Leçon 5 -- Text

A classroom, a professor, some students.

1.

Let's continue the invention of the story.

First (of all), it is necessary to give a first name to the young people.

Why?

Why? But it's elementary. Because everyone has a first name.

Me, I have a first name. You, you have a first name.

It's what, your first name? -- Michael.

Well, you see. He has a first name.

(to a female student) You too (also), you have a first name.

It's what, your first name? -- Julia.

She, also, she has a first name. Everyone has a first name. Me, her, him.

But the young people of the story don't have a first name.

That's not right. (literally - That doesn't go.) It's not possible.

So, let's give a first name to the young people.

Because it's not easy to tell a story without first names.

2.

Let's see. The young girl, first.

It's going to be what, her first name?

Ethel. -- Well ... no. It's a pretty name, Ethel, but it's an American first name.

And the young girl is French. She needs (literally - It is necessary) a French first name.

Listen. The name of the young girl is going to be Mireille.

Why? -- Because it's a pretty name.

Huh .. Mireille, it's pretty?

And then, it's not easy to pronounce.

Hey. Try it. Say Mireille. Go ahead. Go ahead.

You see. It's not easy.

3.

The first name of the young man is going to be Robert.

No, no. No discussion. It's decided. --- Whay?

First of all, because it's a first name at the same time French and American.

It's a French first name. It's also an American first name.

And then, it's not easy to pronounce either.

4.

Good. Now the young people of the story have a first name.

The first name of the young girl is ..... Ethel.

No, it's not Ethel. It's Mireille.

OK (literally -- Good). Mireille if you want.

And the first name of the young man is ....Robert.

5.

Now, it is necessary to give a family to the young people.

First of all, to the young girl. The family of Mireille is not poor.

But it isn't rich, either. It's a family ... well-to-do.

Is Mireille going to have a mother? .... Yes.

Is she going to have a father? ... Yes.

Good, then. It's agreed. Mireille has a father and a mother.

The father and the mother of Mireille both work. (literally -- all the two)

Her father is an engineer with Renault,

And her mother is a department head at the Health Department. (Ministry of Health)

Mireille has two sisters. Cecile is older (more aged).

She is 23 (has twenty-three years) and she is married.

Marie-Laure is much younger (more young). She is ten (has ten years.)

And she isn't married. Obviously.

6.

And now, let's also give a family to Robert.

The parents of Robert have some money. They are even rather rich.

Robert doesn't have any sisters. He doesn't have any brothers, either.

He's an only child. (only son)

His parents are divorced. His father hasn't (is not) remarried.

But his mother has remarried. Poor Robert.

Only child. Parents divorced. Mother remarried.

He is perhaps going to have some hang-ups.

Ah. Very good. I adore that. Let's talk about the hang-ups of Robert.

You want to talk about the hang-ups of Robert?

Yes. Because that's going to be amusing ... and useful ... in order to learn French.

You believe so? Perhaps. But not today.

We don't have the time. Another time.