When I came across Les Malheurs de Sophie by Comtesse de Ségur at a tiny library, I wasn’t expecting much of it. I found myself looking for a way to improve my French, and being a lover of fun, short and educational stories, I figured this would be worth a read. When I started skimming through the pages, however, I started to realize that not only was it a delightful tale about Sophie’s wayward adventures, but it was also a wonderful resource for learning French vocabulary, grammar and everyday expressions.
At Albert Learning, we love to use literature to teach French, as it brings together culture, language and context in a way that’s very difficult with textbooks.
Reasons Les Malheurs de Sophie is Awesome for Learning French
There are several reasons why this book works so well for language learners:
- It Has Short, Simple Sentences
The Comtesse de Ségur writes in a clear way that is easy to follow. The book describes Sophie’s actions with clear verbs and she uses simple vocabulary which makes it easier to read, comprehend, and practice.
- Everyday Vocabulary
The book teaches you practical words that you would actually use in your daily life! From objects in your home to feelings like, être triste, avoir peur, or s’amuser , Sophie’s life reflects the real-life French vocabulary of everyday life.
- Repetition and Context
Many of the words and phrases are repeated several times, which gives you a chance to memorize the words as you learn naturally. For example, Sophie often finds herself in a lot of trouble (des malheurs) and getting into trouble will often require learning which means doing things like, faire, dire, pleurer, and jouer which are all repeated in context.
- Cultural Insight
Finally, this book gives you a glimpse of 19th century French society, customs, and family life. An understanding of culture allows learners to connect words/phrases to real life situations and it is a very important part of becoming fluent.
Key Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some helpful French expressions from the book that you can take note of and practice if you want to translate to English:
- Les malheurs – misadventures or troubles. Sophie’s “malheurs” are present at each chapter.
- Se fâcher – to get angry; you can see(someone) get mad, and this helps with learning other emotional expressions.
- S’amuser – to have fun; a very common verb for talking about hobbies, play, and leisure.
- Être puni(e) – to be punished; teaches both (umerator) and expressions that would provide usefulness in subject conversation.
- Avoir peur / avoir faim/avoir soif – Common expressions that include avoir; these are very common expressions; again, Sophie’s malheurs provide examples in person, which makes remembering the way to use them more easier.
- Dire la vérité / mentir – to tell the truth / to lie; again, quite helpful for conversations and storytelling.
By seeing what seem to be random words used in both of the stories your brain is connecting them to actual actions and emotions and so it is much easier to remember the phrase later.
Using Les Malheurs de Sophie as a Tool for Learning French
I found the following strategies useful while reading about Sophie’s escapades:
1. Read it aloud
Saying the words out loud may not only increase your French accent and rhythm but even when encountering sentences errors, it gets your brain used to the sentence structure.
2. Underline new words
For every time Sophie finds herself in a ‘malheur’, underline the other nouns or verbs which are new to you, later, you may feel proud to create an easy, spoken sentence in English with the new word. You will support your learning.
3. Summarize the chapter in English
Once you finish with a chapter, challenge yourself to summarize the chapter in English; it will challenge your comprehension, and you will start to see the overlap of meaning between French expressions/words and their English equivalent.
4. Create a dialogue
Sophie communicates with her friends, family and pets!, so create a dialogue for at the start or end of a short scene in the story. Creating natural and fluent speaking French is helpful for learning passive use and retaining vocabulary in context.
5. Don’t forget about expressions
French has so many idiomatic expression. Pay attention to phrases such in the book like faire des bêtises (to do silly things) or prendre un bain (to take a bath), they are so relevant, and a much better way to learn idiomatic uses of the language and wil likely be more relevant than memorizing an endless ream of sentences.
Insights from Sophie for Language Learners
Sophie’s trials and tribulations serve an entertaining purpose but also have underlying lessons for learning language:
Learning through Experience – Sophie learns by trial and error; likewise, you learn by making mistakes in French. Don’t hesitate to use a new word or say the wrong word; it’s part of the process. Fluency develops from mistakes.
Engagement – The story gets you emotional. When you are interested in the characters and what happens to them your brain retains vocabulary and expressions better.
Repetition – The same words and phrases are used over and over; you will learn and retain vocabulary naturally. Stories allow for repetition that is more effective than drills.
Albert Learning Tips
- Choose one brief chapter each day and read it slowly and carefully.
- Choose 5-10 new words or expressions to highlight and create a personalized list.
- Formulate sentences in English utilizing the vocabulary/expressions you’ve identified.
- Practice speaking by either reading aloud the scenes, or speaking from memory about Sophie’s adventures.
You may also choose to engage a friend or tutor to discuss the story using French, which will help develop further comprehension, application and confidence.
Why Les Malheurs de Sophie Works
This book works for a language learner because it includes a whimsical storyline, repetition and applicable vocabulary, allowing you to experience language informally vs. solely by reading.
In addition, you are engaging in exercises that continuously engage reading, listening, speaking and writing while immersed in enchanting stories of Sophie’s adventures. It is important to stay motivated and engaged when reading and learning a new language, which is one of the most vital aspects of learning a new language
At Albert Learning, we inspire our students to make reading a story like this part of their daily routine. Reading, exploring, and engaging with literature shifts language learning from a boring task, to a pleasurable and unforgettable experience.
So find yourself a copy of “Les Malheurs de Sophie,” immerse yourself into Sophie’s world, and you’ll see how stories can be a fun, useful, and very human way to learn French.
