B2 Reading

Upper-Intermediate French Practice

20.000 Lieues sous les mers

Read the first few paragraphs of Jules Verne's fantastical tale 20.000 Lieues sous les mers, in French and English.

Attestation de déplacement dérogatoire

On 16 March 2020, the French government announced strict measures to control the spread of COVID-19, including total confinement for 15 days. Anyone leaving their home must show a signed copy of this document upon request. I've turned it into a reading comprehension exercise with side-by-side translation. Updated 2 April 2020

Literature

Candide, de Voltaire

Read the first chapter of Voltaire's classic French novel Candide, in French and English.

Literature

Delphine

Read the first few paragraphs of Madame de Staël's epistolary novel Delphine.

Literature

Émile, ou de l’Éducation

Read the first few paragraphs of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's classic treatise on eduction, in French or English.

Literature

Germinal

Read the opening paragraphs of Émile Zola's 1885 masterpiece, Germinal.

Listening Practice

Jeanne d’Arc

Learn about Joan of Arc, one of the most famous French women in history, in this bilingual article.

Literature

La Dame aux camélias

Read the opening paragraphs of Alexandre Dumas, fils's classic French novel, La Dame aux camélias.

Listening Practice

La main dans le sac / Red-handed

Practice listening and reading while learning some new French expressions in this fun bilingual text.

Literature

Le Comte de Monte-Cristo

Dive into the opening paragraphs of the fascinating 19th-century novel Le Comte de Monte-Cristo.

Literature

Le mystère de la chambre jaune

Ce n'est pas sans une certaine émotion que je commence à raconter ici les aventures extraordinaires de Joseph Rouletabille. Celui-ci, jusqu'à ce jour, s'y était si formellement opposé que j'avais fini par désespérer de ne publier jamais l'histoire policière la plus curieuse de ces quinze dernières années.

Literature