Learn Real French: At The Bakery #2
Today’s episode: a real french dialogue at the bakery #2! Comprehension is a HUGE roadblock for many students. It’s time to break through that roadblock and focus on other things! You want to be able to speak French, and (just as importantly) understand!
How to listen to the French audio
The ideal way to practice French listening comprehension is to find lots of resources that are in the sweet spot — not too far outside your comfort zone, but JUST difficult enough to be a good challenge.
I’ve curated and edited a real audio of a conversation between a ‘boulangère’ and a customer. In this 15 seconds audio, the ‘boulangère’ takes her order. The audio is played at real speed three times. Don’t worry if don’t understand everything. The goal is to build your comprehension of real spoken French. You’ll learn new vocabulary in the context but more importantly, you can listen and repeat to tune into the pace and flow of spoken French!
Active listening: First, read and learn the vocabulary (if needed). Listen to the audio three times. The first time, you need to focus on the general meaning and context, the second time, narrow down on the keywords. The last time, try to really focus on comprehension.
Answer the question: try to answer to the questions without checking the transcript.
Check the transcript: Listen with the transcript twice. The second time, read along out loud to help with learning pronunciation and pace.
Happy Listening!
French Vocabulary: At the bakery
- je vais vous prendre : I’m going to take (polite way to order)
- un croissant : a croissant
- s’il vous plaît : please (formal)
- pour votre déjeuner : for your lunch
- je vous propose : I suggest to you (recommendation)
- mon pain préféré : my favorite bread
- celui au maïs : the one with corn (cornbread)
- je vais vous en prendre un : I’ll have one.
- Très bien : Very good / Okay
Comprehension Questions
- Name the first things ordered by the customer?
- What is the baker favorite bread?
- How the client says ‘I’ll have one’?
Transcription
Boulangère : Bonjour madame.
Cliente : Bonjour, je vais vous prendre un croissant s’il vous plaît.
Boulangère : Oui. Pour votre déjeuner, je vous propose mon pain préféré. C’est celui au maïs.
Cliente : je vais vous en prendre un.
Cliente : Très bien.
English Translation
Baker (female): Hello, ma’am.Customer: Hello, I’d like to have a croissant please.
Baker: Yes. For your lunch, I recommend my favorite bread. It’s the corn bread one.
Customer: I’ll get you one.
Customer: Very good.
Answer Key
- Name the first thing ordered by the customer? Un croissant
- What is the baker favorite bread? Le Pain au Maïs (bread made with ccorn flour)
- How the client says ‘I’ll have one’? ‘Je vais vous en prendre un’
