A1Beginner219 words · 3 min
At the library
A first visit to the neighbourhood library: asking for a card, borrowing a book, finding a quiet corner.
The text
Amina habite dans le quartier depuis un mois. Aujourd'hui, elle entre pour la première fois dans la bibliothèque. C'est calme. Une employée lui sourit à l'accueil et la salue d'un bonjour.
Amina dit qu'elle voudrait une carte de bibliothèque, s'il vous plaît. L'employée lui demande de lui montrer une preuve d'adresse, puis de remplir un petit formulaire. Amina écrit son nom et son adresse. Deux minutes plus tard, elle a sa carte.
Elle demande où trouver des livres faciles en français. L'employée lui indique le fond de la salle, près des fenêtres, et lui conseille de prendre le temps de regarder. Elle précise qu'on peut emprunter cinq livres à la fois.
Amina choisit un roman court avec de grandes images. Elle s'assoit dans un fauteuil près de la fenêtre. Dehors, il neige un peu. Dedans, il fait chaud et on entend seulement les pages qui tournent.
Avant de partir, elle regarde le tableau des activités. Il y a des cours d'informatique, un club de lecture et une heure du conte pour les enfants le samedi matin. Elle demande si c'est gratuit, et l'employée lui répond que tout est gratuit avec sa carte.
Le samedi suivant, Amina revient avec sa fille. Elles écoutent une histoire, puis elles choisissent trois albums ensemble. Maintenant, la bibliothèque est un peu leur deuxième maison.
Show the translationHide the translation
Amina has lived in the neighbourhood for a month. Today she walks into the library for the first time. It is quiet. An employee at the front desk smiles at her and greets her.
Amina says she would like a library card, please. The employee asks her to show a proof of address, then to fill in a short form. Amina writes her name and address. Two minutes later, she has her card.
She asks where to find easy books in French. The employee points her to the back of the room, near the windows, and suggests she take her time looking. She explains that you can borrow five books at once.
Amina picks a short novel with big pictures. She sits in an armchair by the window. Outside, it is snowing a little. Inside, it is warm and the only sound is pages turning.
Before leaving, she looks at the activities board. There are computer classes, a book club and a story time for children on Saturday mornings. She asks if it is free, and the employee tells her that everything is free with her card.
The following Saturday, Amina comes back with her daughter. They listen to a story, then choose three picture books together. Now the library feels a little like their second home.
Underlined words are in the glossary: tap one for its definition.
Comprehension questions 3
1. Que demande Amina à l'accueil ?(What does Amina ask for at the front desk?)
Answer : Une carte de bibliothèque.
2. Où est le coin des livres faciles ?(Where is the easy-reading corner?)
Answer : Au fond, près des fenêtres.
3. Pourquoi Amina revient-elle le samedi suivant ?(Why does Amina come back the following Saturday?)
Answer : Pour l'heure du conte avec sa fille.
Grammar point in this text
Practise speaking
Les loisirs et le temps libreLeisure and free time
Parks, libraries, neighbourhood activities — the French of leisure.
Dialogues on the same theme. They open on the dialogue page.
The tasks where this French will help
Put these dialogues into practice in real life.

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