Dialogue
Explain an unfinished degree in a French conversation
Explain an unfinished French degree course accurately in a sixteen-line conversation: years attended, what was passed, the change of direction and a later award.
- B1
- 16 lines
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In short
State what you attended, what you completed and whether the diploma was obtained. J’ai suivi deux années de licence describes attendance; j’ai validé la première année names the completed stage; je n’ai pas obtenu la licence makes the final qualification status explicit.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
The candidate attended a science degree course from 2019 to 2021, passed the first year and did not finish the second. He later obtained a different certificate in 2023. The conversation preserves the value of what he learned while keeping the unfinished degree separate from the qualification actually awarded.
- Interlocutrice
Vous avez fait des études de sciences, c’est bien cela ?
English
You studied science, is that right?
- Candidat
Oui, j’ai suivi deux années de licence de sciences, de 2019 à 2021.
Yes, I spent two years on a science degree course, from 2019 to 2021.
English
Yes, I spent two years on a science degree course, from 2019 to 2021.
- Interlocutrice
Vous êtes donc titulaire de cette licence ?
English
So you hold that degree?
- Candidat
Non, je n’ai pas obtenu la licence. J’ai validé la première année, mais je n’ai pas terminé la deuxième.
No, I did not obtain the degree. I passed the first year, but did not finish the second.
English
No, I did not obtain the degree. I passed the first year, but did not finish the second.
- Interlocutrice
Qu’est-ce qui vous a amené à changer de direction ?
English
What led you to change direction?
- Candidat
J’ai découvert le montage vidéo dans une association et j’ai souhaité me former dans ce domaine.
I discovered video editing in an association and wanted to train in that field.
English
I discovered video editing in an association and wanted to train in that field.
- Interlocutrice
Aviez-vous déjà cette idée en commençant la licence ?
English
Did you already have that idea when you started the degree?
- Candidat
Non. J’avais choisi les sciences parce que j’aimais ces matières au lycée. Le projet vidéo est venu plus tard.
No. I had chosen science because I liked those subjects at school. The video plan came later.
English
No. I had chosen science because I liked those subjects at school. The video plan came later.
- Interlocutrice
Avez-vous suivi une autre formation ensuite ?
English
Did you take another course afterwards?
- Candidat
Oui, j’ai préparé un certificat technique de montage vidéo, que j’ai obtenu en 2023.
Yes, I studied for a technical video-editing certificate, which I obtained in 2023.
English
Yes, I studied for a technical video-editing certificate, which I obtained in 2023.
- Interlocutrice
Qu’avez-vous gardé de votre premier parcours ?
English
What have you retained from your first course?
- Candidat
Une méthode pour prendre des notes, comparer des informations et présenter un résumé clair.
A method for taking notes, comparing information and presenting a clear summary.
English
A method for taking notes, comparing information and presenting a clear summary.
- Interlocutrice
Comment présentez-vous la licence sur votre CV ?
English
How do you present the degree course on your CV?
- Candidat
J’indique les dates, la première année validée et le fait que le diplôme n’a pas été obtenu.
I give the dates, the first year passed and the fact that the qualification was not obtained.
English
I give the dates, the first year passed and the fact that the qualification was not obtained.
- Interlocutrice
Cela distingue bien les études que vous avez suivies des qualifications que vous avez obtenues.
English
That clearly distinguishes studies attended from qualifications obtained.
- Candidat
Oui, je préfère être précis sur les deux étapes de mon parcours.
Yes, I prefer to be precise about both stages of my path.
English
Yes, I prefer to be precise about both stages of my path.
Suivre and obtenir are different claims
J’ai suivi deux années says he spent that period on the course. It does not establish that both years were passed. The next answer supplies the narrower result: first year validated, second year unfinished, degree not obtained. A reader should not need to infer graduation merely from the number of calendar years listed.
| Item | Status in the dialogue |
|---|---|
| Science course, 2019–2021 | Attended |
| First year | Passed |
| Second year | Not finished |
| Science degree | Not obtained |
| Video-editing certificate, 2023 | Obtained |
Place the new idea at the correct point in the story
The question Aviez-vous déjà cette idée ? asks whether the later direction existed at the start. The answer says no: interest in video came afterwards. J’avais choisi les sciences explains the earlier choice from its own context. The account does not rewrite the first course as if it had always been a planned step towards video editing.
Études de sciences, 2019–2021 — première année validée ; diplôme non obtenu.
Science studies, 2019–2021 — first year passed; qualification not obtained.
A precise explanation can be brief. Give the course, its actual status and the reason for the next direction. If the earlier study supplied useful habits, name them as skills rather than relabelling the unfinished course as an awarded qualification.