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Write an essay in French

Beyond the fact that writing an essay in French can be a good practice to improve your writing, you may also be asked to write one during your schooling. So, it is important to study the topic of French essay writing and get some useful tips..

» Tips and tricks for your French essay » The structure of a French essay » Sample French Essay

Tips and tricks for your French essay

When writing a French essay for school, you should always use a structured approach and good French skills to present your arguments in a focused way. Beyond French skills, there are also important formal requirements for a successful French essay. We will come back to this in detail later. First, you will find some useful tips and tricks that will help you write more compelling and better French essays in the future.

• Have a clear thesis and structure
• Do sufficient research and use reliable sources
• Use examples and arguments to support your thesis
• Avoid plagiarism and cite correctly
• Always check structure, grammar and spelling

When you write your essay at school or university, you need to make sure that the general structure of your essay, the presentation of the arguments and, above all, your French language skills play a role in the mark you will get. This is why you should definitely take a closer look at the structure of an essay as well as the most important grammar rules and formulations for French essays.

The structure of a French essay

In an essay, you deal at length and in detail with a usually given topic. When you write an essay in French, you must follow a certain structure. Below we show you what this structure looks like and give you some tips for writing the most important parts of your essay.

The Introduction

The introduction prepares the main body of your essay. You think of a meaningful title for your essay, you describe your thesis or your question, you give general information on the subject and you prepare your argument by giving an overview of your most important arguments.

Below are examples and phrases that you can use to write the introduction to your essay in French.

The title should be meaningful, concise and reflect the content of the essay.

Introductory paragraph

The first paragraph of your French essay should briefly introduce the topic and engage the reader. Here are some examples to help you write your essay:

Proposal or question

The central proposition or question of your French essay should be a clear and concise definition of the purpose of the essay. Use these examples to get a clearer idea of ​​how to write theses in French:

Overview of Arguments and Structure

At the end of your introduction, describe the structure of the main part of your essay (your outline) and outline your argument. Here are some French expressions that will certainly help you write your essay:

The body of your essay

The main part of your French essay deals with the given topic in detail. The subject is studied from all angles. The main body of your essay follows a thread of argument and discusses in detail the main arguments of your thesis previously made in the introduction.

In the body of the text, you should discuss the subject of your essay in clear and concise language. To achieve this, we give you some wording aids as well as vocabulary and phrases that you can use to write your essay in French.

Formulation tools:

French vocabulary for essays.

In the conclusion of your French essay, you address the thesis of your essay, summarize the main points of your discussion in the main body, and draw a conclusion. On the basis of the arguments and the resulting conclusions, you formulate in the conclusion of your dissertation final thoughts and suggestions for the future. It is important that you do not add new information or new arguments. This should only be done in the body of your text.

Here are some wording guides to help you write your essay in French:

Sample French Essay

Les avantages des voyages linguistiques

Malgré les difficultés potentielles, les voyages linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour leur développement personnel et académique.

Les séjours linguistiques sont des voyages organisés dans le but d'améliorer les compétences linguistiques des participants. Ces voyages peuvent se dérouler dans le pays ou à l'étranger et durer d'un week-end à plusieurs semaines. L'un des principaux avantages des séjours linguistiques est l'immersion. Entourés de locuteurs natifs, les apprenants sont contraints de pratiquer et d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques dans des situations réelles.Il s'agit d'une méthode d'apprentissage beaucoup plus efficace que le simple fait d'étudier une langue dans une salle de classe.

Un autre avantage des séjours linguistiques est l'expérience culturelle. Voyager dans un nouveau pays permet aux apprenants de découvrir de nouvelles coutumes, traditions et modes de vie, et de se familiariser avec l'histoire et la culture du pays. Cela enrichit non seulement l'expérience d'apprentissage de la langue, mais contribue également à élargir les horizons et à accroître la sensibilisation culturelle.

Cependant, les séjours linguistiques peuvent également présenter des inconvénients. Par exemple, le coût du voyage et de l'hébergement peut être élevé, en particulier pour les séjours de longue durée. En outre, les apprenants peuvent être confrontés à la barrière de la langue ou à un choc culturel, ce qui peut être difficile à surmonter. Le coût et les difficultés potentielles des séjours linguistiques peuvent sembler décourageants, mais ils offrent des avantages précieux en termes d'épanouissement personnel et scolaire.

Les compétences linguistiques et les connaissances culturelles acquises peuvent déboucher sur de nouvelles opportunités d'emploi et améliorer la communication dans un cadre professionnel. Les bourses et les aides financières rendent les séjours linguistiques plus accessibles. Le fait d'être confronté à une barrière linguistique ou à un choc culturel peut également être l'occasion d'un développement personnel. Ces avantages l'emportent largement sur les inconvénients et font des séjours linguistiques un investissement qui en vaut la peine.

En conclusion, malgré les difficultés potentielles, les séjours linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour le développement personnel et académique. Qu'il s'agisse d'un débutant ou d'un apprenant avancé, un voyage linguistique est une expérience à ne pas manquer.

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How to Write an Excellent French Essay (Resources Included)

Tips to write an excellent french essay.

Writing essays is challenging enough, but when you are asked to write a French essay, you are not only being asked to write in a foreign language, but to follow the conventions of another linguistic and literary tradition. Like essay-writing in any language, the essential part of writing a French essay is to convey your thoughts and observations on a certain topic in a clear and concise manner. French essays do come out of a certain tradition that is part of the training of all students who attend school in France – or at least secondary school – and when you are a French essay, it is important to be aware of this tradition.

The French philosopher Michel de Montaigne is credited with popularizing the essay form as a literary genre. His work, Essais, first published in 1580, and undergoing several subsequent publications before his death in 1592, covers a wide breadth of topics, ranging from “amitié” to “philosopher c’est apprendre à mourir”, and includes many literary references, as well as personal anecdotes. The name for this genre, essai, is the nominal form of the verb essayer, “to attempt”. We have an archaic English verb essay, meaning the same thing. The limerick that includes the phrase, “... when she essayed to drink lemonade ...” indicates an attempt to drink a beverage and has nothing to do with writing about it. But the writing form does illustrate an attempt to describe a topic in depth with the purpose of developing new insights on a particular text or corpus.

French instructors are very specific about what they would like when they ask for an essay, meaning that they will probably specify whether they would like an explication de texte, commentaire composé, or dissertation. That last essay form should not be confused with the document completed for a doctorate in anglophone countries – this is called a thèse in French, by the way. There are different formats for each of these types of essay, and different objectives for each written form.

Types of Essay

1. l’explication de texte.

An explication de texte is a type of essay for which you complete a close reading. It is usually written about a poem or a short passage within a larger work. This close reading will elucidate different themes and stylistic devices within the text. When you are completing an explication de texte, make sure to follow the structure of the text as you complete a close examination of its form and content. The format for an explication de texte consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you situate the text within its genre and historical context. This is where you can point out to your readers the general themes of the text, its form, the trajectory of your reading, and your approach to the text.

ii. The body, in which you develop your ideas, following the structure of the text. Make sure you know all of the meanings of the words used, especially the key terms that point to the themes addressed by the author. It is a good idea to look words up in the dictionary to find out any second, third, and fourth meanings that could add to the themes and forms you describe. Like a student taking an oral examination based on this type of essay writing, you will be expected to have solid knowledge of the vocabulary and grammatical structures that appear in the text. Often the significance of the language used unfolds as you explain the different components of theme, style, and composition.

iii. A conclusion, in which you sum up the general meaning of the text and the significance of the figures and forms being used. You should also give the implications of what is being addressed, and the relevance of these within a larger literary, historical, or philosophical context.

NB: If you are writing about a poem, include observations on the verse, rhyme schemes, and meter. It is a good idea to refer to a reference work on versification. If you are writing about a philosophical work, be familiar with philosophical references and definitions of concepts.

Caveat: Refrain from paraphrasing. Instead show through careful analysis of theme, style, and composition the way in which the main ideas of the text are conveyed.

2. Le commentaire composé

A commentaire composé is a methodologically codified commentary that focuses on themes in a particular text. This type of essay develops different areas of reflection through analytical argument. Such argumentation should clarify the reading that you are approaching by presenting components of the text from different perspectives. In contrast to the explication de texte, it is organized thematically rather than following the structure of the text to which it refers. The format for a commentaire composé consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you present the question you have come up with, often in relation to a prompt commenting on a thematic or stylistic aspect of the text, such as “Montrez en quoi ce texte évoque l’amour courtois” or “Qu’apporte l’absence de la ponctuation dans ce texte ?” In this section, you will be expected to delineate your approach to the text and illustrate the trajectory of your ideas so that your readers will have a clear idea of the direction these ideas will take.

ii. A tripartite body, in which you explore the question you have come up with, citing specific examples in the text that are especially pertinent to the areas of reflection you wish to explore. These citations should be explained and connected to the broad themes of your commentary, all the while providing details that draw the readers’ attention to your areas of inquiry. These different areas of inquiry may initially seem disparate or even contradictory, but eventually come together to form a harmonious reading that addresses different aspects of the text. The more obvious characteristics of the text should illuminate its subtler aspects, which allows for acute insight into the question that you are in the process of exploring.

iii. A conclusion, in which you evaluate your reading and synthesize its different areas of inquiry. This is where you may include your own opinions, but make sure that the preceding sections of your commentaire remain analytical and supported by evidence that you find in the text.

NB: Looking at verb tenses, figures of speech, and other aspects that contribute to the form of the text will help situate your reader, as will commenting on the register of language, whether this language is ornate, plain, reflects a style soutenu, or less formal patterns of speech.

Caveat: Quotations do not replace observations or comments on the text. Explain your quotations and situate them well within your own text.

3. La dissertation

The dissertation is a personal, organized, and methodical reflection on a precise question that refers to a corpus of writing. Referring to this corpus, you may be asked questions along the lines of “Que pensez-vous de l’équivalence entre l’amour et la chanson exprimée dans ces textes ?” or “Est-ce que la sagesse et la folie ont les mêmes sources?” This type of essay allows for an exploration of a question through knowledge of a corpus as well as through an individual’s cultural knowledge. The format for a dissertation consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you present the topic addressed, the significance of your argument, and the trajectory of your ideas.

ii. The body which, like a commentaire composé, consists of a tripartite development of your argument. This can follow any one of the following structures: a dialectical schema, organized into thèse, antithèse, and synthèse – an argument, its counter-argument, and its rebuttal; an analytical schema, consisting of the description of a situation, an analysis of its causes, and commentary on its consequences; a thematic schema, which consists of a reflection on a topic which you proceed to examine from different angles in an orderly fashion.

iii. A conclusion, in which you address the different ways in which you have approached the question at hand and how this deepens your insights, while placing the question within a broader context that shows room for expansion. The conclusion can open up the topic addressed to show its placement within a literary movement, or in opposition to another literary movement that follows it, for example.

NB: Approach the question at hand with as few preconceptions as possible. If you are writing on a quotation, gather all of your knowledge about its author, the work in which it appears, and the body of literature with which it is associated.

Caveat: Even for a personal reflection, such as a dissertation, avoid using the first person pronoun je. Nous or on are preferable. It is advisable not to switch from one to the other, though.

For each of these essay forms, it is a good idea to make an outline to which you can refer as you write. As your writing progresses, things may shift a bit, but having a structure on which you can rely as you gather your various ideas and information into a coherent argument provides solid foundation for a clear and well-developed essay. This also facilitates smooth transitions from one section of your essay to the next.

During your reading, you may encounter a problem, a contradiction, or a surprising turn of phrase that is difficult to figure out. Such moments in a text give you the opportunity to delve into the unique characteristics of the text or corpus to which you are referring, to propose different solutions to the problems you encounter, and to describe their significance within a larger literary, philosophical, and historical context. Essay writing allows you to become more familiar with French works, with their cultural significance, and with the French language. You can refer to the following resources to guide you in this endeavor:

Auffret, Serge et Hélène. Le commentaire composé. Paris: Hachette, 1991. Dufau, Micheline et Ellen D'Alelio. Découverte du poème: Introduction à l'explication de textes. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1967. Grammont, Maurice. Petit traité de versification française. Paris: A. Colin, 2015. Huisman, Denis et L. R. Plazolles. L’art de la dissertation littéraire : du baccalauréat au C.A.P.E.S. Paris : Société d’édition d’enseignement supérieur, 1965.

The French newspaper Le Monde also has good articles on these essay forms that prepare French students for the baccalauréat exam: CLICK HERE

This is also a website with thorough information on essay writing techniques that prepare students for the baccalauréat exam: CLICK HERE

In addition, the University of Adelaide has tips for general essay writing in French: CLICK HERE

🇫🇷 Looking for More French Resources?

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Published on October 6th, 2023 | by Adrian Lomezzo

How to Write an Essay in French Without Giving Yourself Away as a Foreigner

Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-quote-on-a-paper-5425603/

Bienvenue! Do you dream of unleashing your inner French literary genius, but worry that your writing might inadvertently reveal your foreign roots? Fret not, mes amis, as we have the ultimate guide to help you master the art of essay writing en Français!

Within these pages, we’ll navigate the intricate waters of linguistic nuances, cultural subtleties, and grammatical finesse, allowing you to exude the aura of a native French speaker effortlessly. Many students like you have embarked on this journey, seeking academic assistance from platforms like  https://paperwritten.com/  to conquer their writing pursuits.

From crafting a compelling introduction to fashioning impeccable conclusions, we’ll unveil the secrets that will leave your professors applauding your newfound linguistic prowess. So, bid adieu to those awkward linguistic giveaways and embrace the sheer elegance of French expression – all while keeping your foreign identity beautifully concealed! Let’s embark on this adventure together and unlock the true essence of writing like a native French virtuoso.

1.   Mastering French Grammar and Vocabulary: Building a Strong Foundation

To create a compelling French essay, it’s essential to lay a solid groundwork. Ensure that your French grammar is accurate and that you possess a rich vocabulary. Avoid relying on online translators, as they may yield awkward or incorrect sentences. Instead, embrace reputable dictionaries and language resources to enhance your language skills effectively.

2.   Mimic Sentence Structures: The Art of Authentic Expression

To truly immerse yourself in the French language, observe and mimic the sentence structures used by native speakers. Analyzing essays written by experienced writers can prove invaluable in grasping the authentic style required to compose a captivating essay.

3.   Use Transition Words: Crafting a Smooth Flow of Ideas

In French essays, the use of transition words and phrases plays a pivotal role in connecting ideas seamlessly. Incorporate expressions like “de plus,” “en outre,” “en conclusion,” “tout d’abord,” and “par conséquent” to add coherence and elegance to your writing.

4.   Embrace French Idioms and Expressions: Unveiling Cultural Fluency

Demonstrate a deeper understanding of the French language and culture by incorporating idioms and expressions where appropriate. However, remember to use them sparingly to avoid overwhelming your essay.

5.   Pay Attention to Formality: Striking the Right Tone

Tailor the formality of your writing to suit the context of your essay. Whether you are crafting an academic piece or a more personal creation, be mindful of your choice of vocabulary and sentence structures to match the required tone.

6.   Research Cultural References: The Power of In-depth Knowledge

If your essay touches upon French culture, history, or literature, extensive research is key. Delve into your subjects to avoid mistakes and showcase your genuine interest in the matter at hand.

7.   Avoid Direct Translations: Let French Be French

To avoid awkward phrasing, strive to think in French rather than translating directly from your native language. This will lead to a more natural and eloquent essay.

8.   Practice Writing Regularly: The Path to Proficiency

Mastering the art of French writing requires regular practice. Embrace writing in French frequently to grow more comfortable with the language and refine your unique writing style.

9.   Read French Literature: A Gateway to Inspiration

Explore the world of French literature to expose yourself to diverse writing styles. This practice will deepen your understanding of the language and immerse you further in French culture and history.

10.   Connect with French Culture: Bridges of Cultural Resonance

Incorporate cultural references that resonate with French readers, such as art, cuisine, festivals, historical figures, or social customs. Authenticity is key, so avoid relying on stereotypes.

11.   Use a French Thesaurus: Expanding Your Linguistic Palette

Discovering new contextually appropriate words can elevate your writing. Embrace a French thesaurus to find synonyms that may not be apparent through direct translations.

12.   Master French Punctuation: The Finishing Touch

Take care to use correct French punctuation marks, such as guillemets (« ») for quotes and proper accent marks. These subtle details add a professional touch to your essay.

13.   Practice French Rhetorical Devices: Crafting Eloquent Prose

Experiment with rhetorical devices like parallelism, repetition, and antithesis to lend depth and sophistication to your writing.

14.   Pay Attention to Word Order: Unlocking French Sentence Structure

French boasts a unique sentence structure distinct from English. Dive into the intricacies of subject-verb-object order and grasp the art of organizing sentences to sidestep common foreign mistakes. Embracing this essential aspect will elevate your writing to a truly native level.

15.   Use French Idiomatic Expressions: Infuse Cultural Flair

Enrich your prose with the colorful tapestry of French idioms, reflecting the vibrant essence of the culture. Yet, a word of caution – wield them with finesse, for the strategic placement of an idiom can imbue your essay with unparalleled flair and authenticity.

16.   Master Pronouns and Agreement: The Dance of Language

The dance of pronouns, nouns, and adjectives requires your keen attention. Like a skilled performer, ensure their seamless alignment to avoid inadvertently revealing your non-native status. Mastering this harmony is key to writing like a true Francophone.

17.   Understand Subtle Connotations: Unveiling Linguistic Shades

Delve into the labyrinth of French words, where subtle connotations diverge from their English counterparts. Familiarize yourself with these delicate nuances, for it is in their mastery that your writing shall find refinement.

18.   Study Formal and Informal Registers: Tailoring Language to Purpose

Akin to selecting the perfect outfit for each occasion, comprehend the art of using formal and informal language. Consider your essay’s purpose and audience, and with this knowledge, enhance your authenticity, seamlessly aligning with the appropriate linguistic register.

19.   Practice Dialogue Writing: Conversing with Eloquence

Embark on the journey of dialogue writing to enrich your linguistic repertoire. As you hone your conversational skills, watch as authenticity gracefully weaves itself into your written work, enchanting readers with its charm.

20.   Seek Feedback: A Second Set of Eyes

To refine your essay further, seek the guidance of a native French speaker or language tutor from the  best cheap essay writing services . Their valuable feedback can uncover any language or cultural mistakes you may have made, allowing you to make necessary improvements.

Equip yourself with these priceless tips and set forth on your quest to master the art of French writing. Embrace the language’s allure, immerse in its rich culture, and watch your words flow with grace and poise. À la plume! Let the pen become your ally in crafting captivating prose that echoes with authenticity and charm. 

Header Photo Credit by George Milton: https://www.pexels.com/photo/smiling-woman-in-eyeglasses-with-books-7034478/

About the Author

Adrian Lomezzo is a content writer and likes to write about technology and education. He understands the concern of parents due to the evolving technology and researches deeply in that area. When he is not researching, he buries himself in books along with his favorite cup of hot chocolate.

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French Reading Practice

Reading exercises by level.

Boost your French comprehension with our collection of interactive reading exercises. You'll find content tailored to every level from beginner (A0) to advanced (C1).

All of our texts are carefully crafted by  native French teachers , so you know you're practising real French. Most come paired with audio, offering you a powerful  blend of reading and listening practice.

Choose one of the texts from the list below. As you read, click on any tricky phrases to reveal their English translation and delve into insightful grammar lessons. You can save any lesson that captures your interest in your Notebook.

Test your French level  with our FREE level test to choose the correct exercises according to your current level. Dive in now and find out how our interactive readers will help you find your fluent!

A1: Beginner French reading exercises

• Cher journal Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Pronom réfléchi Préposition Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships Discover Lisa's daily routine while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Entretien avec un vampire Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Verbes avec -OIR Question/Interrogative Forme négative Family & Relationships Literature, Poetry, Theatre Check out this interview inspired by Anne Rice's novel to practise your French listening and reading comprehension.
• James se présente Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Adjectif Question/Interrogative Family & Relationships Listen to this interview of James while practising your A1 French reading and listening comprehension.
• La Comptine des Vêtements Free Genre masculin Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Deuxième personne Genre féminin Family & Relationships Practise your A1 French listening skills with a nursery rhyme about clothing.
• Marie in France Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Pluriel Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Enjoy a day in France while practising your A1 French reading and listening comprehension.
• Petits Portraits entre Amis Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Genre féminin Family & Relationships Discover these portraits of six friends while practising your reading and listening comprehension.
• Une semaine bien chargée Free Futur Le Futur Proche (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Genre masculin Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Discover Sylvain and Tina's plans for the week, while practising your French A1 reading and listening comprehension.
• Vive l'automne ! Free Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Genre masculin Pluriel Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Find out why fall is the best season, while practising your French A1 reading and listening comprehension.
• Vive l'hiver ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Article Sports & Leisure Find out why winter is the best season, while practising your French A1 reading and listening comprehension.
• Vive le chocolat ! Free Article Article défini Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Food & Drink Enjoy this little poem by Aurélie for chocolate lovers everywhere, while practising your A1 French reading and listening comprehension.
• Vive le printemps ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Genre féminin Pluriel Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Find out why spring is the best season, while practising your French A1 reading and listening comprehension.

A2: Lower Intermediate French reading exercises

• Carte postale Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pluriel Pronom d'objet indirect Family & Relationships Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Enjoy this postcard about Magalie's stay with her grandparents, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Chaud ou froid ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Préposition Pronom sujet Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Too hot or too cold? Luc and Amélie discuss their preferences in this A2 bilingual reader.
• Dame Tartine (Comptines de France) Free Préposition L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Pluriel Adjectif possessif Music Sing along to this delicious French nursery rhyme while practising your French listening comprehension.
• En arrivant à l'hôtel Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Employment Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Check into a French hotel with Mrs Vallée, while practising your A2 French reading and listening comprehension.
• Halloween Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom sujet Préposition Adjectif Pronom Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Learn about Hallowe'en, while practising your A2 French reading and listening skills.
• Kwiziq French Film Fest Free Adjectif Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Infinitif Pronom réfléchi Film & TV Discover Kwiziq team's French film mini reviews of their favorite movies.
• La fin des vacances Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pluriel Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Enjoy this podcast interview about the end of holiday [US: vacation] while practising your French reading and listening skills.
• La semaine des Martin Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Préposition Article défini Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Article about a busy week of activities for the Martin family.
• Lettre à France - Michel Polnareff Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom disjonctif Comparatif Pronom d'objet direct Famous People Music Enjoy French singer Michel Polnareff's cult love "letter" to France, and sing along while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Lettre à un ami Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Adjectif Family & Relationships Catch up with Kévin's life in this letter, while practising your A2 French reading and listening skills.
• Léo et Popi : la Galette des Rois Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Pronom d'objet Celebrations & Important Dates Film & TV Food & Drink Enjoy this lovely children's cartoon about la Galette des Rois, featuring classic French characters Léo et Popi, while practising your B1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Ma première rentrée des classes Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif Préposition Family & Relationships Language & Education Élodie remembers her first day of school in this A2 bilingual article.
• Mes chats Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbe irrégulier Préposition Verbes avec -OIR Family & Relationships Meet Cécile's lovely cats, while practising your French A2 reading and listening comprehension.
• Petit Ours Brun fait des crêpes Free Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Accord Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Food & Drink Make delicious crêpes with cute cartoon Petit Ours Brun, while practising your French A2 listening and reading comprehension.
• Petit Pangolin Malin - Comptine d'Afrique Free L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Adjectif Adjectif possessif Pronom Music Listen and sing along to this cute African nursery rhyme, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Rosh Hashana Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom sujet Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Celebrations & Important Dates Learn some traditions related to Rosh Hashana, a two-day celebration for the Jewish New Year.
• Thanksgiving chez mon correspondant Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Genre féminin Participe passé Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Enjoy Eric's first Thanksgiving experience, while practising your A2 French reading and listening comprehension.
• Un dîner d'automne au restaurant Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Question/Interrogative Food & Drink Order a nice autumnal meal at a French restaurant, while practising your A2 French reading and listening comprehension.
• Un mauvais numéro Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Genre masculin Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Wrong number! Listen to this friendly exchange while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Un samedi à Paris Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Participe passé Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Take a stroll around Paris while working on your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Une journée chargée Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pluriel Article Futur Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Lucas has a busy day of shopping and socialising in this bilingual article.
• What is Ramadan? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Article Article défini Préposition Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about the holy month of Ramadan, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• À la gare Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Pronom d'objet indirect Question/Interrogative Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Buy some train tickets with Geoffrey and Agathe, while practising your A2 French reading and listening comprehension.

B1: Intermediate French reading exercises

• Ainsi Font, Font, Font (Comptines de France) Free Article Article défini L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Music Dance and sing along with this famous French nursery rhyme's little puppets while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Après le coronavirus Free Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Discover Marianne's post-lockdown plans, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Aux arbres citoyens - Yannick Noah Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Infinitif Pronom réfléchi Music Celebrate the planet and sing for its protection with Yannick Noah's eco-militant song, while practising your French B1 listening and reading comprehension.
• Beaujolais nouveau : ne l'appelez plus piquette ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Verbe irrégulier Adverbe Pronom d'objet Food & Drink It's that time of year again, when wine lovers gather to taste the young wine known as Beaujolais Nouveau. But is it really as good - or bad? - as they say?
• Bonne fête des Mères ! Free Préposition Article Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Politics, History & Economics Learn about Mother's Day in France while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Bonne fête des Pères ! Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about Father's Day in France, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Bretagne news - sketch by Les Inconnus Free Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Adjectif Film & TV Language & Education Get an (exaggerated) idea about French as it's spoken in Bretagne in this humorous sketch by Les Inconnus (a famous French trio of humorists from the 90's).
• Bricolage "Avion" pour la Fête des Pères Free Futur Le Futur Proche (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Pronom Art & Design Celebrations & Important Dates Learn how to make a cute Father's Day present in this fun tutorial, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• C'est qui Coluche ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Préposition Famous People Learn about French icon Coluche in this cute animated video.
• C'est quoi le 14 juillet ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Pronom démonstratif Pronom Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Learn about France's National Holiday and its origins, while practising your French listening comprehension.
• C'est quoi les soldes ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Pronom réfléchi Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom démonstratif Employment Politics, History & Economics Sports & Leisure Learn about the specific French sales, "les soldes", in this fun and instructive video, while practising your French listening and reading skills.
• C'est quoi, la Carte Nationale d'Identité française ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Adjectif Genre féminin Verbes réguliers avec -ER Immigration & Citizenship Learn about the French National Identity Card and what it features, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Ce soir - Amir Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom Pronom sujet Article Mode impératif Music Sports & Leisure Dance and sing along to Amir's irresistible party call "Ce soir", while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Comme d'habitude - Claude François Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom d'objet indirect Family & Relationships Famous People Music Discover the lyrics of "Comme d'habitude", the original French version of Sinatra's "My Way", while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Comment est née la langue française ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Article défini Adjectif Article Préposition Language & Education Politics, History & Economics Where did the French language come from? Get the short answer in this cute animated video for children.
• Comment fabriquer une piñata d'Halloween Free Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Préposition Adjectif Adjectif indéfini Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Learn how to make a special piñata for Halloween, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Comment rafraîchir les villes et les maisons tout en restant écologique Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Adverbe Adjectif Technology & Science Discover interesting ways to sustainably cool down buildings and cities in this video, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Comment rester en bonne santé Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom sujet Adjectif Genre féminin Genre masculin Family & Relationships Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Get tips to stay healthy while practising your French reading and listening skills.
• Connaissez-vous bien le fromage français ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Question/Interrogative Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Food & Drink Test your knowledge about French cheeses with this fun questionnaire, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Connaissez-vous bien le vin ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Adjectif Food & Drink Test your knowledge about wine making in France with this fun questionnaire, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Célébrations de Thanksgiving Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Celebrations & Important Dates Our international Kwiziq team take a look at holidays from their respective countries that resemble the American Thanksgiving.
• D'où vient la tradition du marché de Noël ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Question/Interrogative Pluriel Adjectif Politics, History & Economics Learn a bit of the history behind France's traditional Christmas markets in this cute video.
• D'où vient le nom des Schtroumpfs ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom d'objet indirect Adjectif Pronom réfléchi Film & TV Learn how the name of les Schtroumpfs (Smurfs) came to be, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• DIY Pâques - Œuf avec message surprise à l'intérieur Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Infinitif Pronom réfléchi Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Follow this tutorial to make a fun decorated egg with a surprise message inside, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Dernière Danse - Indila Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif possessif Music Sing along to Indila's stirring ballad "Dernière Danse", while practising your French B1 listening and reading comprehension.
• Des températures record pour le mois de mai en France et en Espagne (2022) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Technology & Science Listen to this news report about May 2022 heatwave in France and Spain, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Divali : la Fête des Lumières à Vancouver Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Article Article défini Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about the joyful festival of Diwali, celebrated by Indians all over the world, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Encore plus de faits intéressants sur le français Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Pronom réfléchi Language & Education Politics, History & Economics By popular demand, more interesting facts about French, while practising your French reading and listening skills.
• Euro 2016 Free Genre Pluriel Article Article défini Le Présent (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Learn about the Euro (European football/soccer championship) 2016, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Festival de Cannes Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom réfléchi Préposition Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Film & TV One of the most famous and prestigious film festivals in the world is held annually in Cannes. Learn a bit of its history and traditions in this French video with transcript and translation.
• Festival des cerfs-volants Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Pronom d'objet Pronom démonstratif Celebrations & Important Dates Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Berck-sur-Mer is home to an annual kite-flying festival - and it's going on right now! Learn about this colorful event with this video while working on your French listening comprehension.
• France Gall, la groupie du pianiste Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Pluriel Genre masculin Famous People Music France Gall passed away in January 2018. Learn about this French singer with a unique voice in our bilingual article.
• French Elections Free Adjectif Pronom réfléchi Adjectif indéfini Préposition Infinitif Politics, History & Economics Learn about French elections while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Fête des Lumières à Lyon Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Lyon's Festival of Light is a must-see event where the walls of buildings become movie screens. Here's a taste of what's in store in 2017, including the newest security measures.
• Game of Thrones (no spoilers) Free Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Film & TV For all you GoT fans out there (and anyone who'd just like to know what all the fuss is about), here's a video talking about all the records this fantasy TV show broke in its eight-year run.
• Hajj Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Il est né le divin Enfant (Chant de Noël) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Le Subjonctif Présent Voix pronominale Celebrations & Important Dates Film & TV Sing along to this very popular French Christmas carol, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Il y a un monstre sous mon lit ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Genre féminin Family & Relationships Enjoy this lovely monster story, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Inventions françaises Free Article Article défini Préposition Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Technology & Science Hundreds if not thousands of products you use every day started out as nothing more than an idea - and many of those ideas were originally French.
• Jardin d'hiver, de Keren Ann Free Pronom d'objet indirect Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Pluriel Le Présent (Indicatif) Music Practise your French listening and reading comprehension with this wintery song.
• Je suis malade - Serge Lama Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pluriel Deuxième personne Genre féminin Family & Relationships Music Feel the heartache with Serge Lama's harrowing song "Je suis malade", while practising your B1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Joyeux Hanoucca ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom réfléchi Préposition Genre féminin Celebrations & Important Dates Learn more about the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Kwiziq French Film Fest - C.R.A.Z.Y. Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Film & TV Here's Aurelie's selection for the Kwiziq French Film Fest: French Canadian film "C.R.A.Z.Y."
• Kwiziq French Film Fest - Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif possessif Article défini Film & TV Here's Grzegab's review of this French comedy classic for the Kwiziq French Film Fest.
• L'Année Bissextile (Leap Year) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Adjectif Adverbe Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about Leap Day and Leap Year, while practising your B1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• L'Arnacœur - French Film Fest Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Pronom d'objet Film & TV The first Kwiziq French Film Fest review comes from none other than our CEO, Gareth "Gruff" Davies.
• L'anniversaire de Cyril Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships Practise listening and reading with this story about a surprise party.
• L'enseignement en ligne : Témoignage de Céline Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Adverbe Pronom disjonctif Language & Education Technology & Science Learn about some of the pros and cons of online teaching in this interview with Céline.
• L'oral de français en Première Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Pluriel Genre masculin Language & Education At the end of "Première," the penultimate year of French high school, French students have to take a literary oral exam. Many of the tips offered in this video can be applied to other oral exams.
• La Bretagne se révèle en Côtes d'Armor Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom sujet Préposition Genre Pronom d'objet direct Monuments, Tourism & Vacations The northwestern corner of France is a beautiful region called Bretagne, or Brittany. Discover a few of its secrets and myths in this fast-paced video.
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B2: Upper Intermediate French reading exercises

• 20 Mars : Journée de la Francophonie Free Adjectif Article Article défini Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Celebrations & Important Dates Language & Education Celebrate Francophonie by learning about a few less known French-speaking countries, while practising your reading and listening comprehension in French.
• 3 Villes Francophones où fêter le Nouvel An Free Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Learn about New Year's Eve celebrations in Paris, Quebec City and Marrakech, while practising your B2 French reading and listening comprehension.
• 5 Artistes Noirs Francophones à (Re)découvrir Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif Adjectif possessif Genre masculin Art & Design Famous People Literature, Poetry, Theatre Music (Re)discover 5 amazing Francophone Black artists, while practising your B2 French listening and reading comprehension.
• 6 juin 1944 : voyage à travers le temps Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom démonstratif Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Witness the commemoration of the Allied landing in Normandy, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• 8 mai 1945 : la capitulation de l'Allemagne à Reims Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Adjectif Article défini Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Learn about Germany surrendered to Allied forces on the 8th of May 1945, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Allô les urgences vétérinaires ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Cat stuck in a tree? Call the emergency vet service.
• Alpine French School Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Adverbe Language & Education Sports & Leisure Learn about the Alpine French School where you can ski and learn French at the same time, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Assomption Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom relatif Adjectif possessif Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics August 15 is the Catholic holiday of Assomption (Assumption Day) and is férié (a public holiday) in France.
• Au Clair de la Lune (Comptines de France) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Deuxième personne Music Sing yourselves to sleep with this classic French lullaby while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Au Restaurant de la Plage Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Adjectif possessif Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Enjoy lunch at a beachside restaurant, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Au secours ! Je n'ai plus internet ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet indirect Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Technology & Science Need help dealing with customer support when your internet goes out? Check out this audio article for some useful phrases.
• Basique - OrelSan Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Pronom démonstratif Forme négative Adjectif Famous People Music Politics, History & Economics Practise your French rapping skills with OrelSan's "Basique".
• Bastille Day Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pluriel Pronom relatif Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Happy Bastille Day! Learn about the French national holiday in our bilingual audio article.
• Bruxelles je t'aime - Angèle Free Pronom d'objet indirect Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Famous People Music Celebrate the Belgian capital with Angèle's upbeat love song to Brussels, while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Bûche de Noël : recette Free Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Préposition Adverbe Pronom d'objet direct Celebrations & Important Dates Food & Drink Find out how to make the most classic of French Christmas desserts: la bûche de Noël.
• C'est quoi la "Fête des mères" ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Celebrations & Important Dates Find answers to your questions about French Mother's Day in this fun video, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Charles Aznavour s'éteint à 94 ans Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Pluriel Famous People Music Famed French-Armenian singer passed away in October 2018. Watch this video highlighting aspects of his talented career, then scroll down for the transcript in our bilingual reader.
• Charles Perrault (Portraits français) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Préposition Genre féminin Genre masculin Famous People Literature, Poetry, Theatre Learn about timeless French raconteur Charles Perrault, while practising your French reading and listening skills.
• Claude Monet's "Water Lilies" Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Adjectif démonstratif Futur Art & Design Famous People Learn about the story behind the unique way Claude Monet's Water Lilies are displayed, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Colette (Portraits français) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Adjectif Pluriel Famous People Literature, Poetry, Theatre Learn about passionate French writer Colette, while practising your French reading and listening skills.
• Comme Avant (ConfinementSong) Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Préposition Pronom réfléchi Family & Relationships Sing along to GiedRé's bittersweet song about life before lockdown, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Comment demander la nationalité française (1ere partie) Free Adjectif possessif Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Immigration & Citizenship Learn how to apply for French citizenship with the first half of this informative article, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Comment demander la nationalité française (2e partie) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Adjectif Adverbe Verbes modaux Immigration & Citizenship Learn how to apply for French citizenship with the first half of this informative article, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Comment préparer son bagage en cabine Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom démonstratif Préposition Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Get some useful packing tips with Catherine Schwaab, while practising your French B2 listening and reading comprehension.
• Conseils pratiques pour profiter des marchés de Noël Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Get some practical advice to help you make the most of Christmas markets, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Coupe du Monde 1998 Free Pronom d'objet direct Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Adverbe Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Twenty years ago, France beat Brazil to become world champions of European football (aka soccer). In this video, trainer Aimé Jacquet shares his first thoughts.
• Dans les coulisses du Moulin Rouge Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Pronom démonstratif Verbe irrégulier Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Music The Moulin Rouge is a world-famous revue in Paris. Take a look behind the scenes and sequins with this video report.
• Demande d'emploi Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet indirect Pluriel Employment Language & Education This audio article about a job letter was specially written to help you prepare for the listening and reading portions of the AP French exam.
• Des initiatives pour parents et enfants pendant le confinement Free Préposition Pronom d'objet indirect Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom réfléchi Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Discover some initiatives in Belgium to teach and entertain children during lockdown, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Des vacances mémorables Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Pronom réfléchi Le Subjonctif Présent Préposition Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Laurence and Arnaud go on a dream vacation to celebrate 5 years together in this audio article.
• Devant un match de foot Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Forme négative Préposition Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Sports & Leisure Join two friends to watch a football [US:soccer] game on TV, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Dialectes et langues régionales Free Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Forme négative Préposition Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Language & Education Politics, History & Economics For centuries, France was divided into two main dialectal regions. Learn about the development of French in this bilingual article.
• Dix pour cent : la bonne recette (1ere partie) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom démonstratif Film & TV Discover "Dix pour cent", a humorous French TV series about the trials and tribulations of movie star agents.
• Dix pour cent : la bonne recette (2e partie) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom démonstratif Pronom relatif Pronom d'objet direct Film & TV Part 2 of the video about "Dix pour cent", a humorous French TV series about the trials and tribulations of movie star agents.
• Découvrez les candidats français à l'Eurovision 2022 ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom réfléchi Préposition Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Music Discover France's 2022 Eurovision contestants and their song, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Décès de l'ancien président Jacques Chirac, l'animal politique Free Adjectif possessif Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom d'objet indirect Pluriel Famous People Politics, History & Economics Former French president and mayor of Paris Jacques Chirac passed away on 26 September 2019. Learn about the legacy of this political animal in this video from France24.
• Départ en Vacances 1 - Sur la route des vacances Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Préposition Forme négative Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Dreading going on holiday [US: vacation] with small children? Fortunately, Céline is here with some fun tips to prepare for your car trip!
• Départ en Vacances 2 - Sur place Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Verbes réguliers avec -ER Infinitif Family & Relationships Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Dreading going on holiday [US: vacation] with small children? Fortunately, Céline is here with some fun tips to pick your holiday [US:vacation] rental!
• Engrenages (Séries françaises) - Interview "flashback" de Thierry Godart et Caroline Proust Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Pronom Préposition Film & TV Enjoy a lively interview with actors Thierry Godart and Caroline Proust from the successful TV show "Engrenages" (Spiral), while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Et tout le monde s'en fout : L'eau Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Préposition Verbe irrégulier Verbes réguliers avec -ER Technology & Science Funny video (with some vulgar language) about a serious subject: water.
• Films français (2) - La sélection de Cécile Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Adjectif Genre masculin Film & TV Here's another selection of 3 great French movies to (re)discover and enjoy!
• Films français - La sélection de Céline Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Adjectif possessif Film & TV Here's a selection of 3 great French movies to (re)discover and enjoy!
• Fête de la Musique Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Adjectif indéfini Adjectif démonstratif Immigration & Citizenship Music Politics, History & Economics La Fête de la Musique is an annual celebration in France and around the world. Learn a bit of its history in our bilingual audio article, then listen to a few French variety classics.
• Fête de la musique : interview de Jack Lang Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom disjonctif Préposition Pronom réfléchi Celebrations & Important Dates Music Discover how 1981 Ministre de la Culture Jack Lang explain came up with "la Fête de la Musique", while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Haiti's story of independence Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Le Présent (Indicatif) Politics, History & Economics Haiti was the first French colony to gain independence, in large part thanks to one man.
• Hallowe'en in France Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Forme négative Article Pronom réfléchi Celebrations & Important Dates At a nursery school in Biarritz, kids get ready for Halloween with stuffed pumpkins and favorite costumes.
• Histoire d'animaux Free Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pluriel Language & Education Learn or practise some French expressions with animals in this cute bilingual story.
• Histoires d'argent Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Genre masculin Pluriel Article Language & Education A bilingual text about different relationships to money, rich in French idioms.
• Héritage de Johnny Hallyday Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Adverbe Verbe irrégulier Famous People Politics, History & Economics Despite being French, Johnny Hallyday wrote his will in the United States, which allowed him to disinherit his children. Find out how they're challenging the will and whether they have a case in this video.
• Immigrer au Canada Free Adjectif possessif Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom sujet Immigration & Citizenship If you dream of immigrating [UK: emigrating] to Canada, this official video has the vital information you need.

C1: Advanced French reading exercises

• 4 astuces anti-fatigue pour faire le plein d'énergie ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Préposition Pronom réfléchi Technology & Science Discover French doctor Michel Cymes's useful tips to fight tiredness, while practising your French C1 listening and reading skills.
• Alsatian accent Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom démonstratif Verbe irrégulier Préposition Film & TV Language & Education Get an (exaggerated) idea about French as it's spoken in Alsace in this humorous sketch by Les Inconnus (a famous French trio of humorists from the 90's).
• Ces fautes qui deviennent des règles - La Chronique Langue de Laélia Veron Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Pronom démonstratif Pronom relatif Pronom d'objet Language & Education Learn about the fascinating evolution of the French language, when today's mistakes become tomorrow's rules.
• Chez Victor Hugo à Guernesey Free Préposition Adjectif possessif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Genre féminin Pluriel Famous People Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Politics, History & Economics Discover Victor Hugo's amazing mansion Hauteville House on the island of Guernsey, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Coco Chanel (Portraits français) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Préposition Genre féminin Adjectif Art & Design Famous People Learn about the iconic French haute couture designer Coco Chanel, while practising your C1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Dans les coulisses de "Plus Belle La Vie" (Séries Françaises) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom démonstratif Pronom d'objet direct Film & TV Sneak behind the scenes of France's most popular soap opera "Plus Belle la Vie", while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Georges Brassens et la ville de Sète Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Music Discover the lovely Southern city of Sète through its most iconic singer Georges Brassens, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Henri Matisse au Centre Pompidou Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Genre masculin Préposition Art & Design Famous People Enjoy a fascinating retrospective on French painter Henri Matisse at the Pompidou Center in Paris, while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Histoire des Jeux Olympiques Modernes Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Politics, History & Economics Sports & Leisure Discover how the modern Olympic Games came to be, while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Histoire et origine du français canadien Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Article Article défini Genre Language & Education Politics, History & Economics The French spoken in Québec is different than what you might be used to - but why? Check out this animated video for an explanation of the Québécois accent ...
• Hymne à l'Amour - Édith Piaf Free Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Music Let yourself be moved to tears by Édith Piaf's heartwrenching "Hymne à l'Amour", while practising your French C1 listening and reading comprehension.
• J'attends - Ben Mazué & Pomme Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Voix pronominale Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships Music Discover all the sincerity of French singer Ben Mazué in his beautifully written duet with Pomme, "J'attends", while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• J'irai où tu iras - Céline Dion & Jean-Jacques Goldman Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pluriel Genre féminin Verbes réguliers avec -ER Music Rock 'n' roll with Céline Dion & Jean-Jacques Goldman's irresistible fast-paced duet "J'irai où tu iras", while practising your French C1 listening and reading comprehension.
• Jeanne d'Arc (Portraits français) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif possessif Adjectif Famous People Politics, History & Economics Learn about Joan of Arc - Jeanne d'Arc - while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Kwiziq dans le "Crystal Maze" Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Sports & Leisure In May 2018, the Kwiziq Team met in London for a week of work - and just a bit of fun, including a visit to The Crystal Maze Experience.
• L'Ascension Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about the mobile jour férié and Christian holiday of Ascension, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• L'histoire de la Fête Nationale Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Adverbe Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Learn about the history of France's national holiday, le 14 juillet, in this informative video.
• L'histoire de la Saint-Sylvestre Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Pronom d'objet Pronom relatif Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Discover why December 31st is also known as "la Saint-Sylvestre" in France, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• La Fête du Travail du premier mai en France Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Employment Politics, History & Economics Learn how May 1st became a public holiday called Labour Day, while practising your French C1 listening and reading comprehension.
• La Sorcière - Le Diable aux Corsets Free Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Genre féminin Pluriel Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Music Celebrate Hallowe'en with the band Le Diable aux Corsets's bewitching folk song "La Sorcière", while practising your C1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• La Toussaint Free Adjectif Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Pronom d'objet direct Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about the importance of la Toussaint, or All Saints' Day in France, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Le Café - Oldelaf et Monsieur D Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbe irrégulier Music Sing along to Oldelaf's hilarious "ode" to coffee drinkers, while practising your C1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Le Carnaval de Dunkerque comme si vous y étiez Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Discover Dunkirk's colourful Carnival, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Le confinement, quelle vie de chien ! Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Préposition Pronom réfléchi Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Find out what confinement is like from a new perspective in our bilingual audio article.
• Le ski - Têtes à Claques Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Verbe irrégulier Film & TV Sports & Leisure Challenge yourself with this hilarious Québécois claymation video, while practising your French C1 listening and reading skills.
• Les Accras de Morue des Antilles (Spécialités de France) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Adverbe Verbes réguliers avec -ER Food & Drink Learn about one of the most popular culinary specialities in the West Indies: Guadeloupe's famous accras de morue (cod fritters).
• Les Copains D'abord - Georges Brassens Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Forme négative Préposition Pronom réfléchi Reflexive verbs Music Sing along to Georges Brassens's best celebration of friendship, "Les Copains D'abord", while practising your C1 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Les cours d'anglais - Gad Elmaleh Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom sujet Film & TV Language & Education Enjoy Gad Elmaleh's stand-up comedy about learning English in this video.
• Les origines du Tournoi des Six Nations Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Learn about the origins of this European rugby competition, while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Lynda Lemay - Les Maudits Français Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Article Préposition Music To celebrate Quebec's National Day, la Saint-Jean-Baptiste (June 24th) and la Fête de la Musique (June 21st), here is a song by Québécois singer-songwriter Lynda Lemay.
• Ma routine pendant le Ramadan Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Idioms about Time Adverbe Pronom réfléchi Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Learn about Ramadan celebrations with Hajar, while practising your C1 French listening and reading skills.
• Mon Noël d'antan Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Pluriel Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Remember what Christmas was like when you were a child in this bilingual audio article.
• Omar Sy - Interview Cinéma Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Verbe irrégulier Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Famous People Film & TV French actor Omar Sy is known for a number of international hits, including Les Intouchables, X-Men: Days of Future Past and Jurassic World. In this interview, he talks (quickly!) about some of his favorite movies.
• Ouragan Irma Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Participe passé Adjectif indéfini Family & Relationships Technology & Science Read Guadeloupe resident Laura's account of crossing the path of Hurricane Irma in early September 2017.
• Pourquoi est-on ivre plus vite lorsqu'on n'a pas mangé ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Adverbe Pronom d'objet direct Food & Drink Technology & Science Learn the fascinating answer to this question in this fun short program, while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Pourquoi la rentrée scolaire est-elle en septembre ? Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Pronom réfléchi Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Politics, History & Economics Learn about the origin and evolution of France's back-to-school date, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Premier Mai, poème de Victor Hugo Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif indéfini Verbe irrégulier Pluriel Literature, Poetry, Theatre Listen to Victor Hugo's lovely poem about spring "Premier Mai", while practising your French reading and listening comprehension.
• Quand Mai 68 changea la France Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Adjectif Politics, History & Economics May 1968 was a turning point in French history. On this 50th anniversary, learn how students and workers revolutionalized France.
• S'occuper sans écran - La drôle d'humeur de Marina Rollman Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Pronom démonstratif Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Family & Relationships Sports & Leisure Technology & Science Enjoy this funny radio sketch by Swiss comedian Marina Rollman about life without computer screens, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Strasbourg, le plus grand marché de Noël d'Europe ! Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbe irrégulier Art & Design Celebrations & Important Dates Employment Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Discover the enchanting Strasbourg Christmas Market, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Thanksgiving contre les Indiens d'Amérique Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adverbe Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Politics, History & Economics Learn about some of the controversy surrounding the US celebration of Thanksgiving, while practising your B2 French listening and reading comprehension.
• Un escape game pour personnes âgées Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Préposition Verbe irrégulier Adjectif possessif Sports & Leisure Discover the cool initiative of this French retirement home, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.
• Une Saint-Valentin entre filles Free Préposition Pronom sujet Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships No Valentine? No problem!
• V pour Vendetta Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif démonstratif Mode impératif Pronom réfléchi Verbe irrégulier Film & TV In honour of Guy Fawkes Night (November 5th), let's take a look at V for Vendetta, a 2006 political thriller film set in a dystopian United Kingdom under the rule of a neo-fascist regime, where V, the mysterious anarchist freedom fighter tries to start a revolution through elaborate terrorist acts. Highly recommended!
• Valéry Giscard d'Estaing - Une rétrospective en images Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Genre féminin Famous People Politics, History & Economics Former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing died of Covid-19 on 2 December, 2020, at the age of 94. Take a look back at his life and career in this video from Le Monde.
• Vendée Globe 2016 / 2017 Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet Pronom réfléchi Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Vendée Globe is a grueling, non-stop solo round the world race without assistance.
• Very Low Cost Airlines Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Verbe irrégulier Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Think the last flight you took was bad? It probably doesn't compare to this one!
• Victor Hugo (Portraits français) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Pluriel Adjectif Famous People Literature, Poetry, Theatre Learn more about famous author Victor Hugo, while practising your listening and reading comprehension.
• Visite de Fort Royer sur l'île d'Oléron Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Pronom Pronom démonstratif Pronom d'objet direct Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Discover the fascinating site of Fort Royer on Île d'Oléron while practising your French listening comprehension.
• Vivre en Suisse : Préparer votre expatriation (1ère partie) Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Adverbe Comparatif Employment Immigration & Citizenship Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Learn about the (many) advantages to moving to Switzerland in the first part of this informative video, while practising your French listening and reading comprehension.

In this section

• Improve Your French Reading Skills
• French Glossary and Jargon Buster

French Texts for Beginners

French texts for beginners (A1/A2) and intermediates (B1/B2) to practice your French reading and comprehension skills. Learning to read French well is a genuine accomplishment. For beginning learners, we offer an enjoyable way to improve your comprehension with the brief, text-based lessons below.

Professional French teachers designed the texts and exercises with easy vocabulary and elementary grammar to help you grow in ability and confidence. Following your review of each text, answer the questions of comprehension in our online exercises, and we'll evaluate it immediately. You get instant feedback about your French reading skills. It's challenging, fun and free!

Hint: Download our texts and exercises as pdf and use it as free teaching materials for your students.

• Cinéma DIALOGUE PREMIUM How about we go to the movies? ? »
• Les vacances d'été PREMIUM Summer holidays and the French ? »
• Séjour à la ferme PREMIUM A day off away from the city ? »
• Du soleil sous la neige PREMIUM Clean, fresh air: just what was needed ? »
• Formation en anglais PREMIUM I need information about the English class. ? »
• Journée en forêt PREMIUM A walk in the woods with grandpa ? »
• La réunion de famille PREMIUM The only time of the year when the family gets together ? »
• Le chat et la taupe PREMIUM The mole was lucky to escape ? »
• Le jour du marché PREMIUM I'm going to buy the vegetables for today's meal ? »
• Les courses d'Arthur PREMIUM The days when Arthur does the shopping ? »
• Les lectures de Hector PREMIUM ? »
• Trouver l'amour sur internet PREMIUM Will Amelie find the love of her life? ? »
• Un instant de détente PREMIUM A bit of relaxation after lots of work ? »
• La nouvelle année PREMIUM Sabrina's goal for next year ? »
• Le français, langue de Molière PREMIUM One of the greatest writers in the French language ? »
• La photographie PREMIUM ? »
• Le jardinage PREMIUM ? »
• Les voyages en bus PREMIUM ? »

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Thousands of books in ePub format

Several thousands of books can be downloaded freely in ePub format from Gallica, the BnF’s digital library. This format is especially suited to reading on mobile devices (smartphones, eReaders, tablet computers. From the 1876 edition of Les Travailleurs de la mer by Victor Hugo , illustrated by Daniel Vierge, to a selection of young adult literature (Jean de La Fontaine, Benjamin Rabier, Jules Verne…), we cater to the most diverse audiences.

Podcasts and video conferences

Follow philosophy courses by François Jullien, listen to Alan Lee, the illustrator of Tolkien or discover the most legendary theatre voices : the BnF’s conferences are available for replay through podcasts on all dedicated apps and and videos on bnf.fr .

Les Essentiels de la BnF

Les Essentiels de la BnF website offers several thousands resources on various topics such as the Arthurian legend, the game of chess, the exploration of the world, secularism or Jules Verne works.

Designed from exhibitions and news from the BnF’s collections, they are enriched every day with new content on art, history, literature, society, sciences, books and writing.

Teachers will also find a space dedicated to educational tours around school programs. As for parents, a section filled with ideas for games, books and videos awaits them, for young and old!

Millions of images online

Several portals allow one to dive into the wealth of the BnF’s heritage thanks to selections in Gallica , Images Bank as well as bnf.fr, covering a range of topics such as travel , nature images , culinary heritage , globes in 3D or ancient artifacts

Travelling with Patrimoines partagés / Shared Heritage

The digital collection Patrimoines partagés / Shared Heritage brings together a set of digital libraries constituted by the BnF. It reveals the richness of the ties established by France and the rest of the world across the centuries and put in light the global dimension of France’s past.

• Bibliothèques d’Orient
• France-Pologne
• France-Brésil
• France-Chine
• France-Japon

For teenagers and adults: learn and play

Les Essentiels de la Littérature ” is an introduction to French literary works and French authors of the 18th and 19th century.

From kindergarten to high school, Gallica’s enhanced selections bring together freely available educational resources.

Colouring books and games

The BnF also gives access to Gallica’s coloring pages and coloring books , sorted by topic and category: alphabet books, animals, circus, fairy tales, image books, games, means of transportation, landscapes, plants, advertisements.

Various games invite users to follow the traces of Ulysse , to become King Arthur in a role-playing game or to pierce the mysteries of the Kingdom of Istyald in a video game .

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The BnF has created apps to engage in a playful way with its collections through creating a pictorial narrative with BDnF , or kind monsters with Fabricabrac

For researchers and students

Holders of the Research Pass can remotely access electronic resources , which consists of hundred thematic databases (press, law, sciences…) and 100 000 ebooks.

Tools to assist you in a search such as dedicated portals (sustainable development, Press and media) or selected bibliographies are available: from Jane Austen to preparing entrance exams for teaching jobs, CAPES and Agrégation, in history, geography or philosophy. Gallica also regroups digitized reference works organized in disciplines .

French Essay: Topics, Tips, and Examples [2024 Updated]

Nowadays, knowing several foreign languages is no longer surprising. For example, learning French is common for English-speaking countries. So, getting an assignment on this subject won’t be a surprise for a student.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

Writing a French essay, you can dwell into:

• the history of the French language;
• various dialects;
• its grammatical features;
• similarities between French and English (or another language);
• the distribution of the language around the globe.

One studying the language may penetrate the rich French culture and comprehend the nation itself. Besides, writing a French essay can develop the author’s writing skills and broaden their outlook. And even if you make mistakes doing so, it’s not the end of the world. The fact that you’re able to recognize them is already good enough, and you can fix complex errors using a free essay rewriter .

Our writers prepared French essay topics and tips for you to nail your task. See the examples below for better understanding.

📯 French Essay Topics

Are you one of those who are assigned to write French essays? Then we suggest you pick out some of the following problems to investigate:

• History of the French language;
• Dialects of the French language;
• French phonology ;
• French orthography;
• French grammar ;
• French alphabet.

The suggested topics are too vague and need narrowing. You may single out some aspects and analyze it in your paper. An excellent French essay topic should be:

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

• Broad for you to have enough room to develop your arguments;
• Narrow enough for you to be able to concentrate on one or several points;
• It should also be creative and original. You want people to enjoy reading it, right?
• Most importantly, the topic should be interesting for you.

If the essay topics seem too formal to you, study, for example, your progress in analyzing the French language. Alternatively, you can state what attracts you in the language and explain why. You may also do a comparative analysis of French and some other languages. Comparing French with English may turn out to be a fascinating task to cope with. Both languages will benefit from your French essay writing.

Here are some topics and French essay examples you can consider writing about:

• Your progress in learning the French language . Here you can write about your personal experience learning the French language. What techniques do you apply, and what motivates you personally? You can explain why you have to learn how to speak French .
• How are the French language and culture in Southern France different from Parisian? In this essay, you can compare the Southern French dialect and culture with the one in Paris. What are some of the critical phonetic, grammar, and linguistic characteristics of Southern French?
• Parisian dialect as a standard of French . When people think about the French language, the Parisian variant immediately comes to mind. In this essay, you can analyze why Parisian French became the standard version.
• Why do you enjoy learning French? This essay focuses on your personal preferences and likes in the process of learning. What makes it fun and enjoyable? Is it French movies, French literature, or understanding French written work documents?
• French influence on English . Although English is a Germanic language, it looks and sounds a lot like French. The influence which French had on English is significant. Look at some historical reasons (the Norman invasion in particular) and why English benefited from it.
• French language in 19th century Russia . Not everyone knows that French was the official language of the Russian elite in the 19th century. Discuss the reasons why and what influence French culture had on Russian literature, music, and language.
• The effect of the French language on the development of English writing . More than 10,000 French words came into the English language. Not only did the vocabulary of English get more prosperous, but the French way of spelling and letter convention influenced English orthography.
• What caused French to become an aristocratic language in Europe? The reasons why the French language became so dominant throughout Europe are broad. In this essay, you can focus on economic grounds, cultural or political reasons.
• An analysis of Canadian French. This essay can be a comparative analysis of Canadian and European French. What are the main differences? What are some similarities between the two variants?
• Is there any similarity between French and German ? All of the languages in the Indo-European language family have some similarities. Therefore, French and German are not exceptions. You can focus on sentence structure, word order, pronunciation, or phonetics.
• The popular strategies in English-French translation .
• Describe the challenges of French language acquisition.
• Analyze the peculiarities of French vowel pronunciation.
• Cultural events and their traditions in French-speaking countries .
• Discuss the advantages of learning French .
• Examine the semantic peculiarities of the French language.
• Explore the role of watching movies in the French language learning process.
• Comparison of language education theories .
• Analyze the impact of French language learning on your personality.
• Describe the methods you’ve used to improve your French language fluency and which turned out to be the most effective.
• Similarities and differences between realism and naturalism in Spanish and French literature .
• What is the role of the French language in the modern world?
• Advantages and disadvantages of knowledge of multiple languages .
• Discuss the role of the French language in the United States.
• The specifics of learning French in early childhood.
• Compare the grammar peculiarities of English and French languages.
• How is the concept of friendship interpreted in American and French cultures?
• Analyze the correlation between the history of France and French language development.
• Explore the origin of the French language.
• Verbal and non-verbal communication in French culture.
• Examine the crucial role of French literature in learning French.
• Describe the relationship between French culture and language.
• Is it a good idea to integrate bilingual programs in early childhood education?
• Discuss the best ways to prepare for the speaking exam in French.
• The role of audiovisual materials in learning French .
• What difficulties did you face when learning to write in French ?
• The essential role of sociocultural context when translating from French.
• Compare the customs of French, Chinese, and Hispanic cultures.
• The best methods of learning the second language .
• Describe the best ways of promoting language development for French language learners.
• Analyze the methods of French word formation .
• Would you like to become a French language teacher?
• Analysis of the food words in English and other European languages.
• Examine the specifics of the French language in former French colonies .

Do not treat your French essay as an ordinary task to undertake. Make it as creative as possible!

🖋️ How to Write a French Essay

Note that writing on some language problems requires more than your knowledge of the subject matter. It also tests your abilities to present them in terms of academic writing.

Special care should be taken concerning the following:

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• The structural organization of your French essay.

Mostly, it is similar to any other academic essay :

• It should start with a hook . In simple terms, it is the opening sentence or two of your writing. It can be a quote, a short story, or a catchy statement that grabs the reader’s attention.

Here’s an example of from the sample essay:

Every language is a mirror of society, a living organism that exists and changes under the influence of historical, political, and social conditions.

• The next part of your essay is a thesis statement . Typically, it should be placed at the end of the first paragraph. The thesis statement’s purpose is to state the central idea in one or two phrases.

Here is a thesis statement from our French essay example:

Today, it is common to study English as a foreign language, as an international means of communication. However, this does not diminish the importance of learning other foreign language like French.

• After that, the body of the essay should start. This part of the composition usually has three separate paragraphs. These paragraphs can include research, supporting evidence, and arguments that prove the point of view.
• The conclusion brings together all the points of the essay. It goes back to the thesis statement and explains the broader importance of the topic. It is the last chance to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Here is an example form our French essay sample:

To conclude, the above discussion provides evidence and arguments that maintain the position according to which learning French is a necessity nowadays. The crucial points are as follows; first, French has a long tradition of international language; second, French is spoken around the globe; third, it is a language of international relationships. The opposing position that English is sufficient for appropriate global communication was claimed unreasonable – an emphasis in this regard was on the essence of cultural and language diversity.

• The logical organization of your French essay .

There are some ways in which you can coherently write your essay. The following three aspects can guide you when organizing your French essay:

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• Topic sentence : you should mind linking elements within the paragraphs and between them. First of all, each section should include a topic sentence. It aims to identify the central idea and express an overall direction in which the writer will develop the paragraph.

The demand for knowledge of a language has changed in recent years.

• Concluding sentence: each paragraph should also include a concluding sentence. It asserts the main idea of the section and sums up all the information said in it.

It may be claimed that in a period of rather an aggressive introduction of the Anglo-American language in the world, the French need to persistently and resolutely defend their language, their national interests, and calls on other nations to preserve linguistic diversity.

• Linking words: it is crucial to use linking words in your essay. Linking words show relationships between ideas. It can be used to build sentences together to develop a cohesive paragraph.

To see the full essay sample, check the link below:

• Grammar, spelling, and vocabulary.

The last step in writing an A+ French essay is proofreading and editing. Before submitting your academic paper, make sure to pay attention to grammar, spelling, and vocabulary mistakes . Without proofreading, your writing can contain typos and errors that will not leave a good impression.

Good luck with your French essay writing! We hope the article was helpful. If so, share it with your peers and leave a comment below to let us know what you think.

This might be interesting for you:

• How to Write an Expository Essay in Simple Steps
• Nursing Reflective Essay Example and Guidelines for Students
• Essay on Dengue Fever: How to Write + Free Examples
• Objective Essay Writing: How to Write, Topics and Examples
• Organizing an Essay: Jerry Plotnick, College Writing Centre, University of Toronto
• Organizing an Essay: Study Guide Zone
• Paragraphs & Topic Sentences: Writing Guides, Writing Tutorial Services, Indiana University Bloomington
• Thesis Generator: Ashford Writing Center
• Proofreading: The Writing Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Basic Essay and Paragraph Format: Utah Valley University
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Dissertation critique writing develops the students’ critical and logical thinking abilities. When composing, the students learn to analyze the works conducted by other researchers. To critique a dissertation, you should: Thoroughly read the paper.Take notes and summarize the text (you can even try and use auto summarizer for that).Interpret and...

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So, you need to accomplish your discursive essay writing. The typical questions most students ask are: How do you write it? What is discursive essay? A discursive essay is an academic paper that involves a discussion on a particular topic. It is usually assigned to college students. You may be...

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It’s not hard to see why Americanism is one of the most popular essay topics. The concept of Americanism is in the center of the US identity. Writing an essay about it is an excellent way to find out more about this great country.

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An article review is an academic assignment that invites you to study a piece of academic research closely. Then, you should present its summary and critically evaluate it using the knowledge you’ve gained in class and during your independent study. If you get such a task at college or university,...

Short essays answer a specific question on the subject. They usually are anywhere between 250 words and 750 words long. A paper with less than 250 words isn’t considered a finished text, so it doesn’t fall under the category of a short essay. Essays of such format are required for...

When you hear the phrase “spiritual leadership,” you probably think it’s only associated with religion. But did you know that this form of leadership can also be found in business? The book Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda by Henry and Richard Blackaby is a good starting point...

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“If a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound?” is one of the most debatable philosophical questions regarding observation and perception. Many tried to answer it, including the English philosopher John Locke. Do you need to explore Locke’s perspective on this question in your essay? You are on the right...

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It is not helpful to me.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by, Yunika.

Thanks for the help with out this i wouldn’t even know what to do on my essay

Hi, do you also do French powerpoint presentation?

Hi dear, sorry, but we can do a PowerPoint presentation in English only. If that’s what you need, you’re welcome to check out our order form . Good luck and have a nice day!

Good advice. Thanks.

Thanks for your comment. We’re happy to hear that. Be sure to check other posts on this blog.

This was a very great help. I’m writing a French essay, and I know, thanks to your post and the provided tips on French essay writing, I will pass!

Hi! I just want to thank you for your ideas and tips for writing French essays! Write a French paper in English or write an essay for the French by an American) Funny.

Thanks a lot for the help.

No problem, Sash:) Good luck!

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Writing essays in French Cheat Sheet by JAM

Useful expressions to help structure your A level French essay.

Introd­ucing the first argument

Adding and listing arguments, listing arguments - start, listing arguments - middle, listing arguments - end, indicating the reason for something, expressing contrast / concession, introd­ucing one's own point of view, in conclusion, how's your readability.

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• Languages: English français (French)
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• Last Updated: 26th February, 2020
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these are very helpful thank you

Simple et utile, j'aime.

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French Homework Help: 10 Essential Resources to Help Finish Your Assignment

Au secours! (Help!)

Do you ever find yourself mentally screaming this while struggling to complete your French homework?

Ever get overwhelmed with your assignments and wish that someone—anyone!—would just step in and make the French murkiness a little clearer?

To help you out with this, we’ve compiled the 10 best online resources to get French homework help quickly. So read on, and then try out a couple next time you’re confused or stuck.

1. Bescherelle

2. larousse, 3. bonpatron, 4. alloprof, 5. verbling, 6. 24houranswers, 7. wordreference, 8. french language stack exchange, 9. tex’s french grammar, 10. le conjugueur, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Summary: Well known grammar and conjugation help source

If you’ve ever attended an in-person French class, there’s a good chance you’ve already seen or heard of this first resource. Bescherelle is better known for its written counterpart, a guide to hundreds of verbs in the French language, but you don’t have to run to the bookstore just yet. Bescherelle is also available online!

Bescherelle   conjugates almost every verb imaginable into any tense imaginable. That means that you can look up any verb and find it in all verb tenses and participles . Additionally, you can get the verb conjugations in both the active and passive voice: an excellent resource for when you’re completing upper-level French papers that require you to write impersonally.

Further, when you search for a verb, you can find out whether it’s regular or irregular and you’ll even see other verbs that are conjugated with the same verb ending pattern.

In addition to the conjugator, the Bescherelle website includes  dictées (dictations) for you to practice your listening and writing skills, quizzes about verbs and their tenses as well as other grammar points such as nouns and adjectives. If you’re feeling energized, Bescherelle also has a selection of French-learning games .

Summary: Accurate and nuanced word definitions

Larousse is a famous French dictionary that’s also available online. That means you can search any French word you’d like and get an in-depth look at its meaning, not just a one-word translation that may miss the meaning entirely (I’m looking at you, Google Translate!).

The dictionary itself offers many resources for French learners and for French homework help. First, Larousse has a monolingual French edition so you can look up words and see their definitions in French. Larousse also has bilingual editions for many other languages. Larousse can translate words into English, Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese and Arabic from French and vice versa.

In addition to its dictionaries,  Larousse offers a verb conjugator similar to that of Bescherelle. While it’s not as in-depth as Bescherelle’s, it gets the job done for quick searches of common conjugations. Further,  Larousse has an awesome encyclopedia to be used for French essays or other projects .

Finally, Larousse offers forums for people to post questions, which can be helpful if you’ve got a specific question about your French homework (more on getting those answered below).

Summary: Accurate online grammar and spell checker

For those who need a complete revision of French written compositions and not just simple word look-ups and verb conjugations,  BonPatron  is the holy grail! BonPatron  is an online French grammar and spell checker extraordinaire!

Let’s say you’ve been tasked with writing a paragraph or essay for your French course. You’ve looked up all the words you didn’t know and verified all the conjugations, and to be honest, you’re feeling pretty good about it.

But wait! Before you hand your work in, you should make sure everything is correct. Simply paste your French written work into the BonPatron  checker, and the service will find all your spelling and grammar errors for free. It’ll even give you necessary corrections as well as a small explanation for any mistakes you’ve made.

But it gets better: if the grammatical explanations don’t clarify the error for you,  BonPatron  also offers short tutorials on different aspects of French grammar.

Summary: Text and telephone connection to French Canadian speakers

Our first resource for personalized homework help is called  Alloprof,  a website from Québec that offers students a wealth of resources.

On  Alloprof , there are two services where students can connect directly with French educators to get answers to their questions or access personalized French homework help.

The first is called t exto  (text message) , a service where students can text their questions and receive text message answers. The second service is called  téléphonique  (by telephone) , where students can call in their questions and receive one-on-one, over-the-phone support.

Both services are available Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. That’s great because those are prime homework hours, but it can also force you to plan ahead (no last-minute homework help right before your morning class!).

Alloprof has a handful of other fun, independent practice tools , too.

You can access interactive exercises to help you review and practice grammar and vocabulary skills. Topics range from French grammatical explanations to history, science and mathematics.  Alloprof  also has a virtual library where students can access texts as well as a forum for students to communicate with other French learners.

This is perfect for asking informal French questions and getting answers from peers who may be studying the same material.

Summary: Excellent place to find good tutors and teachers

Verbling is a service that connects French learners to French teachers and tutors all around the world . If you’re stumped on your homework and need an expert to identify the learning block, Verbling is a super handy resource. Simply log on and pick a tutor that you like best.

All the language teachers are native speakers. You’ll find a short summary of the tutor’s specialities and get a feel for who they are personally. You can also access ratings from previous students so you can find the best educator to meet your needs. Verbling displays tutors’ rates right upfront so you know how much you’d be paying.

Verbling even uses its own virtual “classroom” set-up , where you can upload files and notes alongside a video chat. That’s perfect for quickly showing your tutor the class materials you’re having trouble with, or sharing your work so they can give you feedback.

Summary: Emergency help any time of the day or night

Like Verbling, 24houranswers connects French learners with tutors and teachers all around the world. 24houranswers has homework help for many subjects, but for French homework help, it focuses on the language at the college level , and as their name suggests, they’re available 24 hours a day .

Many of the tutors and teachers from 24houranswers are actual college professors or other education professionals . Their services include online face-to-face tutoring as well as written solutions. For example, you can submit a written assignment and receive feedback on the assignment—just be careful to leave enough turnaround time for your tutor, so you don’t hand in an assignment late.

In addition to their in-person support, you can browse their online library of previously solved French homework questions to see if your question has already been asked and answered.

Summary: Excellent dictionary and active online forums

WordReference is like your friendly online language buddy that’s perfect for French homework help.

It’s not just your regular dictionary–it’s like a language wizard that gives you not only translations but also cool explanations , real-life examples and even a forum where you can chat with others about tricky words.

So, when you’re scratching your head over that French assignment, WordReference and the many who are active on its message boards could provide the help you need.

Summary: Online forum where you can ask other learners questions

French Language Stack Exchange is like a cozy virtual cafe where French enthusiasts gather.

Imagine you’re stuck on a tricky French homework question—instead of feeling lost, you can pop into this online spot and ask for help. It’s not just a Q&A— it’s like having a group of friends who love French as much as you do.

They share tips, tricks and their own experiences, making those confusing parts of French class feel way less daunting. So, next time you’re puzzled, French Language Stack Exchange is the friendly table where answers and insights flow like great conversation. 

Summary: Easy to understand grammar lessons

Tex’s French Grammar is your friendly language mentor, ready to unravel the mysteries of French homework. Think of it as having a patient teacher who breaks down grammar rules into bite-sized pieces that make sense.

It’s not about dry lessons—it’s like having a conversation with someone who gets you. Tex’s Grammar doesn’t just throw rules at you—it explains why they matter and gives you examples that light up the “aha” moments. So, when French assignments seem like a puzzle, Tex’s French Grammar steps in to help you put the pieces together and ace that homework. 

Summary: Excellent and reliable verb conjugation charts

This site by popular French language newspaper  Le Figaro  is a great online resource for French students who are looking for help with verb conjugations.

It’s a super accurate conjugation tool that allows you to conjugate verbs in various tenses, moods and persons. It’s particularly useful for students who are working on grammar exercises or assignments that involve verb conjugations. You can enter a verb and see its conjugation presented in a clear and organized format.

Your call for help has been answered! Go forth and finish that French homework (with help, of course)!

FluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

FluentU brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples.

For example, if you tap on the word "crois," you'll see this:

Practice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning, and play the mini-games found in our dynamic flashcards, like "fill in the blank."

All throughout, FluentU tracks the vocabulary that you’re learning and uses this information to give you a totally personalized experience. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Paris — Paris, the Enchanting French Capital

Paris, The Enchanting French Capital

• Categories: Paris

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Words: 500 |

Published: Feb 12, 2024

Words: 500 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Works Cited

• "Paris." Encyclopædia Britannica
• "History of Paris." Wikipedia
• "Paris City Guide." Lonely Planet

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French Writing Practice and Prompts for the Classroom

October 5, 2022 by Devon Leave a Comment

When you teach French, whether in middle school, high school, core French or immersion, you need all the French writing prompts and practice activities you can get! This handy dandy list is great to keep in your back pocket for those 5 minute pockets of unexpected down time, to prepare for final writing exams, and everyday French activities.

Studying French Grammar Does NOT Lead to Accurate Writing

Before we start looking at french writing prompts, it’s important to understand its role in the French lesson plan. The #1 thing to remember about French writing activities in a classroom is that ACCURACY is not where you start – let alone put all your time and energy.

HOW MUCH students are exposed to the structure leads to accuracy.

Many teachers teach the way they were taught: show students the proper way to form a structure, give them opportunities to practice, and then test it. This DOES NOT WORK. See this post about second language acquisition and French grammar to see why.

Comprehensible Input French Example

Instead, give students tons of tiny texts with the structures you want them to use. Ask them warm up questions where they have to choose an answer between the structures they need to use. Lead them in tons of input-rich activities (WAY more than you think is necessary) before you ever ask them to produce the structure in writing).

For example:

J’ai besoin d’une calculatrice et un livre pour le cours de (fill in the blank, kiddos)

If you want students to be able to accurately talk about what they need for each class, instead of wasting time showing them how “j’ai besoin de/d'” works, just use that precious precious time for input and comprehension based activities where they get tons of repetitions of that structure!

Aim for them seeing, hearing, and using j’ai besoin de/d’ in context at least 50 times (ideally 75-125) before they are tested on it.

French 1 Writing Prompts

First, let’s look at French 1s as this is a very delicate stage of learning. Writing is a dangerous thing to mess with too early. At this stage in the game, our kids are baby baby novices. Starting at novice low with a writing prompt is honestly not a good idea, so don’t expect much. It’s more research-based practice to wait until students are at novice mid at the very least to introduce French writing prompts .

However, some of us (I also used to be in this position) teach in places where that just won’t fly.

Many students because of school constraints and stuffy curriculums need to use writing in French class, so let’s make this work as best we can at this level.

French 1 Writing Activities Tips

Again, for realz, make sure that you have given students at least 50 context rich, input rich exposures to any structure before asking them to write anything!

For novice lows, their very best skill is listing. Capitalize on this by asking questions that use the very same structures they need to answer inside the question. In other words, stay away from tu questions that need a j’ai answer until they are ready.

They will slay questions in the 3rd person though, especially if you teach them to look for the phrase they need in the question to answer it.

Next, you’ll see some copy-and-paste ready French 1 writing prompts with these exact principles in mind. Steal ’em!

French 1 Food Unit Writing Prompts:

Qu’est-ce qu’il y a dans le frigo?

Qu’est-ce qu’il y a dans le garde-manger? 

Qu’est-ce qu’on mange  au petit-déjeuner? 

Quels aliments ne sont pas sains? 

French 1 Personality & Adjectives Writing Prompts:

C’est comment, un bon ami?

C’est comment, un mauvais ami?

Comment est ta personnalité?/ Décris ta personnalité.

Tu es comment?

Tu es timide ou extraverti(e)? (Other either/or questions work well)

French 1 Family Unit

Qui est dans ta famille?

Tu as un animal domestique?

Décris une personne dans ta famille.

French 2 Writing Prompts

Next, let’s look at French 2 writing prompts. Don’t assume your French 2s are ready for more writing just because this class in high school French tends to have more grammar. They are only one teeny tiny step above French 1. They are still building a great deal of vocabulary and most are starting at novice mid. Here are some ideas for your French 2 writing prompts:

French 2 Writing Activities Tips:

• Start to ask for complete sentences
• Vary the question format to consistently work with 2nd person questions and 1st person answers. This of course means that you as the teacher need to speak to them in the 1st person a TON.
• Start asking for sequence. It will be choppy and inaccurate. That’s perfectly normal for novice mids to highs, but it will push them further into novice high. For example, daily routine works well in level 2 to help work with first, next, then, last.
• Ask for more details – maybe 3 in each sentence.
• Never expect accuracy. Instead, expect complexity. That is what you will get at this level.
• Praise like crazy when you start to see students using conjunctions. That is a very high-level skill for novice mids and emerging novice highs. For example, J’ai mangé une pizza et une pomme. That’s an advanced sentence for French 2! Treat it as such.
• Instead of review, revisit the same prompts they remember from French 1 and ask for more complex and detailed responses. Less prep for you and still just as valuable output practice for them!

French 2 Writing Prompt Examples:

• Qu’est-ce que tu fais pour le matin?
• Qu’est-ce qu’on fait pour se preparer pour l’école?
• Qu’est-ce qu’il y a dans la douche?
• Qu’est-ce que tu aimes faire après-l’école?
• Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end?
• Qu’est-ce que tu mets quand il fait beau?
• Qu’est-ce que tu fais dans la cuisine? dans la chambre? dans la salle à manger?
• Qu’est-ce que vous avez fait avec tes amis hier?

French Past Tense Writing Practice

Last, let’s take a look at a very common question: how can I practice French past tense with my students? You don’t need to wait until French 2 to use past tense! They are ready for it! Instead of teaching the ins and outs of how past tense works, use your precious class time to give input rich examples for students in comprehensible input activities like weekend chats!

For example, if you’re teaching a food unit, why not ask things like “what did you eat yesterday?” Just don’t expect complete sentences. Then, later in the year, after you’ve done lots of interpersonal work, they will be ready to respond with j’ai mangé after they have seen and worked with at least 50 in context examples (ideally 75).

The best way to give past tense writing practice is to expose students to tons of simple past tense structures in the 1st person, 2nd person, and 3rd person in levels 1 and 2. Use the high frequency verbs and phrases that they will naturally hear the most. Use this post on French High Frequency Verbs to guide you!

More Posts on Comprehensible Input, Research, and Linguistics

In conclusion, you have lots to think about with writing practice in French class. The most important concept is to make sure that writing is a proficiency-oriented practice in your class. Dive into the world of second language acquisition with these other posts for teachers:

• The Research Behind Comprehensible Input
• What is Comprehensible Input?
• Second Language Acquisition
• French Grammar and its New Role in Class
• French High Frequency Verbs
• Map Out Your French 1 Curriculum

More French teacher resources for you

Have you ever wished the transition to proficiency were easier to do?  Grab the FREE toolkit here  to learn the framework for updating your practice to comprehensible input with key tools like French grammar in context and high frequency words – with actionable ideas you can use tomorrow in class.

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French Teacher Resources and Posts

You may also like these French teacher resources for your immersion classroom or high school French class:

• How to Map out a French 1 Curriculum for High School
• French Classroom Decor Ideas for Proficiency Oriented Instruction
• 11 French Resources for Teachers – All Free!
• Can Do Statements and ACFTL Tools for World Language Teachers

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French Essay

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Science , Computers , Innovation , Solar Energy , Body , Invention , Time , Disaster

Words: 1000

Published: 02/13/2020

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- The numbers are adjectives where the cardinal numbers are used for counting items. The ordinal numbers show position or rank while the fraction numbers shows parts of shares or portions of something.

This shows that the origin of counting is from corresponding body parts e.g. the French used body parts like fingers in their counting to count numbers one to ten. - The Nile flooding is expected to be synchronous with the real year. The astronomers in ancient Egypt discovered that stars were more precise in making a calendar than the sun which they had used over the years, which they called the solar calendar and recorded 365 days in a year but had a quarter day error. This was when the sun would rise the same day with the star Sirius marking 1460 years (365 days x 4), but due to the movement of Sirius the time was less and hence the flooding did not coincide with the rising sun and Sirius at the same time. Since the Sirius rising takes 365 and ¼ days, then to be one day out of synchronicity would take 365 + (1/4 x 4) years = 366 days, which is 1 day ahead of flooding of Nile. Hence, it would take 4 years. This is equal to (36514 x 4) = 1461 days. The Sirius star was called Sothic, which formed the Sothic cycle and marked the start of a year. The civil calendar had three seasons each consisting of four months. A month had thirty days bringing a total of 360 days. The Egyptians added five more days for celebration purposes to celebrate their God or Goddess as each day resemble one. After five days, the year would be opened again during the summer solstice when the Nile flood occurred. Therefore, the civil or solar calendar became out of synchronicity with the rising Sirius, which led to the addition of a day after a period of 4 years. The solar calendar did not have leap years hence the inconsistence in the synchronicity. 1 day apart = 4years hence in 4000 years = 4000/4 = 1000 days apart. The flooding would occur earlier than the heliacal rising. This is because the Sirius gains four minutes every day hence in a period of 4000 years the star will be 1000 days out of synchronicity with the flooding of the Nile and because the star is the one gaining, it will rise a later date than the flooding of the Nile. - The Gregorian calendar which is the solar calendar, which was more modified from the Julian calendar, had been formed due to the errors found in the Julian calendar that had accumulated thus bringing an error of a day in 128 years only. The Gregorian calendar sort to solve the problem by declaring century years divisible by 400 whereas leap years and those not divisible not leap years. Where in a span of 400 years, 303 years would not be leap years and the remaining 95 years would be leap years. This brought about a total of 146097 days in the 400 years, which formed 365.2425 days in a year. This number of days was slightly high and would bring an error of a day in about 3300 years. Then there was a modification of the Gregorian calendar which suggested that years divisible by 4000 years are not leap years, but the suggestion has not been adopted officially as this would mean that the modification would take effect after 4000 years hence the Gregorian calendar is still in use among the catholic countries, but the Protestants still use the Julian calendar.

Modifying the Gregorian calendar retains only 2/9 of century leap year, hence,

365+ ¼ - 1/100 + 2/900= 365.24225 Comparing the above value with the actual mean value, which is 365.24219878, brings an error of one day after a period of approximately 19,500 years which is similar error in breaking of tides encountered in earth rotation. This calendar is more accurate compared to the Gregorian calendar as it reduces the occurrence of one day error whereby one day error would occur after a very long time and thus bring a consensus between the calendar and the actual value of a year. - A positive integer would not exist for which no name could be found. An integer is any non-fractional numbers which can be positive or negative numbers and are considered potentially infinite. This is due to the fact that they are infinite but do exist i.e. they can be found. Big numbers are written in relation to various bases. In decimal place value system, numbers are written in bases of 10 or powers of 10. Big numbers are being used by scientists to define various capacities. For example, numbers are used in the computation of memory in a computer which are given the value ‘bits’. Integers are infinite such that there are bigger numbers than are needed by scientists, but numbers are given names as they occur in certain situations hence there could be no integer whose name could not be found since scientists relate the value of a number in accordance to the situation in which they can be related to. Therefore, positive integer do exist and as more scientists come up with various invention, they give the invention a value which is given a name according to its origin since numbers are usually related with familiar parts of the surrounding or finding.as more numbers becomes of importance to the universe, the more names for those numbers could evolve. Hence as integers exist, so do their names. For example, computers are continually being invented and giant computers that can perform 10120 operations is being invented and hence as more things are being invented and so do the name for the numbers. There exist 500 sextillions of computation times more than is required to save 40 different passwords. Names are also got from the people who invented certain calculations, for example, the Pythagoras theorem and the Avogadro constant.

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The Case for Marrying an Older Man

A woman’s life is all work and little rest. an age gap relationship can help..

In the summer, in the south of France, my husband and I like to play, rather badly, the lottery. We take long, scorching walks to the village — gratuitous beauty, gratuitous heat — kicking up dust and languid debates over how we’d spend such an influx. I purchase scratch-offs, jackpot tickets, scraping the former with euro coins in restaurants too fine for that. I never cash them in, nor do I check the winning numbers. For I already won something like the lotto, with its gifts and its curses, when he married me.

He is ten years older than I am. I chose him on purpose, not by chance. As far as life decisions go, on balance, I recommend it.

When I was 20 and a junior at Harvard College, a series of great ironies began to mock me. I could study all I wanted, prove myself as exceptional as I liked, and still my fiercest advantage remained so universal it deflated my other plans. My youth. The newness of my face and body. Compellingly effortless; cruelly fleeting. I shared it with the average, idle young woman shrugging down the street. The thought, when it descended on me, jolted my perspective, the way a falling leaf can make you look up: I could diligently craft an ideal existence, over years and years of sleepless nights and industry. Or I could just marry it early.

So naturally I began to lug a heavy suitcase of books each Saturday to the Harvard Business School to work on my Nabokov paper. In one cavernous, well-appointed room sat approximately 50 of the planet’s most suitable bachelors. I had high breasts, most of my eggs, plausible deniability when it came to purity, a flush ponytail, a pep in my step that had yet to run out. Apologies to Progress, but older men still desired those things.

I could not understand why my female classmates did not join me, given their intelligence. Each time I reconsidered the project, it struck me as more reasonable. Why ignore our youth when it amounted to a superpower? Why assume the burdens of womanhood, its too-quick-to-vanish upper hand, but not its brief benefits at least? Perhaps it came easier to avoid the topic wholesale than to accept that women really do have a tragically short window of power, and reason enough to take advantage of that fact while they can. As for me, I liked history, Victorian novels, knew of imminent female pitfalls from all the books I’d read: vampiric boyfriends; labor, at the office and in the hospital, expected simultaneously; a decline in status as we aged, like a looming eclipse. I’d have disliked being called calculating, but I had, like all women, a calculator in my head. I thought it silly to ignore its answers when they pointed to an unfairness for which we really ought to have been preparing.

I was competitive by nature, an English-literature student with all the corresponding major ambitions and minor prospects (Great American novel; email job). A little Bovarist , frantic for new places and ideas; to travel here, to travel there, to be in the room where things happened. I resented the callow boys in my class, who lusted after a particular, socially sanctioned type on campus: thin and sexless, emotionally detached and socially connected, the opposite of me. Restless one Saturday night, I slipped on a red dress and snuck into a graduate-school event, coiling an HDMI cord around my wrist as proof of some technical duty. I danced. I drank for free, until one of the organizers asked me to leave. I called and climbed into an Uber. Then I promptly climbed out of it. For there he was, emerging from the revolving doors. Brown eyes, curved lips, immaculate jacket. I went to him, asked him for a cigarette. A date, days later. A second one, where I discovered he was a person, potentially my favorite kind: funny, clear-eyed, brilliant, on intimate terms with the universe.

I used to love men like men love women — that is, not very well, and with a hunger driven only by my own inadequacies. Not him. In those early days, I spoke fondly of my family, stocked the fridge with his favorite pasta, folded his clothes more neatly than I ever have since. I wrote his mother a thank-you note for hosting me in his native France, something befitting a daughter-in-law. It worked; I meant it. After graduation and my fellowship at Oxford, I stayed in Europe for his career and married him at 23.

Of course I just fell in love. Romances have a setting; I had only intervened to place myself well. Mainly, I spotted the precise trouble of being a woman ahead of time, tried to surf it instead of letting it drown me on principle. I had grown bored of discussions of fair and unfair, equal or unequal , and preferred instead to consider a thing called ease.

The reception of a particular age-gap relationship depends on its obviousness. The greater and more visible the difference in years and status between a man and a woman, the more it strikes others as transactional. Transactional thinking in relationships is both as American as it gets and the least kosher subject in the American romantic lexicon. When a 50-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman walk down the street, the questions form themselves inside of you; they make you feel cynical and obscene: How good of a deal is that? Which party is getting the better one? Would I take it? He is older. Income rises with age, so we assume he has money, at least relative to her; at minimum, more connections and experience. She has supple skin. Energy. Sex. Maybe she gets a Birkin. Maybe he gets a baby long after his prime. The sight of their entwined hands throws a lucid light on the calculations each of us makes, in love, to varying degrees of denial. You could get married in the most romantic place in the world, like I did, and you would still have to sign a contract.

Twenty and 30 is not like 30 and 40; some freshness to my features back then, some clumsiness in my bearing, warped our decade, in the eyes of others, to an uncrossable gulf. Perhaps this explains the anger we felt directed at us at the start of our relationship. People seemed to take us very, very personally. I recall a hellish car ride with a friend of his who began to castigate me in the backseat, in tones so low that only I could hear him. He told me, You wanted a rich boyfriend. You chased and snuck into parties . He spared me the insult of gold digger, but he drew, with other words, the outline for it. Most offended were the single older women, my husband’s classmates. They discussed me in the bathroom at parties when I was in the stall. What does he see in her? What do they talk about? They were concerned about me. They wielded their concern like a bludgeon. They paraphrased without meaning to my favorite line from Nabokov’s Lolita : “You took advantage of my disadvantage,” suspecting me of some weakness he in turn mined. It did not disturb them, so much, to consider that all relationships were trades. The trouble was the trade I’d made struck them as a bad one.

The truth is you can fall in love with someone for all sorts of reasons, tiny transactions, pluses and minuses, whose sum is your affection for each other, your loyalty, your commitment. The way someone picks up your favorite croissant. Their habit of listening hard. What they do for you on your anniversary and your reciprocal gesture, wrapped thoughtfully. The serenity they inspire; your happiness, enlivening it. When someone says they feel unappreciated, what they really mean is you’re in debt to them.

When I think of same-age, same-stage relationships, what I tend to picture is a woman who is doing too much for too little.

I’m 27 now, and most women my age have “partners.” These days, girls become partners quite young. A partner is supposed to be a modern answer to the oppression of marriage, the terrible feeling of someone looming over you, head of a household to which you can only ever be the neck. Necks are vulnerable. The problem with a partner, however, is if you’re equal in all things, you compromise in all things. And men are too skilled at taking .

There is a boy out there who knows how to floss because my friend taught him. Now he kisses college girls with fresh breath. A boy married to my friend who doesn’t know how to pack his own suitcase. She “likes to do it for him.” A million boys who know how to touch a woman, who go to therapy because they were pushed, who learned fidelity, boundaries, decency, manners, to use a top sheet and act humanely beneath it, to call their mothers, match colors, bring flowers to a funeral and inhale, exhale in the face of rage, because some girl, some girl we know, some girl they probably don’t speak to and will never, ever credit, took the time to teach him. All while she was working, raising herself, clawing up the cliff-face of adulthood. Hauling him at her own expense.

I find a post on Reddit where five thousand men try to define “ a woman’s touch .” They describe raised flower beds, blankets, photographs of their loved ones, not hers, sprouting on the mantel overnight. Candles, coasters, side tables. Someone remembering to take lint out of the dryer. To give compliments. I wonder what these women are getting back. I imagine them like Cinderella’s mice, scurrying around, their sole proof of life their contributions to a more central character. On occasion I meet a nice couple, who grew up together. They know each other with a fraternalism tender and alien to me.  But I think of all my friends who failed at this, were failed at this, and I think, No, absolutely not, too risky . Riskier, sometimes, than an age gap.

My younger brother is in his early 20s, handsome, successful, but in many ways: an endearing disaster. By his age, I had long since wisened up. He leaves his clothes in the dryer, takes out a single shirt, steams it for three minutes. His towel on the floor, for someone else to retrieve. His lovely, same-age girlfriend is aching to fix these tendencies, among others. She is capable beyond words. Statistically, they will not end up together. He moved into his first place recently, and she, the girlfriend, supplied him with a long, detailed list of things he needed for his apartment: sheets, towels, hangers, a colander, which made me laugh. She picked out his couch. I will bet you anything she will fix his laundry habits, and if so, they will impress the next girl. If they break up, she will never see that couch again, and he will forget its story. I tell her when I visit because I like her, though I get in trouble for it: You shouldn’t do so much for him, not for someone who is not stuck with you, not for any boy, not even for my wonderful brother.

Too much work had left my husband, by 30, jaded and uninspired. He’d burned out — but I could reenchant things. I danced at restaurants when they played a song I liked. I turned grocery shopping into an adventure, pleased by what I provided. Ambitious, hungry, he needed someone smart enough to sustain his interest, but flexible enough in her habits to build them around his hours. I could. I do: read myself occupied, make myself free, materialize beside him when he calls for me. In exchange, I left a lucrative but deadening spreadsheet job to write full-time, without having to live like a writer. I learned to cook, a little, and decorate, somewhat poorly. Mostly I get to read, to walk central London and Miami and think in delicious circles, to work hard, when necessary, for free, and write stories for far less than minimum wage when I tally all the hours I take to write them.

At 20, I had felt daunted by the project of becoming my ideal self, couldn’t imagine doing it in tandem with someone, two raw lumps of clay trying to mold one another and only sullying things worse. I’d go on dates with boys my age and leave with the impression they were telling me not about themselves but some person who didn’t exist yet and on whom I was meant to bet regardless. My husband struck me instead as so finished, formed. Analyzable for compatibility. He bore the traces of other women who’d improved him, small but crucial basics like use a coaster ; listen, don’t give advice. Young egos mellow into patience and generosity.

My husband isn’t my partner. He’s my mentor, my lover, and, only in certain contexts, my friend. I’ll never forget it, how he showed me around our first place like he was introducing me to myself: This is the wine you’ll drink, where you’ll keep your clothes, we vacation here, this is the other language we’ll speak, you’ll learn it, and I did. Adulthood seemed a series of exhausting obligations. But his logistics ran so smoothly that he simply tacked mine on. I moved into his flat, onto his level, drag and drop, cleaner thrice a week, bills automatic. By opting out of partnership in my 20s, I granted myself a kind of compartmentalized, liberating selfishness none of my friends have managed. I am the work in progress, the party we worry about, a surprising dominance. When I searched for my first job, at 21, we combined our efforts, for my sake. He had wisdom to impart, contacts with whom he arranged coffees; we spent an afternoon, laughing, drawing up earnest lists of my pros and cons (highly sociable; sloppy math). Meanwhile, I took calls from a dear friend who had a boyfriend her age. Both savagely ambitious, hyperclose and entwined in each other’s projects. If each was a start-up , the other was the first hire, an intense dedication I found riveting. Yet every time she called me, I hung up with the distinct feeling that too much was happening at the same time: both learning to please a boss; to forge more adult relationships with their families; to pay bills and taxes and hang prints on the wall. Neither had any advice to give and certainly no stability. I pictured a three-legged race, two people tied together and hobbling toward every milestone.

I don’t fool myself. My marriage has its cons. There are only so many times one can say “thank you” — for splendid scenes, fine dinners — before the phrase starts to grate. I live in an apartment whose rent he pays and that shapes the freedom with which I can ever be angry with him. He doesn’t have to hold it over my head. It just floats there, complicating usual shorthands to explain dissatisfaction like, You aren’t being supportive lately . It’s a Frenchism to say, “Take a decision,” and from time to time I joke: from whom? Occasionally I find myself in some fabulous country at some fabulous party and I think what a long way I have traveled, like a lucky cloud, and it is frightening to think of oneself as vapor.

Mostly I worry that if he ever betrayed me and I had to move on, I would survive, but would find in my humor, preferences, the way I make coffee or the bed nothing that he did not teach, change, mold, recompose, stamp with his initials, the way Renaissance painters hid in their paintings their faces among a crowd. I wonder if when they looked at their paintings, they saw their own faces first. But this is the wrong question, if our aim is happiness. Like the other question on which I’m expected to dwell: Who is in charge, the man who drives or the woman who put him there so she could enjoy herself? I sit in the car, in the painting it would have taken me a corporate job and 20 years to paint alone, and my concern over who has the upper hand becomes as distant as the horizon, the one he and I made so wide for me.

To be a woman is to race against the clock, in several ways, until there is nothing left to be but run ragged.

We try to put it off, but it will hit us at some point: that we live in a world in which our power has a different shape from that of men, a different distribution of advantage, ours a funnel and theirs an expanding cone. A woman at 20 rarely has to earn her welcome; a boy at 20 will be turned away at the door. A woman at 30 may find a younger woman has taken her seat; a man at 30 will have invited her. I think back to the women in the bathroom, my husband’s classmates. What was my relationship if not an inconvertible sign of this unfairness? What was I doing, in marrying older, if not endorsing it? I had taken advantage of their disadvantage. I had preempted my own. After all, principled women are meant to defy unfairness, to show some integrity or denial, not plan around it, like I had. These were driven women, successful, beautiful, capable. I merely possessed the one thing they had already lost. In getting ahead of the problem, had I pushed them down? If I hadn’t, would it really have made any difference?

When we decided we wanted to be equal to men, we got on men’s time. We worked when they worked, retired when they retired, had to squeeze pregnancy, children, menopause somewhere impossibly in the margins. I have a friend, in her late 20s, who wears a mood ring; these days it is often red, flickering in the air like a siren when she explains her predicament to me. She has raised her fair share of same-age boyfriends. She has put her head down, worked laboriously alongside them, too. At last she is beginning to reap the dividends, earning the income to finally enjoy herself. But it is now, exactly at this precipice of freedom and pleasure, that a time problem comes closing in. If she would like to have children before 35, she must begin her next profession, motherhood, rather soon, compromising inevitably her original one. The same-age partner, equally unsettled in his career, will take only the minimum time off, she guesses, or else pay some cost which will come back to bite her. Everything unfailingly does. If she freezes her eggs to buy time, the decision and its logistics will burden her singly — and perhaps it will not work. Overlay the years a woman is supposed to establish herself in her career and her fertility window and it’s a perfect, miserable circle. By midlife women report feeling invisible, undervalued; it is a telling cliché, that after all this, some husbands leave for a younger girl. So when is her time, exactly? For leisure, ease, liberty? There is no brand of feminism which achieved female rest. If women’s problem in the ’50s was a paralyzing malaise, now it is that they are too active, too capable, never permitted a vacation they didn’t plan. It’s not that our efforts to have it all were fated for failure. They simply weren’t imaginative enough.

For me, my relationship, with its age gap, has alleviated this rush , permitted me to massage the clock, shift its hands to my benefit. Very soon, we will decide to have children, and I don’t panic over last gasps of fun, because I took so many big breaths of it early: on the holidays of someone who had worked a decade longer than I had, in beautiful places when I was young and beautiful, a symmetry I recommend. If such a thing as maternal energy exists, mine was never depleted. I spent the last nearly seven years supported more than I support and I am still not as old as my husband was when he met me. When I have a child, I will expect more help from him than I would if he were younger, for what does professional tenure earn you if not the right to set more limits on work demands — or, if not, to secure some child care, at the very least? When I return to work after maternal upheaval, he will aid me, as he’s always had, with his ability to put himself aside, as younger men are rarely able.

Above all, the great gift of my marriage is flexibility. A chance to live my life before I become responsible for someone else’s — a lover’s, or a child’s. A chance to write. A chance at a destiny that doesn’t adhere rigidly to the routines and timelines of men, but lends itself instead to roomy accommodation, to the very fluidity Betty Friedan dreamed of in 1963 in The Feminine Mystique , but we’ve largely forgotten: some career or style of life that “permits year-to-year variation — a full-time paid job in one community, part-time in another, exercise of the professional skill in serious volunteer work or a period of study during pregnancy or early motherhood when a full-time job is not feasible.” Some things are just not feasible in our current structures. Somewhere along the way we stopped admitting that, and all we did was make women feel like personal failures. I dream of new structures, a world in which women have entry-level jobs in their 30s; alternate avenues for promotion; corporate ladders with balconies on which they can stand still, have a smoke, take a break, make a baby, enjoy themselves, before they keep climbing. Perhaps men long for this in their own way. Actually I am sure of that.

Once, when we first fell in love, I put my head in his lap on a long car ride; I remember his hands on my face, the sun, the twisting turns of a mountain road, surprising and not surprising us like our romance, and his voice, telling me that it was his biggest regret that I was so young, he feared he would lose me. Last week, we looked back at old photos and agreed we’d given each other our respective best years. Sometimes real equality is not so obvious, sometimes it takes turns, sometimes it takes almost a decade to reveal itself.

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