Classic French Tales

Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White... you know them all, don't you? That's why I picked this topic. Because you do already know the story, it makes easier to understand. But Tales are not easy French: they are written in the "passé simple", using upscale vocabulary, and you'll discover there is a lot of new vocabulary to learn, and it's a great way to review your verb tenses.

The tales will be presented twice, whenever possible:

• my own version, the very one I tell my daughter. This version is a bit simplier, uses a lot of dialogues, and is very lively. It comes with a full English translation and gorgeous pictures taken from a very, very old French book that belonged to my grandmother. This version is also a great way to introduce your own children to French.
  

• I will also read - whenever available - the original version, from the 18th century. This is much more difficult, but is a great exercise for higher intermediate/advanced students.

So, enjoy, and remember, repetion is the key!

Some of the tales are free for you to access on this site, and you may also download the audio and text files for remote studying on your iPod, MP3 player or burn a CD. Other tales are available in our store for a small fee.