Readings
Read
Short texts about everyday life in Quebec — 40 reading(s), by theme and level. Read, answer the questions, then move on to the dialogue on the same theme to practise speaking. The texts are in French on purpose: that is the practice.
Shopping and commerce2 texts
- A1At the corner storeThere is no milk left at home. Kwame goes to the corner store for the first time and buys a few things.209 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1Returning a coatPriya bought a winter coat, but the sleeves are too short. She hesitates, then goes back to the store to exchange it.311 words · 4 min4 questions
Professional life2 texts
- A1First day at workRafael starts a new job: he introduces himself, meets his colleagues and discovers the coffee break.230 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1The Thursday meetingAdaora presents her project to the team for the first time, and discovers that in Quebec you say tu even to the director.315 words · 5 min4 questions
Dining out2 texts
- A1A first dinner at the restaurantFarida and Bilal go to a restaurant for the first time in Quebec: giving their name, choosing a table, ordering in French… and sharing a dessert.220 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1The best chicken in the neighbourhoodA coworker takes Ivan to a small family restaurant. The dish arrives cold, and Ivan has to learn that here, asking politely is not rude.347 words · 5 min4 questions
Travel and transport2 texts
- A1Taking the bus in the morningEvery morning, Hamid takes the bus to his French class: the stop, the card, the driver, the city going by.218 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1A missed trainYuki sets off to visit a friend in another city, stops for a coffee… and watches her train leave without her.321 words · 5 min5 questions
Procedures and consultations2 texts
- A1At the counter on a Monday morningMei takes the bus, takes a number, waits her turn and hands her papers to an employee who speaks slowly.199 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1The missing formOleksandr had prepared everything, except the paper he left on the kitchen table. An employee with red glasses, a trip back home, and a lesson from his father.328 words · 5 min4 questions
Education and school life2 texts
- A1Sofia's first day of schoolA red backpack, a schoolyard full of children and a teacher who speaks slowly. Sofia's first day of school in Quebec.208 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1Meeting the teacherMarek goes alone to his son Adam's parent-teacher meeting, then reports to his wife everything the teacher said… and finds out why Adam doesn't speak in class.326 words · 5 min5 questions
Health and emergencies2 texts
- A1First appointment at the clinicTomás sees a doctor for the first time in Quebec: the front desk, the waiting room, a few words rehearsed in his head.201 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1A night at the emergency roomNadia's son has a fever in the middle of the night. Alone, in French, she gets through the waiting room, the questions, the wait, and leaves with a small folded note.331 words · 5 min5 questions
Housing2 texts
- A1Visiting the apartmentTomás visits an apartment with the landlord: the kitchen, the living room, the bedroom, and lots of questions.198 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1The heating that stopped workingOne November morning, Nadia's radiator is cold. She has to call the landlord, in French, for the first time.288 words · 4 min4 questions
Family life2 texts
- A1A rainy SaturdayMateo, Ana and their two children have a big plan for Saturday: groceries, the park, a call to grandma. Then the rain changes the plans.195 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1Sunday supperNadia wanted a perfect couscous for her first family supper. A call from Algiers, a forgotten pot and a mother-in-law who knows what to do when nothing is left.338 words · 5 min5 questions
Leisure and free time2 texts
- A1At the libraryA first visit to the neighbourhood library: asking for a card, borrowing a book, finding a quiet corner.219 words · 3 min3 questions
- B1Learning to skateChidi has never skated in his life. Watching the park rink, he decides to sign up for a beginners' class… and learns by falling.349 words · 5 min4 questions
Holidays and celebrations2 texts
- A1A birthday party at the neighbour'sAylin and her daughter Zeynep are invited to the neighbour's son's birthday party: a nice book as a gift, a big cake, and a new friend.218 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1The Christmas riceLast year, Chioma had spent Christmas alone. This year, she goes down to the neighbours' dinner with her mother's dish… and discovers that someone had already brought rice.326 words · 5 min5 questions
Weather and seasons2 texts
- A1The first snowstormLinh opens the curtains and discovers her first snowstorm in Sherbrooke. She has to dress warmly, shovel the stairs and catch the bus.199 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1Before the first winterIt is Minh's first fall in Quebec. His colleagues tell him everything winter will bring… but the snow doesn't read the forecast.334 words · 5 min5 questions
Sports and fitness2 texts
- A1Getting up to moveYoussef wakes up tired every morning. A neighbour invites him to walk, he signs up at the gym, and his routine changes.229 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1Running at her own paceIngrid has always run. Eight months after arriving in Quebec City, she joins a running group, hurts her knee and learns to slow down.338 words · 5 min5 questions
Culture and outings2 texts
- A1Let's go tonight!Simon invites Thandiwe to a free concert in a park. She stops at the bookstore first, then the rain changes the plans.196 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1A day at the festivalMarco volunteers at a music festival. While the crowd pours in, a mother looks for her son, and Marco finds his place in his new city.288 words · 4 min5 questions
Phone and communications2 texts
- A1A call to customer serviceTomás's internet has stopped working. He calls customer service, waits, then follows an employee's instructions.222 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1A missing parcelAn email tells Elena her parcel has been delivered, but there is nothing at her door. She calls the delivery company… and the solution comes from where she least expects it.293 words · 4 min4 questions
Finances and budgeting2 texts
- A1Nothing leftAt the end of the month, Mariama's wallet is empty. With a little notebook, a neighbour and her son's piggy bank, she takes back control.199 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1The month's budgetNadia never looked at her account, until the day her card was declined. With a small blue notebook, she learns to keep track of her spending.331 words · 5 min5 questions
Volunteering and community2 texts
- A1The Saturday cleanupElif knows no one in the neighbourhood. A poster in the park, a rainy morning, a bowl of hot soup, and neighbours who become friends.199 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1The coat driveJoaquín remembers his first winter without a warm coat. This year he joins the neighbourhood committee to organize a drive… and the morning gets off to a bad start.348 words · 5 min5 questions
Gardening and DIY2 texts
- A1Tomatoes on the balconyBao dreams of tomatoes like the ones in his grandmother's garden. A garden centre, two little seedlings, too much water, and a neighbour who knows what to do.185 words · 3 min4 questions
- B1The back-lane gardenBehind Awa's building, an abandoned patch of ground. Three neighbours, a shopping list, a night of frost in May, and a pot of soup at the end of summer.332 words · 5 min5 questions
Childcare2 texts
- A1First morning at daycareSamir takes his daughter Yasmine to daycare for the first time. The educator asks questions with a funny little “tu”… and Yasmine no longer wants to go home.230 words · 3 min5 questions
- B1Looking for a daycareMei has to find a daycare for her son before starting her new job. A first visit that goes badly, advice from a mother at the park, and a little red truck.335 words · 5 min4 questions