Surfing in Senegal French Reading Comprehension Activity

Bring Francophone culture into your French classroom with this French reading comprehension activity about surfing in Senegal! Students will discover how surfing developed in this West African country, why Senegal has become a popular surfing destination, and how local surfers are making the sport more accessible to young people.

With three differentiated French readings at Novice High, Intermediate Low, and Intermediate Mid levels, you can explore the same fascinating cultural topic with students of different proficiency levels. Each version covers the same essential information, allowing students to complete the same comprehension activities regardless of which reading they use.

What’s Included?

• 3 differentiated French readings: Novice High, Intermediate Low, and Intermediate Mid
• Vocabulary support with English translations of selected words
• 10 true/false comprehension questions in both French and English
• 5 short-answer comprehension questions in both French and English
• 10 multiple-choice comprehension questions in both French and English
• Answer key for all comprehension questions
• Colorful French-language infographic about surfing in Senegal
• Resource page with links to videos, websites, and articles for further exploration

What Will Students Learn?

Through this French cultural reading activity, students will explore:

• The history of surfing in Senegal: How the American documentary The Endless Summer introduced Senegal’s waves to an international audience in the 1960s.
• Geography and climate: Why Dakar, Ngor, and Senegal’s Atlantic coastline offer excellent conditions for surfing.
• Senegalese surf culture: How local surfing schools help young people learn the sport and develop new opportunities.
• Women in surfing: How the Black Girls Surf program encourages Senegalese girls to participate and build confidence.
• Challenges facing Senegalese surfers: The cost of equipment, access to swimming lessons, and the expense of international competitions.
• Senegalese surfing champions: The achievements of Ismaïla Samb and Déguène Thioune and the country’s Olympic ambitions.

Differentiated French Reading for Mixed-Level Classes

The three reading versions make this resource flexible for different proficiency levels.

Novice High: Shorter sentences, simpler vocabulary, and predominantly present-tense constructions make the text more accessible to developing readers.

Intermediate Low: More detailed information with accessible vocabulary and sentence structures for students developing their reading proficiency.

Intermediate Mid: A more sophisticated reading with richer vocabulary, complex sentence structures, and a variety of verb tenses.

All three versions present the same central information, so students can work at an appropriate reading level while participating in the same classroom activities.

Perfect For

• French reading comprehension practice
• Francophone culture lessons
• Differentiated French instruction
• French geography and African culture units
• Independent reading or class discussions
• Sub plans and enrichment activities
• Lessons about sports, gender equality, and youth opportunities

Why Teachers Will Love This Resource

One topic, three reading levels! There’s no need to find separate articles for students with different reading abilities.

French and English comprehension questions give you flexibility in how you assess students’ understanding.

Authentic cultural connections introduce students to a French-speaking African country through a topic that goes beyond traditional textbook lessons.

More than just a reading: The infographic and curated video and website links provide opportunities for visual learning, cultural discussion, and further exploration.

Help your students build French reading comprehension skills while discovering the growing surfing community of Senegal!