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Voyage en France, a Short Novel in Easy French: With Glossaries throughout the Text
Louis and his wife, Melba, are delightful characters. Passionate Louis creates some hilarious situations with his beginners French and long suffering Melba (modestly fluent) steps in when necessary to sort out the mess and misunderstandings.
This short novel is suitable for advanced beginners. No dictionary is necessary: French-English glossaries under each paragraph introduce you to the words and phrases you might not know.
A large french-english dictionnary at the end of the book containing 1,500+ French words and expressions allow you to easily find any word from the story again, with its gender and its exact english translation.
This short novel is suitable for advanced beginners. No dictionary is necessary: French-English glossaries under each paragraph introduce you to the words and phrases you might not know.
A large french-english dictionnary at the end of the book containing 1,500+ French words and expressions allow you to easily find any word from the story again, with its gender and its exact english translation.
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2013
229 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Sylvie Lainé
13 books24 followersSylvie Lainé is a native French language trainer, writer and translator. She is a graduate of the University of Caen (France) in Applied Language Studies and Linguistics and a graduate of the University Erlangen-Nurnberg (Germany) in Romance Philology. Over 15 years experience of providing language training to adults allow her to understand their difficulties and challenges. In february 2013 she created the “Easy French Reader Series for Beginners”.
She wants to create carefully written and exciting stories to help her students escape grammar and exercise books. She wants her students to enjoy reading and learn the language without the feeling of overwhelm and frustration that they get from many French books. As she found nothing especially written for beginners on the Internet, she came up with the idea of writing stories herself.
She was born in Normandy and lives now in the south of France.
She wants to create carefully written and exciting stories to help her students escape grammar and exercise books. She wants her students to enjoy reading and learn the language without the feeling of overwhelm and frustration that they get from many French books. As she found nothing especially written for beginners on the Internet, she came up with the idea of writing stories herself.
She was born in Normandy and lives now in the south of France.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 4, 2015
The first book, written in French, that I've ever read. I've tried a side-by-side translation book before, but it was far too tiresome to read. This one, which has a few paragraphs in French, followed by an explanation for perhaps 7 or 8 words or phrases, is just right. Nicely balanced. There is no doubt I have a long way to go in my learning, but this is going to be a huge help in acquiring vocabulary in a natural way. I've just bought Part 2, though I think I should go back and read Part 1 again.
December 1, 2013
C'est trés cool!
My first read in French.... ;-)
My first read in French.... ;-)
November 21, 2022
A very simple style of French learning- there's a paragraph in French then a dictionary of some keywords picked out of the paragraph and translated into English. I enjoy this style of learning French and how the story was quite short in length.
November 19, 2019
Mein erstes Buch auf Französisch. Hatte eigentlich etwas besseres im Sinn, aber man soll es ja nicht gleich übertreiben. Mit kleinen Schritten zum Ziel. Camus ich komme ! (Irgendwann xD)
November 16, 2018
I'm conflicted with my rating of this book, as I have defined what each star means for L2 (or AL to be more precise) reading material on my profile and that may give a wrong impression about the book.
I read this book rapidly because of the suspense in it. However, I wouldn't want to reread it (my 4 star rating definition), because I know how it ends now, and there was a lot of mundane life text to plough through, which I don't think I'd have the willpower to read again.
I loved the idea of an old man finding an old unfinished movie project from his youth, that told the story of an old man finding a long lost friend, and that triggering the motivation to find his long lost friend that collaborated with him on the project, leading to the journey through France, following a trail of clues.
So, in summary I recommend this book, because there are things that are wonderful about it, but still only give it 3 stars because I wouldn't want to reread it.
I read this book rapidly because of the suspense in it. However, I wouldn't want to reread it (my 4 star rating definition), because I know how it ends now, and there was a lot of mundane life text to plough through, which I don't think I'd have the willpower to read again.
I loved the idea of an old man finding an old unfinished movie project from his youth, that told the story of an old man finding a long lost friend, and that triggering the motivation to find his long lost friend that collaborated with him on the project, leading to the journey through France, following a trail of clues.
So, in summary I recommend this book, because there are things that are wonderful about it, but still only give it 3 stars because I wouldn't want to reread it.
February 25, 2020
Easy vocab, interesting story
Very good book for beginners. This is the first French book that I have enjoyed thoroughly and I'm now encouraged to read more French. Thanks to the author.
Very good book for beginners. This is the first French book that I have enjoyed thoroughly and I'm now encouraged to read more French. Thanks to the author.
December 6, 2020
Je suis contente que j’ai trouvé une série que je comprends bien! Merci!
August 23, 2020
A NICE STORY
If you are trying to learn French reading can help you with both grammar and vocabulary. This nice story gives you both with interesting conversation.
If you are trying to learn French reading can help you with both grammar and vocabulary. This nice story gives you both with interesting conversation.
February 1, 2021
Great read for self learners
Enjoyable way to learn french through reading. Decent story vocab and phrases for beginners! Thank you Sylvie ! Looking forward to the next one.
Enjoyable way to learn french through reading. Decent story vocab and phrases for beginners! Thank you Sylvie ! Looking forward to the next one.
February 11, 2023
Pretty basic French and short sentences. Still some new vocab for me
April 19, 2023
As all of Sylvie Lainé's work, a pleasure to read.
June 17, 2023
Very usable for beginning French reader, if not very compelling story.
April 14, 2024
J'ai aimé ce petit roman, un livre excellent pour s'améliorer en français
March 18, 2015
These readers are promoted as being suitable for beginners but I would add they are very useful for those with a higher level of a French (low intermediate - plus) who want to review key vocabulary, related expressions and structure focused on common situations (travelling, booking hotels, ordering food and eating, driving and renting a car, making purchases, etc). It is much more fun than drilling yourself with lists, phrase books and grammars. The technique of constantly recycling language throughout the narrative builds knowledge through recognition. The placement of vocabulary key on each page allows the reader to increase his or her pace, and subsequently enjoyment of the text. I ripped through both "novellas". Even though my French is fairly good I still found quite a bit of new vocabulary and structure. (Perhaps my French isn't as good as I thought?)
Louis and his wife, Melba, are delightful characters. Passionate Louis creates some hilarious situations with his beginners French and long suffering Melba (modestly fluent) steps in when necessary to sort out the mess and misunderstandings. It takes great skill to incorporate humor into a simple text but the author successfully peppers jokes throughout both stories while keeping the language relatively uncomplicated.
I actually found myself laughing aloud at some of the French faux-pas:
In the bus someone leaves his "over coat" behind (le "manteau") behind, Louis chases after him ..."you have forgotten your chin" (votre "menton"):
Sur le siège˚, il a oublié˚ son petit manteau˚ noir. Louis prend le manteau et appelle : « Monsieur ! Vous avez oublié votre menton˚ !>>
"Melba lève les yeux au ciel˚." ... (Melba rolls her eyes)
They rent a car from a guy in some hick town who only knows the names of animals in English ...he reels off a long list of the animals to impress, the last being "une arraignée" (spider)
"-- Il a vraiment une araignée au plafond˚, pense Melba. "
It's a play on words ...loosely translated : "this guy's got bats in the belfry".
These readers are of excellent quality and perfect for adults learning the language.
Bis! Bis! Sylvie Lainé.
I am looking forward to reading the further adventures of Melba and Louis.
Louis and his wife, Melba, are delightful characters. Passionate Louis creates some hilarious situations with his beginners French and long suffering Melba (modestly fluent) steps in when necessary to sort out the mess and misunderstandings. It takes great skill to incorporate humor into a simple text but the author successfully peppers jokes throughout both stories while keeping the language relatively uncomplicated.
I actually found myself laughing aloud at some of the French faux-pas:
In the bus someone leaves his "over coat" behind (le "manteau") behind, Louis chases after him ..."you have forgotten your chin" (votre "menton"):
Sur le siège˚, il a oublié˚ son petit manteau˚ noir. Louis prend le manteau et appelle : « Monsieur ! Vous avez oublié votre menton˚ !>>
"Melba lève les yeux au ciel˚." ... (Melba rolls her eyes)
They rent a car from a guy in some hick town who only knows the names of animals in English ...he reels off a long list of the animals to impress, the last being "une arraignée" (spider)
"-- Il a vraiment une araignée au plafond˚, pense Melba. "
It's a play on words ...loosely translated : "this guy's got bats in the belfry".
These readers are of excellent quality and perfect for adults learning the language.
Bis! Bis! Sylvie Lainé.
I am looking forward to reading the further adventures of Melba and Louis.
June 1, 2016
This book is great for beginners in french !
I really enjoyed this book (as well as the second part). The characters (Louis and his wife Melba) are very lovable and the story is interesting and also has peppered with great humour. I liked that it is written in short and simple sentences so that and I did not need a dictionary. I was also very happy that I was able to read a book in french! The vocabulary after each section is just enough and I also learned many words from the context.
I really enjoyed this book (as well as the second part). The characters (Louis and his wife Melba) are very lovable and the story is interesting and also has peppered with great humour. I liked that it is written in short and simple sentences so that and I did not need a dictionary. I was also very happy that I was able to read a book in french! The vocabulary after each section is just enough and I also learned many words from the context.
April 24, 2016
The is volume two of a set, so I'll copy the review from the first volume here:
I'm into my second year of learning the French language and because languages do not come easily to me, I'm still learning the basics. This book (and its companion volume) are so readily understood and clearly written that reading them is a pleasure. It reminds me of when I was a little kid learning to read and I stumbled across books that I could easily navigate, so much fun to read 'fluently'!
I'm into my second year of learning the French language and because languages do not come easily to me, I'm still learning the basics. This book (and its companion volume) are so readily understood and clearly written that reading them is a pleasure. It reminds me of when I was a little kid learning to read and I stumbled across books that I could easily navigate, so much fun to read 'fluently'!
January 7, 2020
Great!
This is good for those who already have some French knowledge and want to use it in context! I was surprised at how easily I could read this. The vocabulary list after each paragraph helped immensely as a good amount of those words I had never come across before. Sure, it wasn’t the most exciting book ever, but the story was interesting nonetheless and with learning in mind, the plot and repetition of the vocabulary was rather clever.
This is good for those who already have some French knowledge and want to use it in context! I was surprised at how easily I could read this. The vocabulary list after each paragraph helped immensely as a good amount of those words I had never come across before. Sure, it wasn’t the most exciting book ever, but the story was interesting nonetheless and with learning in mind, the plot and repetition of the vocabulary was rather clever.
April 22, 2016
I'm into my second year of learning the French language and because languages do not come easily to me, I'm still learning the basics. This book (and its companion volume) are so readily understood and clearly written that reading them is a pleasure. It reminds me of when I was a little kid learning to read and I stumbled across books that I could easily navigate, so much fun to read 'fluently'!
March 5, 2015
This is just what's needed for complete beginners to have an actual book to be able to read.
March 18, 2015
Super! A talented writer and inspired educator. This sequel every bit as good as the first installment of the Louis and Melba series.
Félicitations Sylvie!
Félicitations Sylvie!
August 8, 2015
Great little beginners book, very easy to follow with French to English translations between each paragraph.
February 18, 2016
I thought this book good for learning French. The only criticism was that there was no audio to accompany the text.
January 11, 2019
My second book in French. Yippee! Took me a long time because I was slow.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews