An easy French story for beginners: the first class

This is the kind of story we use in our lessons, and the first story of 30 Days to Read French, A1. It is short on purpose: at A1, a story you can read twice a day is worth more than a long text you abandon. Read it once in French only, and see how far you can follow.

Did you get the twist?

How to read it: the FRANZA routine

Reading once is not enough for the words to stay. This is the routine we give our students for every story in 30 Days to Read French, and the reason it works is simple: the same text, twice in the same day, moves words from your eyes to your memory.

1. Morning, 10 minutesRead the story once without stopping. Then read it again and underline every word you do not know. Write its meaning next to it, in English, and write le or la in front of every noun.
2. Evening, 5 minutesBefore you open the page, try to remember the morning's words. Write the ones you recall. Then read the same story again, out loud, a little faster than this morning.
3. Every day for 30 daysOne new story a day, read at least twice, three times if you can. When a grammar point surprises you, open its lesson in Grammar to Speaking.

Three things to notice

Now say it

Reading builds the words; speaking puts them to work. Tell the story out loud in your own words, then tell your own version: who you are, how old you are, where you live, and who sits next to you in class.

Words to remember

le, un: masculinela, une: feminineTap ☆ to save a word to My words

• le coursclass, lesson · masculineJ'ai un cours de français.
• la professeureteacher (woman) · feminineLa professeure est jeune.
• la petite-fillegranddaughter · feminineC'est ma petite-fille.
• la filledaughter, girl · feminineElle a une fille.
• l'ami / l'amiefriendC'est mon amie Awa.
• aujourd'huitodayAujourd'hui, j'ai cours.

Expressions to remember

• je m'appelle…my name is…Je m'appelle Sam.
• j'habite à…I live in…J'habite à Dakar.
• à côté denext toÀ côté de moi, il y a Awa.
• il y athere is / there areIl y a dix étudiants.
• c'est…it's… / he's… / she's…C'est ma petite-fille.

Go further30 Days to Read French, A1, story 1 and 29 more