GRADE 8 french MY BODY- READING – Reading for Understanding Notes
MY BODY — READING (French) — Reading for Understanding (age 13)
Specific learning outcomes
- a) Identify key details and facts from read texts (French grammar focus).
- b) Use information from read texts to respond to questions and prompts (grammar practice).
- c) Build confidence in one’s ability to comprehend and interpret written material (grammar strategies).
Key vocabulary — parties du corps
(article + French word — English)
- la tête — head 🧠
- le bras — arm 💪
- la main — hand ✋
- le pied — foot 🦶
- la jambe — leg
- les yeux — eyes 👀 (l'œil → les yeux)
- les cheveux — hair
- le nez — nose 👃
- la bouche — mouth
- l'oreille / les oreilles — ear(s) 👂
- le dos — back
- le ventre — stomach
Important grammar points (helpful for reading texts about the body)
1. Gender & plural — Learn the article (le / la / l’ / les). Example: le bras (sing.), les bras (pl.).
2. Possessive words vs. definite article with body parts
- When showing ownership normally you use mon/ma/mes: "C'est ma main."
- BUT with reflexive verbs and routine actions French usually uses the definite article: "Je me lave les mains." (not "mes mains"). This is crucial when reading daily routines.
3. Avoir for age and pains
- Age: "J'ai 13 ans." (I am 13 years old.)
- Pain: "J'ai mal à la tête." Contractions: à + le = au (J'ai mal au bras), à + la = à la, à + les = aux.
4. Reflexive verbs — verbs like se laver, se brosser, s'habiller. Common pattern for present tense (je / tu / il):
je me lave, tu te laves, il/elle se lave, nous nous lavons, vous vous lavez, ils/elles se lavent.
Remember: reflexive pronoun + verb + definite article for the body part.
5. Adjectives agreement — adjectives agree with the noun: un bras long, une jambe longue, des mains propres.
Short reading passage (French)
Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Amina. J'ai 13 ans. Le matin, je me lave le visage et je me brosse les dents. J'ai les cheveux longs et les yeux bruns. Parfois j'ai mal au ventre après le déjeuner. Aujourd'hui, j'ai un petit bobo au doigt mais je peux écrire avec la main droite.
Exercises — use the passage (focus on grammar)
A. Identify key details and facts (answers in short French/English)
- How old is Amina? (Answer in French) — ____________________
- List three body words mentioned in the passage. — ____________________, ____________________, ____________________
- Does Amina have long or short hair? — ____________________
- Where does Amina sometimes have pain? (use French) — ____________________
B. Grammar tasks (use French)
- Underline the reflexive verbs in the passage and write their infinitives. (e.g., "je me lave" → se laver)
- Find the sentence with a contraction (au / aux / à la). Copy the sentence and explain the contraction.
- Change the sentence “J'ai un petit bobo au doigt” to plural (two fingers): write it in French.
- Rewrite: "Je me brosse les dents." — change to "nous" form.
C. Use information to respond (short written answers in French)
- Answer: "As-tu mal aujourd'hui ?" — Use information from the passage and write a short reply for Amina.
- Write one sentence about Amina’s routine using a reflexive verb and a body part.
Answer key and teacher notes
A. Answers
- 1. J'ai 13 ans.
- 2. Examples: le visage, les cheveux, les yeux, le ventre, le doigt, les dents.
- 3. Elle a les cheveux longs. (She has long hair.)
- 4. Au ventre (J'ai mal au ventre).
B. Grammar answers
- 1. Reflexive verbs: "je me lave" (se laver), "je me brosse" (se brosser).
- 2. Sentence with contraction: "J'ai un petit bobo au doigt." Explanation: "au" = à + le (à + le doigt → au doigt).
- 3. Plural: "J'ai des petits bobos aux doigts." (or "J'ai un petit bobo aux deux doigts" if meaning two specific fingers.)
- 4. "Nous nous brossons les dents."
C. Sample replies
- 1. "Non, aujourd'hui je n'ai pas mal, seulement un petit bobo au doigt." (Or: "Oui, j'ai mal au ventre parfois.")
- 2. Example sentence: "Le matin, je me lave le visage." or "Chaque jour, je me brosse les dents."
Confidence-building tips for learners (age 13)
- Read the French sentence slowly and first spot known words (articles, verbs, body parts).
- Circle the verb and subject, then identify articles and body-part nouns — grammar clues help meaning.
- Translate small phrases, not whole sentences at once. Use grammar rules: reflexive verbs + definite article for body parts.
- Practice aloud: saying "Je me lave les mains" helps memorise structure and confidence.
Short practice (do 2 minutes):
Write three French sentences about your own routine using a reflexive verb and a body part. Example: "Je me lave les mains."