Find out today with *Ana's Leap*

Written by Malu Radice

Do you stop to decipher each word in French to understand the message, or can you already do so fluently? 

If you don't know this yet, I invite you to take this deductive reading challenge about the life of Ana, a student from Colombia who is thriving professionally in Canada after completing her advanced French course.

It's a short reading, but it will help you quickly figure out whether you're close to the B1 level or need a little more practice.

Read along with me until the end and take note of your ability to infer the message of the text from *Ana’s Leap*. 

Deductive Reading at the B1 Level in French

This type of reading refers to the ability to understand intermediate-level texts by inferring the meaning of unfamiliar words or ideas that are not explicitly stated, using the context of the text, the logic of the sentence, and grammatical clues.

If you can think in French, you're at the B1 level.

At this level, you already no longer need to look up every term in the dictionary or translate word for word; instead, you use the general meaning of the text and your prior knowledge of the language to fluently grasp the entire message.

Here is the reading…

Ana's Jump

"Hello. My name is Ana, and I've been living in Canada for two years. I started learning French to improve my career opportunities. 

"Even though the language is sometimes difficult, I do my best to practice regularly and make progress."

To help you assess your level of knowledge, here are a few questions:

• Did you understand it right away? If you read the paragraph in one go and understood Ana’s story without having to mentally translate it, then you have the fluency typical of a B1user.

• Did you get stuck while reading? If you paused at connectors like "même si" or "depuis", or did you have to read the same sentence several times to understand the connection between the past (J'ai commencé) and its present-tense goal, it’s because you’re still in transition.
• Did you look up words in the dictionary? If you looked up a word in the dictionary so you wouldn't get lost, your brain is at the bottom of level A2. You still have a little way to go, but you’re getting closer to B1.

Before her first jump, Ana would introduce herself only with short, simple sentences (Level A1):

"Hello. My name is Ana. I live in Canada. I study French every day. 

"I like learning French because it's important for work and life. French is a beautiful language."

You may have noticed that your mental effort is different. In the B1-level reading passage, Ana provided a list of individual sentences and told a story. 

Differences Between Levels A2 and B1

In the reading Ana’s Leap, the structure is no longer linear (Subject + Verb + Predicate); instead, connectors such as "même si" or "depuis" that organize the information hierarchically.

More advanced grammatical tenses are also covered, such as the present indicative for the verbs m'appelle, vis, est and fais.

And the compound past tense in the verb form ai commencé.

IMPORTANT: The A1-A2 level allows you to describe who you are. The B1 level allows you to explain why you do what you do and describe your background.

Learn French with us

On Planeta Immiland , we’ll help you build the confidence to connect with people from all over the world, share your ideas, and take advantage of opportunities that can transform your future.

Our programs are designed to help you communicate in real-life situations, depending on your goals: traveling, studying, working, or expanding your professional network.

We offer: 

English and French courses.

Preparation for international exams.

Programs focused on academic and immigration goals.

Conversation opportunities to build fluency and confidence.

Visit our online academy and discover how learning a new language can be the best investment in your future.

https://www.planeta-immiland-education.com/

Remember: If you can think in French, you’re at the B1 level. If you’re not quite there yet, don’t worry—keep learning until you get there. Our team is here to help you with the new language and to build your Canadian dream.

With love,

Planeta Immiland Education