Before you start: How would you like to be welcomed if you moved to a new place or institution like school or workplace? Write notes in French
The following exercises are based on a 500 word text by MoGui. The text is divided into 5 sections. (Glossary below)
A really useful exercise is to take each of the sections, translate them into English and then back into French. You can then compare your French version with the original. There will be differences and getting something from this exercise means that you should note the differences. Some will be just that, differences, while others will be mistakes. You can learn a lot from finding out what sort of mistakes you make and working on them.
When you have have finished: Try writing a paragraph or two in French on what this story tells you about welcoming newcomers. Show what you have done to your teacher or discuss it with a friend. You could even post it on my Voiceboard either as text or spoken or both or send it to me at frenchlet@hotmail.com.
Glossary
Below is a glossary of some of the more unusual words. Install Word Reference on your computer and you can have instant translations as you view.
Aborder
reach
reachAgacer irritate
irritateail garlic
aile wing
wingappendice appendage
attrapper catch
baveux dribbler
bestiole beasty
bordé surrounded
surroundedbouse cowpat
braise embers
châtaigne chestnut tree
corné horned
cracher to spit
crochet hooks
hooksdouloureux painful
débrouillemanage
managefaufiler slip out/away
slip out/awayfrémir tremble
trembleglaise clay
clayglissadeslide
slideguetter watch
watchhaies hedge
hedgehérissonhedgehog
hedgehoghérissé bristle
bristlejuré sworn
swornlimace slug
sluglimaçon snail
snailmante mantis
mantismouche fly
flymâchonnant chewing
nausée nausea/feeling sick
nausea/feeling sickPapillon butterfly
butterflyPiquer sting
stingpoilus hairy
pointus pointed
pointedpouah ugh!
ugh!Pré meadow
meadowPuces fleas
fleasQueue tail
tailRabrouerrebuff
rebuffRafraîchirrefresh
refreshSel salt
saltSotte stupid
stupidSympa nice
niceTaons horseflies
horsefliesTremper soak
soakTziganesgypsies
gypsiesVache cow
cowVisqueuxslimy
slimy