Bandeau categories 1
 

French
Short Stories

Read & Listen to
Authentic French

 

LE HORLA
GUY DE
MAUPASSANT

Le Horla is a short horror story. In the form of a journal, the narrator, an upper-class, unmarried, bourgeois man, conveys his troubled thoughts and feelings of anguish...

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REGRET
GUY DE
MAUPASSANT

Monsieur Saval is an old bachelor, alone, with nobody about him. One day, as he thinks about the only woman he ever loved, he wonders whether he didn't miss the only opportunity he had to be happy...

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L'HOMME QUI PLANTAIT DES ARBRES
JEAN
GIONO

The Man Who Planted Trees tells the story of one shepherd's long and successful singlehanded effort to re-forest a desolate valley in the foothills of the Alps in Provence... 

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MEMNON
VOLTAIRE

Memnon one day took it into his head to become a great philosopher. "To be perfectly happy," said he to himself, "I have nothing to do but to divest myself entirely of passions; and nothing is more easy, as everybody knows"... 

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ANDRÉ GIDE
ARTHUR
CRAVAN

Published in Maintenant magazine, this short story narrates how Arthur Cravan took advantage of his family relationship with Oscar Wilde to meet André Gide. Cravan describes their encounter...

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HISTOIRE DU DÉMON QUI PRIT FEMME
NICOLAS
MACHIAVEL

In The Devil Takes Wife, the princes of Hell plan to send archdevil Belfagor to earth to find why all men state women as the cause of their damnation...

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Practise French Tenses
& Expand your Vocabulary

With short stories by famous authors from France and the rest of the world

Welcome to Explore French's collection of short stories audiobooks! Immerse yourself in the French language with my selection of entertaining and engaging stories. Whether you're an intermediate or an advanced learner, these audiobooks are a great way to improve your comprehension and pronunciation skills, expand your vocabulary and practise French tenses while enjoying some captivating stories. With various genres to choose from, such as romance, mystery, and adventure, you're sure to find something that piques your interest.

 
 

 

Those audiobooks are just brilliant!! The way they use colors to highlight verbs and show tenses is super helpful. I'm practicing and memorizing conjugations as I read, effortlessly, and it sort of helps me figure out the difference between similar tenses. Thanks a lot!!

Jane

 
 

Master French
Elevate Your Language Skills Through Captivating Short Stories!
 

One of the most effective and enjoyable ways to enhance your language skills is through listening to French short stories. With Explore French, I offer a diverse collection of short stories in French that not only entertain but also facilitate your language learning objectives. These stories, by renowned authors such as Maupassant, Giono, and even Machiavelli, provide an immersive experience that caters to both intermediate and advanced learners.
 

Immerse Yourself
in French Language Stories

My audiobooks feature captivating French stories from France and beyond, making them an excellent resource for learners who wish to deepen their understanding of the language while enjoying great literature. Each short story is carefully selected to showcase various themes and genres, including romance, mystery, and adventure. This variety not only keeps the learning process engaging but also exposes you to different aspects of French culture and storytelling.

Listening to these French short stories will immerse you in the rhythm and melody of the language. This immersion reinforces your listening skills and pronunciation. As you follow along with the transcripts, you'll encounter new vocabulary in context, allowing you to remember and reuse words more effectively in your conversations.
 

Enhance Your Understanding
of French Tenses

One of the standout features of my short stories in French is the innovative color-coding system I use to illustrate verb tenses. Each tense is highlighted in a specific color, making it easy for you to identify and understand how different tenses are used throughout the narratives. This visual aid is particularly helpful for learners who may struggle with the complexities of French grammar and conjugation.

By following along with the transcripts, you can see how various tenses come into play in different contexts. For instance, a paragraph might utilize past tenses to recount events (such as the compound past, imperfect, and pluperfect), while another may employ the future tense to discuss upcoming situations, or even the conditional and the subjunctive. This approach not only makes learning tenses more accessible but also allows you to grasp the subtleties of French grammar intuitively through passive exposure to the language.
 

Expand Your Vocabulary
Effortlessly

In addition to teaching tenses, every short story in French comes with translated key vocabulary to support your learning. As you listen, you’ll find English translations of essential words in bold in the text. This feature is invaluable for expanding your vocabulary because it allows you to learn new words in context, which is far more effective than memorizing isolated vocabulary lists.

For example, if a short story introduces terms, phrases, and idioms related to feelings, you’ll see them used naturally in the narrative, helping you understand their meanings and applications. Last but not least, you will also be exposed to common French collocations. By actively engaging with the text, you’ll develop a richer vocabulary and improve your overall command of the French language.
 

Test Your Comprehension
with Engaging Quizzes

To further enhance your learning experience, quizzes are provided to test your oral and written comprehension, allowing you to assess your understanding of the story and the vocabulary introduced. These assessments encourage you to reflect on what you’ve learned and solidify your grasp of the material. By evaluating your knowledge, you can identify areas where you may need additional practice, ensuring that your learning journey remains both effective and enjoyable.
 

Why Choose Short Stories
for Learning French?

Choosing short stories in French as a resource for learning offers several advantages. Firstly, the engaging narratives capture your attention, making it easier to stay motivated. Unlike traditional textbooks, which can often feel monotonous and frequently contain adapted and artificial texts, these stories provide a refreshing approach to studying French. You can enjoy compelling tales while honing your skills. 

Moreover, you can choose to focus on either your reading or listening skills, depending on your mood and activities. If you want to concentrate on reading, my transcripts are divided into short paragraphs, allowing you to learn at your own pace, bit by bit, every day. Prefer to enhance your listening skills? You can enjoy an audiobook anywhere—during your commute, while exercising, or relaxing at home. My audiobooks fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, making it easy to integrate language learning into your daily routine and maximize your exposure to the French language.
 

Take the leap
and elevate your French skills today!

Learning French doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By immersing yourself in French short stories through my audiobooks, you’ll not only entertain yourself but also accelerate your language acquisition. The combination of engaging narratives, innovative grammar tools, contextual vocabulary learning, and comprehension quizzes creates a comprehensive learning experience that prepares you for real-life conversations in French. Sign up for a Premium Membership on ExploreFrench.com to unlock access to all my audiobooks, as well as all the courses and resources available on the site, and start your journey toward French fluency!

 

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