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Nightmare dental appointment with a child

"Un rendez-vous dentaire cauchemardesque avec un enfant"
French C1 writing exercise

Dentist Chloé and her assistant Lara have just had a particularly challenging appointment while treating a little boy's toothache.

Pay attention to the hints!

Some vocabulary you may want to look up before or during this exercise: "can't believe that ...", "to scream so loud", "a career", "challenging (person-negative)", "to treat a patient", "to have to say that...", "how [adj.] you are...", "to remain", "throughout a procedure (medical)", "given how [adj.]...", "to handle a situation any better", "regrettable", "to warn [someone] about [something]", "a fear of [something]", "a needle", "to give [someone] an injection", "to make sure that + [Subjonctif]", "never to happen again", "to suggest that...", "to keep [something] at hand", "a plushie [US: stuffed animal]", "to hug [someone]", "from now on", "a phobia".

Written by qualified French expert Céline Pickard PGCE, BA
Last updated: 2026-01-15

I’ll give you some sentences to translate into French

  • I’ll show you where you make mistakes
  • I’ll keep track of what you need to practise
  • Change my choices if you want
Start the exercise
How the test works
You’ll practise: Mode subjonctif, Le Présent (Indicatif), Le Subjonctif Présent

Here's a preview of the text for the writing challenge, when you're ready click the start button above:

- I can't believe what just happened with this young patient! I've never heard a child scream so loud in my entire career. - Yes, this was the most challenging patient (that) I've ever had to treat. And Lara, I have to say (that) I admire how calm you remained throughout the procedure. - Thanks Chloé! Given how terrified the poor boy was, I don't think (that) we could have handled the situation any better. It is regrettable that his mother did not warn us about his fear of needles before the appointment. The more I tried to give him the injection, the more aggressive he became. - Let's make sure (that) this never happens again! I suggest that we keep some plushies [US: stuffed animals] at hand so that our young patients can hug them if they feel anxious. - Yes, and from now on, we will always contact parents before their visit so that they can inform us about the child's potential phobias.

Clever stuff happening!