Prêts pour un sans-faute ? À vos stylos !

Participate in our French dictée, a unique opportunity to put your language skills to the test and challenge your knowledge of the French language. "What is dictée?" you may ask. A dictée is a kind of French exam that tests your listening, spelling, and grammar skills. During a dictée, a speaker reads a text while the participants listen and transcribe what they hear. The goal is to write the most accurate transcription of the text!

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced, this experience is open to all who wish to improve their grammar, vocabulary, and spelling in French. After the event, participants will submit their work via email to be checked and corrected. A prize will be awarded for the best dictation!

The event will be composed of two sessions: one beginner-friendly and the other for advanced participants. Each session will last 30 minutes. The beginner-level session will begin at 5:30pm, and the advanced-level session will begin at 6:00pm.

The text for the advanced-level comes from 'L'évènement' by Annie Ernaux , and the text for the beginner-level is a new short text inspired by the book and the style of the author.

In each session, there will be three readings of the text. 

First reading: a general reading of the text so that participants can hear the text in its entirety.

Second reading: a slow reading of the text, during which participants will copy down the dictation as they hear it. Typically, sentences and paragraphs are read at least twice. 

Third reading: another complete general reading of the text so that participants can check their work and correct any mistakes, forgotten words, or punctuation marks. 

Book summary:
« Depuis des années, je tourne autour de cet événement de ma vie. Lire dans un roman le récit d'un avortement me plonge dans un saisissement sans images ni pensées, comme si les mots se changeaient instantanément en sensation violente. De la même façon, entendre par hasard La javanaise, J'ai la mémoire qui flanche, n'importe quelle chanson qui m'a accompagnée durant cette période, me bouleverse.»
Annie Ernaux (née en 1940) est une écrivaine française majeure, célèbre pour ses récits autobiographiques. Issue d'un milieu modeste en Normandie, elle devient professeure de lettres et s'impose comme une figure du « transfuge de classe ». Elle reçoit le Prix Nobel de littérature en 2022 pour l'ensemble de son œuvre.
 

Disponible sur Amazon

Event Information

Date: Monday, October 26th, 2026
Time: 5:30-6:00pm for beginner level / 6:00-6:30pm for advanced level
Location: Online via Zoom
Language: French
Cost: Pay what you wish. Suggested donation is $10.

Please submit your donation here: Alliance Française de Philadelphie - Donate

Registration

Register on our website and we will send you a link the morning of the event to join the meeting

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