles such as the TGV (high-speed train) and the importance of walking or biking to school. They also learn about the French city layout, with its place (square), rue (street), and marché (market). These cultural elements make the vocabulary practical and authentic.

Benefits for your child

• Practical vocabulary: Transportation and city words connect directly to everyday life.
• Confidence: Children can talk about how they travel and where they go.
• Interactive learning: Games and maps create a playful experience.
• Grammar in action: Using je vais en/à in meaningful sentences.
• Cultural awareness: Understanding French cities and travel habits.

A foundation for continued learning

This unit on French transportation vocabulary for children is an important step in the learning journey. It allows children to describe how they move around, follow directions, and talk about places in town. These skills build naturally on earlier units (family, house, school) and prepare learners for the upcoming topics of weather, time, and routines.

Parents can be reassured that their child is not just memorizing vocabulary but applying it in everyday contexts, making French more practical and alive.

Conclusion

French transportation vocabulary for children combines fun, action, and practicality. Kids learn to name vehicles, describe their trips, and talk about places in town. With role-plays, interactive map activities, and cultural insights, children gain confidence and enjoy learning French step by step.

By the end of the unit, your child will be able to describe how they travel, where they go, and even understand simple directions in French.