A1Beginner199 words · 3 min
At the counter on a Monday morning
Mei takes the bus, takes a number, waits her turn and hands her papers to an employee who speaks slowly.
The text
C'est lundi matin. Mei est dans l'autobus et elle va dans un bureau du gouvernement pour ses papiers, avec une enveloppe de documents dans son sac.
Elle arrive devant le bâtiment, prend un numéro dans le hall et s'assoit dans la salle d'attente, où il y a beaucoup de monde : des familles, des étudiants et un homme avec un gros manteau. Mei attend en regardant l'écran.
Son numéro arrive et elle va au guichet. Elle demande à l'employé s'il peut parler lentement, parce qu'elle est nouvelle au Québec. L'employé sourit et lui demande si elle a ses papiers. Elle répond qu'ils sont dans l'enveloppe.
L'employé regarde chaque document et il demande si c'est son adresse actuelle. Mei répond que oui, qu'elle habite chez sa cousine, dans un appartement. Il lui demande aussi si elle a un numéro de téléphone, et elle dit que oui, le voici.
L'employé dit que c'est parfait, que c'est complet et qu'elle va recevoir une lettre à la maison. Mei dit merci et sort du bureau. Dans la rue, le soleil brille, alors elle va au café à côté et commande un thé. Elle envoie un message à sa cousine pour dire que c'est fait.
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It is Monday morning. Mei is on the bus and she is going to a government office for her papers, with an envelope of documents in her bag.
She arrives in front of the building, takes a number in the lobby and sits down in the waiting room, where there are a lot of people: families, students and a man in a big coat. Mei waits, watching the screen.
Her number comes up and she goes to the counter. She asks the employee if he can speak slowly, because she is new in Quebec. The employee smiles and asks her if she has her papers. She answers that they are in the envelope.
He looks at each document and asks if this is her current address. Mei answers that yes, she lives with her cousin, in an apartment. He also asks her if she has a phone number, and she says that yes, here it is.
The employee says that it is perfect, that everything is complete and that she will receive a letter at home. Mei says thank you and leaves the office. The sun is shining in the street, so she goes to the café next door and orders a tea. She sends a message to her cousin to say that it is done.
Underlined words are in the glossary: tap one for its definition.
Comprehension questions 4
1. Où va Mei lundi matin ?（Where does Mei go on Monday morning?）
Answer : Dans un bureau du gouvernement.
2. Qu'est-ce qu'il y a dans son sac ?（What is in her bag?）
Answer : Une enveloppe avec tous ses documents.
3. Chez qui habite Mei ?（Who does Mei live with?）
Answer : Chez sa cousine.
4. Que fait Mei après le bureau ?（What does Mei do after the office?）
Answer : Elle va au café et commande un thé.
Grammar point in this text
Practise speaking
Démarches et consultationsProcedures and consultations
Government offices, the bank, appointments — the French of official procedures.
Dialogues on the same theme. They open on the dialogue page.
The tasks where this French will help
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