La chorale du quartier
The Neighborhood Choir
A teenager joins a neighborhood choir rehearsing for a cultural festival, doubting her voice until a mentor encourages her.
- music
- self-confidence
- community
Tap an underlined word to see its meaning.
What you'll encounter
- Grammar
- passé composé
- ne...plus/ne...rien
- relative clauses with qui/que
- Vocabulary
- music and singing vocabulary
- self-doubt and encouragement vocabulary
- Skills
- following an internal obstacle resolved by a mentor
- recognizing a signposted but earned resolution
À Dakar, dans le quartier de la Médina, une chorale se réunit chaque jeudi soir dans la cour de la maison des jeunes. Cette année, la chorale prépare trois chansons pour le grand festival culturel de juin.
Show English
In Dakar, in the Médina neighborhood, a choir rehearses every Thursday evening in the courtyard of the community center. This year, the choir is preparing three songs for the big cultural festival in June.
Awa, quinze ans, a toujours chanté doucement, seule dans sa chambre, la porte fermée. C’est son grand frère qui l’inscrit à la chorale, sans vraiment lui demander son avis.
Show English
Awa, fifteen years old, has always sung quietly, alone in her room, with the door closed. Her older brother is the one who signs her up for the choir, without really asking her opinion.
Le premier soir, Awa se place au fond, entre deux filles plus grandes, et ouvre à peine la bouche. Elle pense que sa voix n’est pas assez bonne pour les autres.
Show English
On the first evening, Awa stands at the back, between two tall girls, and barely opens her mouth. She thinks her voice isn't good enough for the others.
La directrice de la chorale, Madame Sow, enseigne la musique dans le quartier depuis vingt ans. Elle remarque rapidement qu’une voix du groupe reste presque silencieuse pendant les répétitions.
Show English
The choir director, Madame Sow, has been teaching music in the neighborhood for twenty years. She quickly notices that one voice in the group stays almost silent during rehearsals.
La chorale prépare trois chansons différentes : une chanson traditionnelle, une chanson en français sur l’amitié, et une chanson plus moderne que les jeunes adorent chanter fort. Awa connaît déjà les paroles des trois chansons, grâce aux répétitions qu’elle fait seule, chez elle.
Show English
The choir is preparing three different songs: a traditional song, a French song about friendship, and a more modern song the teenagers love to sing loudly. Awa already knows the words to all three, thanks to the rehearsals she does alone, at home.
Après la deuxième répétition, Madame Sow appelle Awa à part. « Je t’ai un peu entendue, quand tu penses que personne n’écoute », lui dit-elle. « Ta voix est magnifique. Pourquoi tu la caches ? »
Show English
After the second rehearsal, Madame Sow calls Awa aside. "I've heard you a little, when you think no one is listening," she tells her. "Your voice is lovely. Why do you hide it?"
Awa baisse les yeux. « Je pense que les gens vont se moquer de moi », admet-elle. « Ma voix n’est pas aussi forte que celle des autres filles. » Madame Sow secoue doucement la tête.
Show English
Awa lowers her eyes. "I think people are going to laugh at me," she admits. "My voice isn't as strong as the other girls'." Madame Sow shakes her head gently.
« Une belle voix n’est pas la plus forte », explique-t-elle. « C’est celle qui chante avec émotion. Viens te placer près de moi à la prochaine répétition, pas au fond. »
Show English
"A beautiful voice isn't the loudest one," she explains. "It's the one that sings with feeling. Come stand near me at the next rehearsal, not at the back."
Le jeudi suivant, Awa hésite longtemps avant de rejoindre le premier rang. Finalement, elle respire profondément et va se placer près de Madame Sow, qui lui chaleureusement.
Show English
The following Thursday, Awa hesitates for a long time before joining the front row. Finally, she takes a deep breath and goes to stand next to Madame Sow, who smiles at her warmly.
Pendant la répétition, Madame Sow demande à Awa de chanter un couplet seule. Comme ça, les autres chanteuses entendent bien la mélodie. Le cœur d’Awa bat vite, mais elle chante, doucement d’abord, puis avec plus de confiance.
Show English
During the rehearsal, Madame Sow asks Awa to sing one verse alone. That way, the other singers can hear the melody clearly. Awa's heart beats fast, but she sings, softly at first, then with more confidence.
À sa grande surprise, personne ne rit. Plusieurs choristes se retournent même, surprises par la clarté de sa voix. Une fille, Mariam, lui dit ensuite : « Wow, tu chantes vraiment bien ! »
Show English
To her great surprise, nobody laughs. Several singers even turn around, surprised by the clarity of her voice. One girl, Mariam, tells her afterward: "Wow, you really sing well!"
À partir de ce jour, Awa vient à chaque répétition, chaque semaine, sans exception. Madame Sow lui donne de petits dans deux des trois chansons, des solos qui vont bien à sa voix douce et claire.
Show English
From that day on, Awa comes to every rehearsal, every week, without exception. Madame Sow gives her small solo parts in two of the three songs, parts that fit her soft, clear voice.
Dans les semaines avant le festival, Awa s’entraîne chez elle, la porte ouverte cette fois. Comme ça, son petit frère peut l’entendre. Il chaque fois qu’elle termine un couplet.
Show English
In the weeks before the festival, Awa practices at home, with the door open this time. That way, her little brother can hear her. He claps every time she finishes a verse.
Le soir du festival, tout le quartier se rassemble sur la grande place. Awa se tient au deuxième rang, son solo arrive dans quelques minutes. Ses mains tremblent un peu, mais moins qu’avant.
Show English
On the evening of the festival, the whole neighborhood gathers in the main square. Awa stands in the second row, her solo part coming up in a few minutes. Her hands tremble a little, but less than before.
La chorale chante d’abord les deux premières chansons, toutes les voix ensemble. Le public applaudit chaleureusement après chaque chanson. Awa sent son cœur battre de plus en plus fort à mesure que le moment de son solo approche.
Show English
The choir first sings the first two songs, all the voices together. The crowd applauds warmly after each song. Awa feels her heart beating faster and faster as the moment of her solo gets closer.
Quand son tour arrive, Awa chante son couplet clairement, en regardant la foule. Son frère, au premier rang, applaudit plus fort que tout le monde. Madame Sow lui fait un signe de tête approbateur depuis le côté.
Show English
When her turn comes, Awa sings her verse clearly, looking out at the crowd. Her brother, in the front row, claps louder than anyone. Madame Sow gives her an approving nod from the side.
Après le concert, le frère d’Awa la serre dans ses bras. « J’ai toujours su que tu sais chanter », lui dit-il en riant. « C’est vrai », répond-elle en souriant. « Mais maintenant, quelqu’un d’autre le sait aussi. »
Show English
After the concert, Awa's brother hugs her. "I always knew you can sing," he tells her, laughing. "That's true," she answers, smiling. "But now, someone else knows it too."
Show full English translation
In Dakar, in the Médina neighborhood, a choir rehearses every Thursday evening in the courtyard of the community center. This year, the choir is preparing three songs for the big cultural festival in June.
Awa, fifteen years old, has always sung quietly, alone in her room, with the door closed. Her older brother is the one who signs her up for the choir, without really asking her opinion.
On the first evening, Awa stands at the back, between two tall girls, and barely opens her mouth. She thinks her voice isn't good enough for the others.
The choir director, Madame Sow, has been teaching music in the neighborhood for twenty years. She quickly notices that one voice in the group stays almost silent during rehearsals.
The choir is preparing three different songs: a traditional song, a French song about friendship, and a more modern song the teenagers love to sing loudly. Awa already knows the words to all three, thanks to the rehearsals she does alone, at home.
After the second rehearsal, Madame Sow calls Awa aside. "I've heard you a little, when you think no one is listening," she tells her. "Your voice is lovely. Why do you hide it?"
Awa lowers her eyes. "I think people are going to laugh at me," she admits. "My voice isn't as strong as the other girls'." Madame Sow shakes her head gently.
"A beautiful voice isn't the loudest one," she explains. "It's the one that sings with feeling. Come stand near me at the next rehearsal, not at the back."
The following Thursday, Awa hesitates for a long time before joining the front row. Finally, she takes a deep breath and goes to stand next to Madame Sow, who smiles at her warmly.
During the rehearsal, Madame Sow asks Awa to sing one verse alone. That way, the other singers can hear the melody clearly. Awa's heart beats fast, but she sings, softly at first, then with more confidence.
To her great surprise, nobody laughs. Several singers even turn around, surprised by the clarity of her voice. One girl, Mariam, tells her afterward: "Wow, you really sing well!"
From that day on, Awa comes to every rehearsal, every week, without exception. Madame Sow gives her small solo parts in two of the three songs, parts that fit her soft, clear voice.
In the weeks before the festival, Awa practices at home, with the door open this time. That way, her little brother can hear her. He claps every time she finishes a verse.
On the evening of the festival, the whole neighborhood gathers in the main square. Awa stands in the second row, her solo part coming up in a few minutes. Her hands tremble a little, but less than before.
The choir first sings the first two songs, all the voices together. The crowd applauds warmly after each song. Awa feels her heart beating faster and faster as the moment of her solo gets closer.
When her turn comes, Awa sings her verse clearly, looking out at the crowd. Her brother, in the front row, claps louder than anyone. Madame Sow gives her an approving nod from the side.
After the concert, Awa's brother hugs her. "I always knew you can sing," he tells her, laughing. "That's true," she answers, smiling. "But now, someone else knows it too."
Words to know
- sourit
- — smiles
- solos
- — solo parts
- applaudit
- — claps