Coucou ☕️🇫🇷🥐 I'm Amélie Laurent and this is a 💎 subscriber-only edition 💎 of my newsletter, where I supercharge your progress from A2 to B2 through colloquial dialogues. Your support means the world to me.
If you've received this, then you either subscribed or someone forwarded it to you.
If someone forwarded it and you want to subscribe, then you can click on this handy little button:
Coucou mes petits linguistes ! 👋 Joyeux Noël !
It’s Christmas so this one’s free for everyone. Ho. Ho. Ho. 🎁
I hope you’re all working your way into the festive mood.
Today’s dialogue covers an activity many of you will have already done I think.
Although the rules on Christmas trees appearing in living rooms windows never have been clear to me! Let’s see what my readers make of the whole thing…
This week can be an incredibly busy one for many, so go easy on yourself!
Forcing a study habit over the Christmas break often does more harm than good I’ve found with my students.
Gros Bisous
A 🤶🏻
Décoration de l'arbre de Noël 🎄
Dialogue Audio 🎧
Slower Audio 🐢
Dialogue du Jour
Samuel: Salut Inès! Tu es prête ✪ pour décorer le sapin de Noël ?
Inès: Oui, Samuel! J'ai hâte de ✪ commencer. As-tu déjà sorti les guirlandes lumineuses ?
Samuel: Pas encore, je les cherche. Ah, les voilà ✪! Tu préfères quelle couleur, les bleues ou les multicolores ?
Inès: Allons-y avec les multicolores, elles sont plus festives. Et pour les boules de Noël ?
Samuel: J'ai des rouges, des dorées et des argentées. On les répartit sur le sapin?
Inès: Bonne idée. Fais attention à ✪ ne pas les casser. Elles sont fragiles.
Samuel: D'accord. Et si on mettait l'étoile au sommet maintenant ?
Inès: Attendons un peu. Décorons d'abord les branches avec les guirlandes de perles.
Samuel: As-tu vu le ruban argenté ? Il ira bien avec le reste.
Inès: Oui, il est dans cette boîte. On peut l'enrouler autour du sapin.
Samuel: Parfait! Ça commence à avoir l'air vraiment joyeux. On pourrait aussi suspendre ces petits anges en bois.
Inès: Oui, et n'oublions pas les pommes de pin. Elles donnent un joli aspect naturel. Et maintenant, pour l'étoile?
Samuel Oui, le moment tant attendu ✪! Veux-tu le faire ?
Inès: Avec plaisir! Voilà, notre sapin de Noël est prêt. Il est superbe! On a fait du beau travail. Joyeux Noël !
♡ 𝕃𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕝𝕠𝕨 👇
✪ Notes
tu es prête = tu es prêt(e) à y aller = are you ready? An essential phrase for any French learner, and as straightforward as it sounds. Whether you're gearing up for a big day or just asking a friend if they're ready to leave the house. Also a great way to remind friends you're waiting on them! "Dépêche-toi, le film commence dans 10 minutes, tu es prête?"
j'ai hâte de ✨ = je suis impatient(e) de = I can't wait to. How to express excitement about future plans or events. English speakers like saying this a lot more than French people I should note ! 😅 Shows too much enthusiasm for the French…
les voilà ✨ = here they are! A slight alteration on the “Viola” we know and love. But don’t be scared be excited, for when you finally find something you've been searching for! Also handy when pointing out sights on your travels in France.
fais attention à ✨ = prends garde à = be careful with = reminder to be cautious. Very versatile, slippery floors, fragile objects, parting metros. “Je fais attention au vouvoiement” (I’m careful about using the vous correctly”… this is always good advice when speaking in real life!)
tant attendu = long-awaited
*✨ = especially ‘Frenchie’ words/phrases you should try and use more
*🧩 = ‘canned’ expressions or phrases that are best learned as a whole, like puzzle-pieces.
Translation
S: Hello Inès! Are you ready to decorate the Christmas tree?
I: Yes, Samuel! I can't wait to start. Have you already taken out the fairy lights?
S: Not yet, I'm looking for them. Ah, here they are! Which color do you prefer, blue or multicolored?
I: Let's go with the multicolored ones, they are more festive. And for the Christmas balls?
S: I have red, gold, and silver ones. Shall we spread them on the tree?
I: Good idea. Be careful not to break them. They are fragile.
S: Okay. How about we put the star on top now?
I: Let's wait a bit. Let's decorate the branches with pearl garlands first.
S: Have you seen the silver ribbon? It will go well with the rest.
I: Yes, it's in this box. We can wrap it around the tree.
S: Perfect! It's starting to look really cheerful. We could also hang these little wooden angels.
I: Yes, and let's not forget the pine cones. They give a nice natural look. And now, for the star?
S: Yes, the long-awaited moment! Do you want to do it?
I: With pleasure! There, our Christmas tree is ready. It looks great! We did a good job. Merry Christmas!
Writing Prompt ✍️ Alors, quelle est votre décoration de Noël préférée ?
All answers are welcome. One word.. or one sentence.
Write me your answer in the comments. I can’t wait to read them! 👇🏼
Exercise 1 - Fill in the blank 💪
Quickly test your comprehension, accelerate your learning. 🚀
Quand tu feras le gâteau, ___ à ne pas trop cuire les bords.
When you make the cake, be careful not to overcook the edges.Nous cherchions nos clés partout, et puis, ___ !
We were looking for our keys everywhere, and then, there they are!___ à participer à la course de dimanche ?
Are you ready to participate in the Sunday race?J'adore les pommes de terre ___ pour le dîner.
I love golden potatoes for dinner.Après des mois de préparation, le concert ___ est enfin là.
After months of preparation, the long-awaited concert is finally here.
If you’re struggling the ✪ Notes section is always a good place to look. 😉 The answers are all in the dialogue or notes section.
[NO PEEKING] Answer Key: 1. fais attention à 2. les voilà 3. Tu es prêt 4. dorées 5. tant attendu
Exercise 2 - Translate ⚡
If you can translate each of these sentences after the lesson then you’re making real progress. They can also me used as flashcards.
Samuel trouva une guirlande coincée sous le canapé et s'exclama, "Elle donnera un joli aspect à notre sapin !”.
Inès, en riant, répartit les boules de Noël, disant, "Pas encore, il faut d'abord démêler cette guirlande !”.
"Ce ruban argenté, il ira bien avec les lumières multicolores", pensa Samuel à haute voix.
Inès, en plaçant l'étoile, s'écria, "Enfin, notre sapin ressemble à quelque chose de magique !”.
Après avoir terminé, Samuel regarda leur œuvre et dit, "Nos efforts ont payé, ce sapin est digne d'une carte postale !".
1. Samuel found a garland stuck under the sofa and exclaimed, "It will give our tree a pretty look!"
2. Inès, laughing, distributed the Christmas balls, saying, "Not yet, we have to untangle this garland first!"
3. "This silver ribbon, it will go well with the multicolored lights," Samuel thought out loud.
4. Inès, placing the star, exclaimed, "Finally, our tree looks like something magical
5. After finishing, Samuel looked at their work and said, "Our efforts have paid off, this tree is worthy of a postcard!"
Christmas and Amélie 🎁 .. un rappel
If you know someone who would love receiving these wonderful lessons every week to help their French keep moving in the right direction in 2024… a premium subscription works great as a gift!
✉️ Votre invitation à Paris
𝔻𝕠𝕟'𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕥𝕠 ♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕦𝕓𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕜👇
Tu te sens d'humeur festive et généreuse ?
Consider leaving a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review for the podcast - it makes a big difference! 🫶🏻
If you have any type of feedback please let me know in the comments. Or you can just reply to this email.
Joyeux Noël mes chers élèves ! 🌟
Amélie x
