French listening practice with side-by-side translation
| Écouter ~ Listen |
Listening comprehension: See the links at the bottom for lessons related to the phrases in italics.
| Une soirée aux Folies Bergère | An evening at the Folies Bergère |
| Le légendaire théâtre des Folies Bergère de Paris est l’un des plus célèbres établissements proposant des spectacles dansés et de variétés de la Ville Lumière. Il constitue un arrêt obligatoire pour les nombreux touristes qui visitent la capitale française. |
Translation
Paris’s legendary Folies Bergère theater is one of the most famous establishments offering dance and variety shows in the City of Light. It’s a required stop for the many tourists who visit the French capital. [collapse]
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| Considéré comme un théâtre populaire, il accueille chaque semaine des individus, couples ou groupes provenant de tous les milieux et de tous les horizons à la recherche d’un divertissement ludique et créatif destiné à un public averti. |
Translation
Considered a theater for the people, each week it welcomes individuals, couples, and groups from every background and every horizon in search of playful and creative entertainment intended for an informed public. [collapse]
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| Créé en 1869 sous le nom Les Folies Trévise (d’après le nom d’une rue voisine), Les Folies Bergère a présenté des revues hautes en couleur menées par des légendes telle la danseuse d’origine américaine Joséphine Baker, ou créées par des personnages célèbres tels l’écrivain français Colette ou le génial acteur et réalisateur Charlie Chaplin. |
Translation
Founded in 1869 as Les Folies Trévise (named for a nearby street), Les Folies Bergère presented colorful shows led by legends like the American dancer Joséphine Baker, or created by famous figures like the French writer Colette or the brilliant actor and director Charlie Chaplin. [collapse]
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| Reconnu pour son impudence et ses tableaux vivants coquins, un spectacle aux Folies Bergère vous garantit, depuis plus de cent quarante-cinq ans, un divertissement de qualité et un dépaysement des plus audacieux. |
Translation
Recognized for its impudence and its risqué living paintings, a show at the Folies Bergère has guaranteed, for more than 145 years, quality entertainment and a daring change of scenery.
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| Aujourd’hui, l’illustre établissement du 9e arrondissement se fait un devoir de maintenir cette tradition. Avec son architecture d’époque, une soirée dans ce fameux théâtre vous procurera un avant-goût du Paris d’autrefois. |
Translation
Today, the illustrious 9th arrondissement establishment makes a point of maintaining this tradition. With its period architecture, an evening in this famous theater will provide you with a foretaste of Paris in the old days.
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| Folies Bergère partie 2 » | Folies Bergère part 2 » |
| French text, photo, and sound file courtesy of Think French audiomagazine. This is part 1 of an article in the mai 2014 issue. | Translation by LKL |
Listening comprehension
- établissements proposant, des individus … provenant – present participles
- les nombreux touristes qui visitent – relative pronouns
- Considéré comme un théâtre populaire, un divertissement … destiné – past participles
- Les Folies Bergère a présenté – passé composé
- ses tableaux, son architecture – possessive adjectives
- un spectacle aux Folies Bergère vous garantit, ce fameux théâtre vous procurera – indirect object
- l’illustre établissement du 9e arrondissement se fait – pronominal verb
- cette tradition, ce fameux théâtre – demonstrative adjectives
- ce fameux théâtre vous procurera – future
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Nostalgia…when I first lived in Paris, I studied French at a great little school on rue Trévise. Everyday, I walked past the Folies Bergère on my way to class. At the time, a reprisal of the musical “Cabaret” was in pre-opening rehearsals there. I kept hoping to run into Liza Minnelli, who was said to be consulting the FB. Alas, I never did see her in person, but some months later, the television channel Arté ran a documentary about the project, and I had the opportunity to identify all of those actors and dancers I had been seeing, from time to time, in front of the FB. I was pleased that Arté interviewed Liza M. alongside the FB cast. I didn’t speak or comprehend much French in those days…what a great resource Arté was for me. Documentaries with sub-titles were a key element in my early studies of the language — they were especially helpful for improving my oral comprehension. Great lesson…I will use it to practice my intonation and rhythm.