Meaning
To participate in a program to acquire specific skills or knowledge.
Cultural Background
The CPF (Compte Personnel de Formation) is a unique French system where every worker has a budget for training. It's a common topic of conversation at work. In Quebec, 'suivre un cours' is often used where a Frenchman would say 'suivre une formation', reflecting a slightly different educational vocabulary. In many Francophone African countries, 'suivre une formation' is highly valued as a path to government employment and social mobility. The term 'formation en alternance' (work-study) is very popular in Belgium for vocational trades.
CV Secret
Always use 'Formation suivie' as a header on your French CV to look like a native professional.
The 'Je suis' Trap
Remember that 'Je suis une formation' means 'I am taking a course', NOT 'I am a course'.
Meaning
To participate in a program to acquire specific skills or knowledge.
CV Secret
Always use 'Formation suivie' as a header on your French CV to look like a native professional.
The 'Je suis' Trap
Remember that 'Je suis une formation' means 'I am taking a course', NOT 'I am a course'.
CPF Talk
If a French person mentions their 'CPF', they are talking about their training budget. It's a great small talk topic.
Test Yourself
Choisissez le bon verbe pour compléter la phrase professionnelle.
Pour obtenir ce poste, vous devez ________ une formation de trois semaines.
In a professional context, 'suivre' is the correct collocation for training.
Conjuguez le verbe 'suivre' au passé composé.
L'année dernière, j'ai ________ une formation en design graphique.
The past participle of 'suivre' is 'suivi'.
Associez la phrase au bon contexte.
1. Je fais une formation de poterie. 2. Je suis une formation en management.
'Faire' is more casual for hobbies, 'Suivre' is standard for work.
Complétez la réponse de l'employé.
Manager: 'Voulez-vous apprendre le Python ?' Employé: 'Oui, j'aimerais ________ une formation le mois prochain.'
While all are possible, 'suivre' is the most natural response to a manager.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Suivre vs. Faire
Practice Bank
4 exercisesPour obtenir ce poste, vous devez ________ une formation de trois semaines.
In a professional context, 'suivre' is the correct collocation for training.
L'année dernière, j'ai ________ une formation en design graphique.
The past participle of 'suivre' is 'suivi'.
1. Je fais une formation de poterie. 2. Je suis une formation en management.
'Faire' is more casual for hobbies, 'Suivre' is standard for work.
Manager: 'Voulez-vous apprendre le Python ?' Employé: 'Oui, j'aimerais ________ une formation le mois prochain.'
While all are possible, 'suivre' is the most natural response to a manager.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it's very common in spoken French, but 'suivre' is better for writing and formal situations.
'Éducation' is general (raising a child, school), while 'formation' is specific to skills and professions.
You say 'suivre une formation en ligne' or 'à distance'.
Yes, for any structured series of lessons, 'suivre' is the standard verb.
Use 'en' for subjects (en marketing) and 'de' for jobs (de pilote).
Yes, but 'suivre un stage' or 'participer à un atelier' might be more precise for very short durations.
Because 'prendre' implies grabbing something, while 'suivre' implies following a curriculum or a path.
Yes, though 'suivre un cours' is slightly more frequent there for professional contexts than in France.
It is the person who teaches the 'formation'.
You can say 'J'ai terminé ma formation' or 'J'ai achevé ma formation'.
Related Phrases
Faire un stage
similarTo do an internship
Se former
builds onTo train oneself
Un formateur
specialized formA trainer
Une formation certifiante
specialized formA certification course
