If you want to actually understand the language you’re learning – or would like to improve – practising reading and listening is a big help. The problem can be finding suitable materials…
At OnlineFrenchClub.com there’s a free French beginner/elementary-level text, which you can read AND listen to online.
The idea is that having a text helps you understand what you hear, while listening as you read keeps you moving through the story, rather than getting hung up on individual words.
‘Le restaurant’ is an A1 (beginner/elementary) -level ‘easy reader’. Each of the nine very short chapters has a text with audio, a glossary of words you might not know, and a comprehension exercise.
It was especially written to help learners take their first steps with comprehension so is intentionally very, very simple!
You’ll find links to all nine chapters here: http://onlinefrenchclub.com/easy-french-readers-and-french-english-parallel-texts/
Have a go at reading/listening to the story all the way through, without worrying about checking words in a dictionary. Just try to follow the story.
Don’t like studying online? No problem!
Our ebooks store has .pdf and .epub versions of the same text, COMPLETELY FREE! Download the .pdf by adding it to your cart (priced at £0.00, so no payment stage) and doing the usual online shopping thing. Here’s that link again: https://easyreaders.org/product/le-restaurant/
As mentioned, that particular story is supposed to be very short and simple, so if your French could cope with something more ambitious, why not take a look at this month’s half-price French ‘easy reader’ ebook, ‘Une enquête très privée‘, which is level B1/B2 (intermediate/upper-intermediate)?
Jeanne is about to turn 40 and has lately become dissatisfied with her life as a translator of crime fiction. Instead she fantasizes about becoming a private detective herself. So when her husband starts behaving suspiciously, Jeanne decides to investigate… But can she measure up to her fictional investigator heroes?
- .pdf e-book (+ audio available free online)
- .mobi (Kindle-compatible) and .epub (other ebook readers) available on request at no extra charge – just add a note to the order form or email us
- 8 chapters to read and listen to
- Comprehension questions to check your understanding
- French/English glossary of ‘difficult’ terms for the level
- Suitable for students at intermediate level or above
- Download your Free Sample Chapter (.pdf)
Check out the free sample chapter to judge the level of the material (.pdf). It includes a link to the online audio (for the WHOLE STORY, not just chapter 1) so listen a while to get an idea of whether the level is appropriate for you.
Too hard??? The ebooks store has a range of French ‘easy reader’ ebooks at different levels, from beginner upwards, and also French/English parallel text ebooks (no audio but a translation instead…)
Browse ebooks for learning French.
Useful links:
‘Le restaurant’ listen/read online | Le restaurant .pdf £0-00 | ‘Une enquête très privée‘ half-price, £4.99 | Free sample chapter (.pdf) | Ebooks for learning French
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