A1Beginner208 words · 3 min
Sofia's first day of school
A red backpack, a schoolyard full of children and a teacher who speaks slowly. Sofia's first day of school in Quebec.
The text
C'est le matin de la rentrée. Sofia a un nouveau sac à dos rouge. Elle est un peu nerveuse. Sa famille vient du Liban et c'est sa première rentrée au Québec.
Sa mère l'accompagne jusqu'à l'école. Dans la cour, il y a beaucoup d'enfants et de parents. Sofia tient fort la main de sa mère.
« Bonjour ! Tu es Sofia ? Moi, je suis Madame Gagnon. Bienvenue ! »
Sofia dit un petit « bonjour ». Elle a peur de ne pas comprendre. Mais Madame Gagnon parle lentement et elle sourit beaucoup.
Dans la classe, il y a une place pour Sofia, près de la fenêtre. À côté, un garçon la regarde. Il s'appelle Noah.
« Tu as une belle boîte à lunch », dit Noah.
Elle a un dessin de chat sur sa boîte. Noah a un dinosaure sur la sienne.
À la récréation, il y a une grande glissoire. Noah et Sofia jouent ensemble.
À midi, Sofia mange son sandwich. Elle est fatiguée, mais elle n'a plus peur.
Après l'école, sa mère l'attend devant la porte.
« Alors, ma chérie ? Est-ce que ça va ? »
« Oui, maman. J'ai un ami. Il s'appelle Noah. Et il y a un chat sur la porte de la classe ! »
Sa mère rit. Demain, Sofia a envie de retourner à l'école.
Show the translationHide the translation
It is the morning of the first day of school. Sofia has a new red backpack. She is a little nervous. Her family comes from Lebanon and this is her first day of school in Quebec.
Her mother walks her to the school. In the yard, there are lots of children and parents. Sofia holds her mother's hand tightly.
“Hello! Are you Sofia? I am Madame Gagnon. Welcome!”
Sofia says a small “hello”. She is afraid of not understanding. But Madame Gagnon speaks slowly and smiles a lot.
In the classroom, there is a seat for Sofia, near the window. Next to her, a boy is looking at her. His name is Noah.
“You have a nice lunch box,” says Noah.
She has a drawing of a cat on her box. Noah has a dinosaur on his.
At recess, there is a big slide. Noah and Sofia play together.
At noon, Sofia eats her sandwich. She is tired, but she is no longer afraid.
After school, her mother is waiting for her in front of the door.
“So, sweetheart? How was it?”
“Good, Mom. I have a friend. His name is Noah. And there is a cat on the classroom door!”
Her mother laughs. Tomorrow, Sofia wants to go back to school.
Underlined words are in the glossary: tap one for its definition.
Comprehension questions 4
1. D'où vient la famille de Sofia ?（Where does Sofia's family come from?）
Answer : Du Liban.
2. Comment s'appelle l'enseignante de Sofia ?（What is Sofia's teacher called?）
Answer : Madame Gagnon.
3. Qu'est-ce qu'il y a sur la boîte à lunch de Noah ?（What is on Noah's lunch box?）
Answer : Un dinosaure.
4. Comment Sofia se sent-elle à midi ?（How does Sofia feel at noon?）
Answer : Elle est fatiguée, mais elle n'a plus peur.
Grammar point in this text
Practise speaking
Éducation et vie scolaireEducation and school life
School, university, parent-teacher meetings — the French of school life.
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.
Choisir une école primaire au Québec
Choosing an Elementary School in Quebec
Choosing and enrolling your child in a Quebec elementary school: French or English public, private, enrolment deadlines and parents' rights.
Francisation Québec : cours de français gratuits
Learn French for Free with Francisation Québec
Free French courses, a financial allowance, and online registration: everything about Francisation Québec for newcomers.
Comprendre l'accent québécois
Understanding the Quebec accent
The five features that distinguish Quebec French — enough to recognize, not necessarily to imitate.
Le système scolaire du Québec
Quebec's School System
From primary to university, understanding levels and choices for your kids.
Pratiquer son français au Québec
Practicing French in Quebec
Free courses, conversation circles, apps, media — where to go and how to start to improve your French.
Le vocabulaire administratif au Québec
Quebec administrative vocabulary
The technical words you'll hear at RAMQ, SAAQ, the bank — so you're never caught off-guard.
In the news
Recent changes that matter to newcomers.
Shelter Allowance: the new period opens October 1, up to $170 a month
A Revenu Québec benefit for households whose housing eats at least 30% of their income. Nobody sends it to you automatically — you have to apply.
Workplace health and safety: new protections in every workplace as of October 1, 2026
All employers must put prevention mechanisms in place. For a worker, that means a safer workplace and a say in safety.
Rent increases: a new calculation method since 2026
Quebec has modernized, for the first time in 40 years, how rent increases are calculated. Simpler, more predictable — here's what changes for you.