French Short Stories for Beginners 10 Clever Short Stories to Grow Your Vocabulary and Learn French the Fun Way E-Book

Christian Stahl

• Herausgeber: Christian Stahl
• Kategorie: Fremdsprachen
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017

Beschreibung

Do you know what the most challenging issue when learning French? Finding realistic and non-boring reading material that is suitable for beginners.  For this reason alone this book has been written. This book is entertaining, useful, and you won’t be forced to search for words in a dictionary every couple of minutes.

In this book we have compiled 10 easy-to-understand, culturally interesting, and fun stories that will allow you to expand your reading skills and improve your vocabulary; this book will give you the tools to improve your understanding of the wonderful French language.

How French Short Stories for Beginners works: Each story will involve important cultural components as well as some grammatical tools of the French language (verbs, adjectives, past tense, giving directions, and more), involving an entertaining story with realistic day-to-day situations and dialogues. At the end of each story you will be provided with a list of the most relevant vocabulary involved in the story and their English translation. You will be provided with a set of learning questions in English, providing you with the chance to prove that you learned something in the story, whereby the answer of each question is provided immediately after.

This book also includes a complete French phrasebook with over 700 realistic phrases and expressions suitable for travelers, students, and kids which you can use as your personal language guide on your travel to France!
Pick up your copy of French Short Stories for Beginners and start learning French right now!

Leseprobe

French Short Stories For Beginners

10 Clever Short Stories to Grow

Your Vocabulary

and Learn French the Fun Way

+ Phrasebook

700 Realistic French Phrases and Expressions

Christian Stahl

© Copyright 2017 by Christian Stahl

License Notice

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All rights reserved:

The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly. The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is universal as so. The presentation of the information is without contract or any type of guarantee assurance

Table of Contents

Learning French through short stories

How to use this book effectively

The inherent advantages of learning by reading short stories

Follow our tips to get results fast

I. Je t’ai rencontré au sauna

2. Une Famille Religieuse Française

3. Crowdfunding pour une nouvelle cuisine

4. Comment trouver un millionnaire pendant une croisière

5. La jeune femme ivrogne

6. Le femme de ménage polonaise

7. Le trésor dans les bois

8. L’ermite

9. Les américains en Allemagne

10. La soirée barbecue

700 Realistic Phrases French Phrasebook

Phrases for Formal & Informal Introductions

See more French language learning books from Christian Stahl:

http://www.shortstorycollections.com/

Learning French through short stories

Reading culturally interesting and humorous short stories to enhance your French is an easy way to improve your language skills. This book contains a selection of 10 short stories for beginners with a wide range of genres, all prepared specifically for French language learners.

This book provides modern stories from tales of espionage, to romances on cruise ships, sauna experiences to stories about "prepper lifestyle", all written by a French linguist and ensuring you will have a great time while fine-tuning your French vocabulary and improving your comprehension. The content is intended mainly for elementary to intermediate level learners, but it will also be useful for more advanced learners as a way of practicing their reading skills and comprehension of the French language.

The stories have been arranged according to their degree of difficulty and each story is accompanied by a key vocabulary section, summaries in English and French, and story related exercises

How to use this book effectively

Each story is reasonably short and split into easily digestible chapters; the French paragraphs are followed by English parallel text. In our opinion it will be most beneficial if you read each story in English first, and then follow up by reading the French text. To get a better comprehension of the story, always read the summaries in English and French. Then review the key-vocabulary section and reread the story once more as a parallel text. After reading through a story a couple of times you'll notice that you understand an French version of the story as if it was written in your native tongue. Continue with the exercises that you find after each story.

Finally, at the end of this book, you should study the phrases and expressions that also includes a pronunciation guide.

The inherent advantages of learning by reading short stories

Over time, you will build an intuitive understanding of how French functions. This differs from a more theoretical understanding put together via learning rules and conceptual examples:

It’s more important to reach to finish the story without stopping, then to understand each and every word. The simple truth is that you won’t get everything your first time around. This is completely normal.

Follow our tips to get results fast

Vocabulary will be introduced to you at a reasonable pace, so you’re not overwhelmed with difficult words all at once. Here, you won’t have to look up every other word, but you can simply enjoy the story and absorb new words simply from the story’s context.

The French contained in here are written using easy-to-understand grammar and vocabulary that both those at the beginner and intermediate levels can understand, appreciate, and learn from.

Some stories are focused on dialogue. These stories contain loads of natural dialogue, so you can learn conversational French as you read. This is doubly beneficial as you will improve your speaking ability as well.

For our complete French short story selection including vocabulary section and audio see this book, available on most major book platforms

I. Je t’ai rencontré au sauna

I meet you at the spa

Monsieur Petit est un homme d’affaires. Il possède un petit restaurant dans une gare et y vend du poisson et des frites. Il a beaucoup de clients réguliers parce que la plupart de ses clients aiment ses plats. Après ses heures de travail il va souvent au Spa, pour se calmer et se relaxer. Il y a quelques temps M. Petit est retourné au sauna.

Mr. Petit is a businessman. He owns a small restaurant at a railway station where he sells fish and chips. He has a lot of regular guests because most of the customers like his food.

In the after-work hours he frequently goes to a spa to calm down and relax. Some time ago Mr. Petit returned to the sauna

Ce jour-là, la température du sauna mêlée aux odeurs de plantes semblait particulièrement élevée. M. Petit était déjà assis et transpirait sur le banc du sauna quand la porte s’ouvrit. Un homme entra. M. Petitle reconnu aussitôt.C’était un client.

That day the temperature of the herbal sauna seemed to be especially high. Mr. Petit had already been inside the sauna and sweating on the sauna bench when the door opened. A man came in. Mr. Petit recognised the man immediately. It was a customer.

Cependant, il n’aimait pas ce client. Une fois, le client l’avait dénoncé parce qu’il pensait que le dîner ne respectait pas les conditions d’hygiène. L’autre homme reconnu aussi M. Petit.

L’homme sourit: « Bonsoir M. Petit, comment allez-vous?»

However, he didn't like this customer. Once the customer had denounced him because he thought that the diner was dirty.

The other man also recognized Mr. Petit.

The man smiled: "Good evening, Mr.Petit how are you?"

«Tout va bien, merci», répondit M. Petit.

«Transpirer nettoie le corps», dit l’homme.

M. Petit en avait assez vu pour la journée et quitta le sauna. Il partit prendre une douche.

Cette fois-là, M. Petit prit une longue douche car il avait été contrarié par cet homme.

"Everything is well, thank you."

"Sweating cleans the body", said the man.

Mr. Petit had enough for the day and left the sauna. He went for a shower. This time Mr. Petit took a long shower, because he had gotten annoyed by the man

Après la douche, M. Petit est entré dans le vestiaire, une grande pièce avec beaucoup de casiers.

Les serviettes étaient suspendues à un crochet. M. Petit se sécha. La serviette était humide, mais il se sentait mieux maintenant.

After the shower Mr. Petit went into the changing room, a big room with lots of lockers. The towels were hanging on a hook. Mr. Petit toweled himself, the towel was wet but he felt better now.

M. Petit quitta lentement le sauna. Le client qu’il avait rencontré dans le sauna se tenait devant la porte.

L'homme regarda M. Petit et sourit:

«Excusez-moi, Monsieur Petit, mais vous avez pris ma serviette et l’avez utilisée!»

Mr. Petitleft the sauna area. The client he met in the sauna was standing at the door. The man looked at Mr. Petit and smiled: "Excuse me, Mr. Petit, but you have used and taken my towel!"

M. Petit secoua la tête et dit: «Non, je ne pense pas.»

«Jetez un œil dans votre sac s’il vous plaît.», dit l'homme.

M. Petit ouvrit son sac et en sortit la serviette.

L'autre homme souriait toujours. « Regardez ici, dans le coin de la serviette, j'ai écrit quelques lettres avec un stylo noir. »

«A.H.», lut M. Petit.

«C'est moi.», dit l'homme.

M. Petitrendit la serviette à l'homme. Après, il n'est jamais retourné au sauna.

Mr. Petit shook his head. "No, I don't think so."

"Let me please look into your bag" said the man.

Mr. Petit opened his bag and pulled the towel out.

The other man still smiled. "Look here, in the corner of the towel I have written some letters with a black pen.

"A.H.", asked Mr. Petit.

"That's me", said the man.

Mr. Petit gave the towel back to the man. Afterwards he never went back to the sauna.

Summary

Mr. Petit goes to a spa and meets an old client in the sauna. Mr. Petit does not like the client, because the client once had denounced him. Unknowingly, Mr. Petit uses the man's towel and takes it with him.

Résumé

M. Petit se rend dans un sauna et y rencontre un client. M. Petit n'aime pas le client, parce que celui-ci l’avait une fois dénoncé. Sans s’en rendre compte, M. Petit a pris la serviette du client avec lui et l’a utilisée.

Most common everyday and key vocabulary

businessman

homme d’affaires

small restaurant

petit restaurant

trains station

gare

chips / fries

frites

has a lot of regular customers

a beaucoup de clients réguliers

often goes to the spa

va souvent au spa

to calm down and relax

pour se calmer et se relaxer

in most of the cities

dans la majorité des grandes villes

recognized him immediately

le reconnu aussitôt

regular guests

clients réguliers

a customer

un client

at a bench

et un bain

after-work hours

après les heures de travail

the door opened

la porte s’ouvrit

he recognized him immediately

le reconnu aussitôt

to denounce

dénoncer

the man smiles

l’homme sourit

everything is well

tout va bien

once, before

une fois

he denounced him

l’avait dénoncé

are you well?

comment allez-vous?

Tou va bien

everything is good

to clean

nettoyer

to like something

aimer quelque chose

to sweat

transpirer

frequent / frequently

fréquent / fréquemment

for the rest (session) he left the spa /sauna

pour la journée et quitta le sauna

shower

douche

locker room / dressing room

le vestiaire

on a hook

à un crochet

he was upset

il avait été contrarié

 he waited at the door

Il se tenait devant la porte

towels

serviettes'

the man waited for Mr. Petit at the exit

L'homme attendait M. Petit à la sortie

He felt better now

il se sentait mieux maintenant

the man looked at Mr Petit and smiled

l'homme regarda M. Petit et sourit

used

utilisé

taken

pris

look here!

regardez ici!

corner

coin

 this is me

c'est moi

returned / gave back

rendit

Répondez aux questions suivantes à l’aide des propositions. Il y a seulement une bonne réponse par question.

1. Quel genre d'entreprise M. Petit a-t-il?

a. Un sauna.

b. Il fait de la vente.

c. Il vend des serviettes.

d. Il possède un petit restaurant.

2. Que fait souvent M. Petit après ses heures de travail? 

a. Il va au sauna

b. Il va au cinéma

c. Il va voir sa petite amie

d. Il va manger

3. Pourquoi le client a-t-il dénoncé M. Petit?

a. Le client n'a pas aimé la nourriture du dîner.

b. Le client pensait que le restaurant était sale.

c. M. Petit transpire à chaque fois dans le sauna 

d. Le client pense que M. Petit est sale.

4. Après le sauna le client accuse M. Petit car:

a. M. Petit a trop transpiré dans le sauna.

b. M. Petit n'a pas dit «Bonsoir».

c. M. Petit avait soutiré et utilisé sa serviette.

Solutions pour la petite histoire numéro un

1 d

2 a

3 b

4 c

2. Une Famille Religieuse Française

A religious French family

Philipe et sa sœur Nicole vivent dans une petite ville catholiqueprès de la ville de Voule.

Philipe est âgé de douze ans, Nicole est plus jeune d’une année. Ils sont tous deux des enfants intelligents et aussi très modernes.

Philipe and his sister Nicole are living in a little Catholic town in the city of Voule. Philipe is twelve years old Nicole is one year younger. They are both intelligent children and also very modern.

Ils aiment jouer sur internet et sont passionnés de jeux vidéo.

 Leurs parents sont tous deux éduqués, leur père travaille à l'hôpital et leur mère est indépendante et dispose d'un petit cabinet psychiatrique.

C’est l’époque des fêtes de Noël et des chants de Noël retentissent au-dessus des supermarchés.

They love to play on the internet and are passionate video gamers. Their parents are both educationists, their father works in the hospital and the mother is independent and has her own small psychiatric office. It is Christmas time and Christmas songs are blasting out of the shops and supermarkets.

Bien que les frères et sœurs reçoivent une éducation conservatrice, ils n’aiment pas trop Noël.

Au cours des dernières années, alors que des parents éloignés leur ont rendu visite, il y eut beaucoup de disputes. Le week-end dernier, un jour catholique férié, un collègue de leur père est venu pour une visite. En tout cas, un différend a commencé. Apparemment, c’était à propos d’église ou de religion.

Although the siblings are conservatively educated they don't like Christmas. In the last years, when distant relatives visited them, there were a lot of arguments. Last weekend, on a Catholic holiday a colleague of their father came to visit. Nevertheless, a dispute started. Apparently it was about church or religion.

Les frères et sœursont découvert que leurs parents avaient l'intention de se rendre au service de Noël à l'église. Une situation inhabituelle parce que généralement leurs parents ne vont pas à l'église, excepté pour Noël. Cependant, l'avis de leur mère est que dans une petite ville, il y a beaucoup de commérages et qu’il serait préférable de s'adapter et de se présenter pour Noël à l'église

En outre, s’ils pensent être des gens biens, Nicole et Philipe pensent différemment.

The siblings found out that their parents had the intention to go to the Christmas service in the church. An unfamiliar situation because usually the parents never go to church, except Christmas. However, their mother's opinion is that in a small town there is a lot of talk and it would be better to show up at church. Furthermore, it would show that she's a good person. Nicole and Philipe had a different opinion.

À Noël, les frères et sœurs veulent rester à la maison. Philipe préfère jouer à un jeu en ligne et Nicole a des choses à faire sur Facebook.

Un différend éclata; les parents affirmaient que les enfants étaient mal éduqués et n’avaient pas de savoir-vivre.

Après la dispute, les parents discutaient.

La mère a eu une idée. Pourquoi ne devraient-ils pas rencontrer d'autres psychiatres au bureau et parler avec des collègues?

At Christmas the siblings want to stay at home. Philipe preferably wants to participate at a live game on the internet and Nicole is busy on Facebook. A dispute arises; the parents blame the children to be badly educated and not to have manners. After a discussion the parents have a talk. What shall they do? The mother has an idea. Why shouldn't they meet other psychiatrists at the office and talk with their colleagues?

Les parents ont eu des conservations téléphoniques dans la soirée, le petit groupe de pédagogues et les psychiatres se réuniront pour échanger leurs points de vue au bureau.

Philipe et Nicole furent surpris que leurs parents reviennent de la réunion et leur expliquent qu'ils n’étaient pas obligés d’aller à l'église à Noël.

Nicole voulut savoir pourquoi leurs parents avaient changé d’opinion. La mère répondit que les collègues les avaient analysés et il s’est avéré qu’ils étaient tous les deux un tout petit peu malade car leurs parents étaient un peu religieux et la religion est une sorte de maladie du cerveau.

The parents make some calls and in the evening a small group of pedagogues and psychiatrists meet for an exchange of opinions at the office.

Philipe and Nicole are surprised as their parents return from the meeting and explain that they don't have to go to church at Christmas.