top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

Secret to enjoying reading in French

Karyn Fletcher wins the Connexion letter of the month for February 2018 and a copy of our Puzzle Book.

In response to your question about reading in French... I am an avid reader in French and enjoy a French novel as much as one in English.

Picking something you are interested in is number one. Also a book you already know in English is a good idea.
I decided to begin with a 19th-century classic, in my case Zola, because they are free of colloquial terms that often pepper contemporary fiction.

Once you read one Zola, and there are many, the language is classic and the same, the only changes will be a sheaf of particular terminology to do with the subject of some of a particular volume, like the mining world in Germinal or trains in La Bête Humaine.

Also, remember you don’t have to understand 100% of what you read to understand enough to appreciate the story. Letting go of that gets you into reading rather than reading and translating. Over time the gap of translating gets smaller as immersion in the text grows so you are more present in your reading. That made a huge difference for me.

Finally give yourself a good chunk of pages when you sit down to read because it can take a little while to flow into the language and make the mental adjustment to the French ‘voice’ of the novel.

I have gone through all 20 volumes of Zola’s series twice, plus many other writers since then, and enjoyed them both times, the second many years later when I was a much more fluent reader and they were even better.

Karyn Fletcher, Eure

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Healthcare in France*
Featured Help Guide
- Understand the French healthcare system, how you access it and how you are reimbursed - Useful if you are new to the French healthcare system or want a more in-depth understanding - Reader question and answer section Aimed at non-French nationals living here, the guide gives an overview of what you are (and are not) covered for. There is also information for second-home owners and regular visitors.
Get news, views and information from France