A1Beginner230 words · 3 min
First morning at daycare
Samir 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.
The text
C'est le premier matin de Yasmine à la garderie. Samir tient la main de sa fille, qui serre sa doudou contre elle et ne dit rien. L'éducatrice Josée ouvre la porte avec un grand sourire et demande si la petite a déjeuné. Comme souvent au Québec, elle ajoute un petit tu après le verbe.
Samir hésite : pourquoi ce tu après le verbe ? Il répond quand même que Yasmine a mangé des céréales. Josée demande ensuite si la petite a une doudou et si elle veut la garder avec elle. Yasmine fait oui de la tête, sans lâcher la main de son papa. Josée demande aussi à Samir s'il veut rester quelques minutes, et il s'assoit.
Un garçon s'approche de Yasmine et lui donne un camion. Yasmine regarde le camion, puis son papa, et elle le prend. Josée rassure Samir : ça va aller, la petite va être bien, il peut partir. Samir embrasse Yasmine, elle pleure un peu, il sort le cœur serré.
L'après-midi, Samir revient. Yasmine est dans la cour et court avec le garçon au camion, et elle ne veut pas partir ! Josée dit que la petite a passé une belle journée, qu'elle a mangé, dormi et ri, et elle demande si Yasmine reviendra demain. Cette fois, Samir comprend le petit tu : c'est juste une question. Il sourit et répond que oui, elle reviendra demain, et que lui aussi.
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It is Yasmine's first morning at daycare. Samir holds his daughter's hand, while she hugs her comfort blanket and says nothing. The educator, Josée, opens the door with a big smile and asks if the little girl has had breakfast. Like often in Quebec, she adds a little tu after the verb.
Samir hesitates: why this tu after the verb? He answers anyway that Yasmine ate some cereal. Josée then asks if the little girl has a comfort blanket and if she wants to keep it with her. Yasmine nods, without letting go of her father's hand. Josée also asks Samir if he wants to stay a few minutes, and he sits down.
A boy comes up to Yasmine and gives her a truck. Yasmine looks at the truck, then at her dad, and she takes it. Josée reassures Samir: everything will be fine, the little girl will be okay, he can leave. Samir kisses Yasmine, she cries a little, and he leaves with a heavy heart.
In the afternoon, Samir comes back. Yasmine is in the yard, running around with the boy with the truck, and she does not want to leave! Josée says that the little girl had a lovely day, that she ate, slept and laughed, and she asks if Yasmine will come back tomorrow. This time, Samir understands the little tu: it is just a question. He smiles and answers that yes, she will come back tomorrow, and so will he.
Underlined words are in the glossary: tap one for its definition.
Comprehension questions 5
1. Qu'est-ce que Yasmine serre contre elle ?（What is Yasmine holding tight against her?）
Answer : Sa doudou.
2. Qu'est-ce que Josée propose à Samir ?（What does Josée suggest to Samir?）
Answer : De rester quelques minutes.
3. Que donne le garçon à Yasmine ?（What does the boy give Yasmine?）
Answer : Un camion.
4. Pourquoi Yasmine ne veut-elle pas partir l'après-midi ?（Why doesn't Yasmine want to leave in the afternoon?）
Answer : Elle court dans la cour avec le garçon au camion.
5. Que comprend Samir à la fin ?（What does Samir understand at the end?）
Answer : Le petit « tu » après le verbe est juste une question.
Grammar point in this text
Practise speaking
La garde d'enfantsChildcare
Daycare, babysitting, instructions — the French of childcare.
Dialogues on the same theme. They open on the dialogue page.
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