Unit 6 · Lesson 1
Reading Strategies
You don't need to understand every single word in a French text to answer questions correctly. Good readers use strategies: read the title and images first, identify cognates, notice which words repeat, use context clues, read the questions before the text, and identify the text type. These strategies together can unlock a text you'd otherwise find impossible.
Common faux amis (false cognates)
Reading strategies
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French
Read the title first
tap to flip
English
The title tells you the topic before you read a single word. Use it to activate any vocabulary you already know.
Example: 'Les vacances en France' → think: travel, summer, regions, activities.
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Vocabulary building tip
When you see an unknown word, attack it with three tools in order: (1) Context — what do the surrounding words suggest? (2) Word family — do you recognise the root? (e.g. travail → travailler → travailleur). (3) Cognates: does it look like an English or Spanish word? Using all three together, you can often decode a word without a dictionary.
Faux ami → actual meaning
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Click a French word, then click its English match.
Apply reading strategies
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Hint: The French word for 'clues' or 'hints' is 'indices'.
The title of a text gives you clues about the main topic.
Reading strategies quiz
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What does 'librairie' mean in French?