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Speak in a room where the decision costs something: a position, a reason, a concession, and a next step.

Twenty-four classes. Hear the line, say it, then say it about your own life.

The sentences

1. 1

   Your name

   Say hello, your name, where you are from, and goodbye.

   Bonjour. Je m'appelle ____. Je viens de ____. Enchanté.

   Hello. My name is ____. I come from ____. Pleased to meet you.

2. 2

   The family

   Name one relative and one job.

   Voici ma famille. J'ai un frère. Ma mère est médecin.

   This is my family. I have a brother. My mother is a doctor.

3. 3

   The day

   Say when you get up and that you work.

   Je me lève à sept heures. Je travaille. Je mange à six heures.

   I get up at seven. I work. I eat at six.

4. 4

   A real need

   Ask for help and ask them to slow down.

   J'ai besoin d'aide. Plus lentement, s'il vous plaît.

   I need help. More slowly, please.

5. 5

   Yesterday

   Say three things that finished yesterday.

   Hier, j'ai travaillé. Je suis rentré à six heures. J'ai dîné chez moi.

   Yesterday I worked. I got home at six. I had dinner at home.

6. 6

   Tomorrow

   Say what you are going to do tomorrow.

   Demain, je vais travailler. Je vais appeler ma mère.

   Tomorrow I am going to work. I am going to call my mother.

7. 7

   Getting there

   Ask the way and say how you go.

   Comment je vais au centre? J'y vais à pied. Le bus va au centre.

   How do I get to the center? I go there on foot. The bus goes to the center.

8. 8

   The phone

   Open a call, ask for someone, and leave a time.

   Bonjour, c'est ____. Je peux parler à ____? Vous pouvez rappeler plus tard?

   Hello, this is ____. May I speak to ____? Can you call back later?

9. 9

   What happened

   Set the scene, then say what finished.

   Hier, il pleuvait. Je suis parti tard. J'ai raté le bus.

   Yesterday it was raining. I left late. I missed the bus.

10. 10

    What you think

    Give an opinion, then a doubt that takes the subjunctive.

    Je pense que c'est une bonne idée. Je ne pense pas que ce soit facile.

    I think it is a good idea. I don't think it is easy.

11. 11

    When it breaks

    Say what failed, ask for someone, and move the meeting.

    Internet ne marche pas. Vous pouvez envoyer quelqu'un? On peut déplacer la réunion?

    The internet doesn't work. Can you send someone? Can we move the meeting?

12. 12

    The work

    Say your role and what you have finished.

    Je travaille comme analyste. J'ai fini le rapport.

    I work as an analyst. I have finished the report.

13. 13

    A disagreement

    Grant one point, then say where you differ.

    Je comprends votre point. Mais je ne suis pas d'accord. Je propose une autre date.

    I understand your point. But I don't agree. I propose another date.

14. 14

    Far away

    Say what you would do if you lived closer.

    Si nous habitions plus près, nous nous verrions plus souvent.

    If we lived closer, we would see each other more often.

15. 15

    The news

    Report what a paper said, and refuse a hot take.

    Le journal dit que la décision est difficile. Il est trop tôt pour conclure.

    The paper says the decision is difficult. It is too early to conclude.

16. 16

    The email

    Say the email: what you send, what you need, and by when.

    Je vous écris pour envoyer le contrat. Je vous demande une réponse avant vendredi.

    I am writing to send the contract. I ask for an answer before Friday.

17. 17

    What you mean

    Restate their point and ask if you are wrong.

    Donc, vous voulez changer la date. Je me trompe?

    So you want to change the date. Am I wrong?

18. 18

    A hard conversation

    Start with the difficulty, then make one request.

    C'est difficile à dire. Ce n'est pas une attaque. J'ai besoin d'aide à la maison.

    This is hard to say. It is not an attack. I need help at home.

19. 19

    The real issue

    Move the argument onto what it is actually about.

    Il ne s'agit pas de l'argent. Il s'agit de la confiance.

    It is not about the money. It is about trust.

20. 20

    The deal

    Concede one thing with a condition, and repeat the deal.

    J'accepte la date si le prix ne change pas. Je répète: vous livrez, nous installons.

    I accept the date if the price does not change. I repeat: you deliver, we install.

21. 21

    The joke

    Keep the joke with friends and the plain sentence at work.

    Avec des amis, c'est drôle. Au travail, je dis la phrase simple.

    With friends, it's funny. At work, I say the plain sentence.

22. 22

    The table

    Give a one-line toast, and a condolence that stops.

    À cette rencontre. Que vous alliez bien. Mes condoléances. Je suis là si besoin.

    To this meeting. May you be well. My condolences. I am here if needed.

23. 23

    Any topic

    Stay in a topic you only half know.

    Donc, vous parlez de ____. Vous pouvez le dire plus simplement? Je peux expliquer l'idée, pas le terme.

    So you are talking about ____. Can you say it more simply? I can explain the idea, not the term.

24. 24

    The room

    Say a position, one reason, one concession, and a next step.

    Ma position: on commence lundi. La raison: le texte est prêt. La concession: j'accepte une relecture. L'étape: vous confirmez aujourd'hui.

    My position: we start Monday. The reason: the text is ready. The concession: I accept a reread. The step: you confirm today.