This funny beginner English short story follows Paris, an American college student who is studying abroad in Paris, France. It’s written for A2–B1 learners using the 2,000 most common words in English. Read along with Camille in the video, learn the key vocabulary and a grammar tip, then test yourself with the quiz.

Level: A2–B1 (high beginner)
Reading time: About 2 minutes
Topic: Studying abroad, language learning, food
From the book: 60 Beginner English Short Stories, page 132

How to use this lesson

First, watch the video and listen to Camille read the full story. Next, read the story below on your own and check any words you don’t know in the vocabulary list. Finally, answer the quiz questions to see how much you understood. For extra practice, read the story out loud.

The story: Paris in Paris

Paris is a college student from the US. This semester, she’s studying abroad in Paris, France.

Yes, her name is Paris. And now she lives in Paris. She hears this joke every day: “Wait, your name is Paris and you’re in Paris?”

“Oui,” she says, and smiles politely.

Paris is taking a French language class at the local university. She knows some French, maybe A2 level. She can order food, ask for directions, and say, “I’m sorry, I’m American.” She uses that one a lot.

In class, her teacher speaks mostly in French. Paris understands about 60%. Well, maybe 50%.

Today, the teacher says, “Écrivez une petite présentation.” (Write a short presentation.)

Paris writes a short presentation. She writes about her hobbies: reading, coffee, and cats. When she reads it out loud, she says, “J’aime lire, boire du café, et… chats.”

The class laughs, not in a mean way, just surprised.

The teacher gently says, “If you say it that way, it sounds like you want to drink coffee and cats.”

Paris turns bright red. “No, just coffee! Not cats!”

Later that day, she goes to a bakery. She wants one croissant. She says, “Je suis un croissant.” The baker looks confused.

Paris realizes she said, “I am a croissant.” She laughs and corrects herself: “Je voudrais un croissant, s’il vous plaît.” (I would like a croissant, please.)

Back in her room, Paris texts her mom: “Good news. I am not a croissant. And also, I love it here.”

She may mix up words, but she’s learning and laughing, and that’s the best way to do it.

Key vocabulary from the story

A tip from Camille

“If you don’t understand something in English, you can say, ‘I’m sorry, I’m [your nationality].’ People will usually be kind and say, ‘No worries!’ Like Paris, we all make silly mistakes when we learn a language. It’s good to laugh at yourself and not get stressed. I love languages, so I put a tiny bit of French, Spanish, and Italian into a few of the stories in this book.”

Grammar tip: the present simple

We use the present simple to talk about habits, routines, facts, and things that are generally true.

• I use this notebook every day.
• She goes to class in the morning.
• They read before bed.

This whole story is told in the present simple: Paris writes a presentation, she goes to a bakery, she texts her mom. Notice that with he, she, and it, we add -s or -es to the verb.

Try it: Write two sentences about your daily routine. For example: “I drink coffee every morning. My sister walks to work.”

Check your understanding with a quiz:

1. Where is Paris studying?
   a) London b) Rome c) Paris
2. What is Paris’s French level?
   a) She doesn’t speak any b) Advanced c) A2
3. What does Paris accidentally say at the bakery?
   a) “I eat cats.” b) “I want 10 croissants.” c) “I am a croissant.”
4. What are Paris’s hobbies?
   a) Reading, coffee, and cats b) Cooking, music, and dogs c) Running, tea, and movies
5. Who does Paris text at the end of the story?
   a) Her teacher b) Her mom c) Her best friend