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A1 French reading: two adults learn to swim

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

An easy French text about two adults at their first swimming lesson. Glossed words, a translation and questions on who does what and how they feel.

In short

A short A1 reading in the present tense. Laure and Bruno are forty and can't swim, so they sign up for adult lessons. Tap the glossed words, read, then answer.

Two adult beginners learning to swim with an instructor at a shallow pool.
Laure and Bruno begin their first lesson at la piscine municipale. Illustration: Atelier

Jamais trop tard

Laure et Bruno ont quarante ans. Ils sont amis et ils ne savent1 pas nager. Cette année, ils s'inscrivent2 à un cours pour adultes à la piscine municipale.

Le mardi soir, le maître-nageur3, Karim, les accueille dans le petit bassin4. L'eau arrive à la taille. Bruno a peur5 de mettre la tête sous l'eau.

Premier exercice : flotter6 sur le dos. Laure réussit tout de suite. Bruno prend une planche7 et essaie trois fois. La quatrième fois, il flotte !

Après le cours, ils boivent un chocolat chaud au café. « La semaine prochaine, le grand bassin ? » demande Laure. Bruno rit. Laure est fière8 de son ami.

Read it in English

Laure and Bruno are forty. They are friends and they can't swim. This year, they sign up for an adult course at the town pool.

On Tuesday evening, the instructor, Karim, welcomes them in the shallow pool. The water comes up to their waist. Bruno is afraid of putting his face in the water.

First exercise: floating on your back. Laure succeeds straight away. Bruno takes a float board and tries three times. The fourth time, he floats!

After the lesson, they drink a hot chocolate at the café. "Next week, the big pool?" asks Laure. Bruno laughs. Laure is proud of her friend.

Who does what?
PersonActionFeeling
Brunouses a float board, floats on the fourth tryafraid, then happy
Laurefloats straight awayproud of her friend
Karimteaches the class–
Question 1No account needed
Why do Laure and Bruno take lessons?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

They can't swim.. Ils ne savent pas nager: they can't swim.

Question 2No account needed
What is Bruno afraid of?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

putting his face in the water. Il a peur de mettre la tête sous l'eau.

Question 3No account needed
When does Bruno float?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

the fourth time. La quatrième fois, il flotte !

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