You have a real-time voice conversation with an AI French tutor, but you are not sure how to prepare. Without a plan, you might freeze or repeat the same simple phrases. This page helps you write a short session brief before you start speaking. You will choose a specific goal, set a difficulty level, request a role-play, and then review the expressions you could not produce. The focus is on using the tutor to rehearse real situations, not on memorizing scripted dialogues.
Write your session brief before you speak
Before your conversation, spend two minutes writing a brief. State your goal in one sentence: for example, 'I want to practise greeting a neighbour and making a simple plan for Saturday.' Then choose a role-play: you are a new tenant meeting the building concierge, or you are inviting a classmate to a picnic. Set a difficulty level: beginner means short sentences and present tense; intermediate means adding past tense and follow-up questions. Write down three phrases you already know from your audio lessons, such as 'Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?' or a phrase from the make-plans lesson. When the session starts, say your brief aloud: 'I would like to practise a first meeting. Please play a neighbour. Use simple French and correct me only when I cannot understand.' This gives the tutor a clear frame and keeps you in control. If you are unsure how to phrase a request, keep it in English; the tutor can respond in French. Remember that Yapr offers real-time voice conversations with AI tutors and links to audio lessons, so you can revisit a lesson after the session to reinforce a phrase you missed.
Handle the moment you cannot find a word
The hardest turn in any conversation is when you want to say something specific but the French word does not come. Do not switch to English immediately. Instead, use a repair phrase you have practised: 'Comment dit-on ... en français ?' (How do you say ... in French?) or 'Je ne sais pas comment dire ...' (I don't know how to say ...). Then describe the idea with simpler words. For example, if you forget 'parapluie', say 'la chose pour la pluie' and ask for the word. The tutor can supply it, and you repeat it aloud. After the session, write down every word or phrase you had to ask for. Group them by situation: greetings, making plans, or saying goodbye. Then find a related audio lesson on Yapr and listen to the native pronunciation. In your next session, start by using three of those new phrases in a short warm-up. This turns your struggle into a concrete review list. You are not aiming for perfect grammar; you are aiming to keep the conversation moving and to notice what you need to learn next.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Bonjour.
Hello. / Good morning. / Good afternoon.
bohn-ZHOOR
Bonsoir.
Good evening.
bohn-SWAHR
Salut !
Hi! / Bye!
sah-LOO
Comment allez-vous ?
How are you? (formal or plural)
koh-mahn tah-lay VOO
Je m'appelle Marie.
My name is Marie.
zhuh mah-PEL mah-REE
Comment tu t'appelles ?
What is your name? (informal)
koh-MAHN tew tah-PEL
Comment vous vous appelez ?
What is your name? (polite or plural)
koh-MAHN voo voo-zah-PLAY
Je viens du Canada.
I come from Canada.
zhuh vyen dew kah-nah-DAH
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?
Hello, how are you?Bonjour, je vais bien, merci. Et vous ?
Hello, I'm well, thank you. And you?Ça va bien, merci. Vous êtes ici pour le cours ?
I'm well, thank you. Are you here for the class?Oui, c'est ça. Et vous ?
Yes, that's right. And you?Moi aussi. Bon, je dois y aller. Au revoir !
Me too. Well, I have to go. Goodbye!Au revoir, à bientôt !
Goodbye, see you soon!Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Briefing a first-meeting role-play
You have a voice session with an AI French tutor. You want to practise meeting a new neighbour in your building. You know basic greetings from your audio lessons: 'Bonjour', 'Comment allez-vous ?', 'Je m'appelle ...', and 'Je viens de ...'. You have five minutes before the session starts.
Your task: Write a three-sentence brief in English or French. First, state the goal: 'I want to practise greeting a neighbour and saying where I am from.' Second, request the role-play: 'Please play a neighbour who is friendly but uses simple French.' Third, set the difficulty: 'Use present tense and short sentences. Correct me only if I cannot understand.' Then say the brief aloud to the tutor. After the tutor responds, introduce yourself using 'Je m'appelle ...' and 'Je viens de ...'. Ask the tutor one question: 'Et vous, vous venez d'où ?'
Making a plan with a friend
You want to practise inviting a friend to an activity and agreeing on a time. You have reviewed the phrases 'Tu es libre samedi ?', 'Ça te dit d'aller au cinéma ?', 'On pourrait se retrouver à 18h ?', and 'Oui, avec plaisir !'. Your AI tutor will play a friend your age. You want to use informal 'tu' throughout.
Your task: Begin by saying your brief: 'I want to practise making a plan with a friend. Please play a friend my age. Use informal French and simple sentences.' Then invite the tutor to a specific activity using the phrase 'Ça te dit d'aller au cinéma ?' from the make-plans lesson. The tutor accepts. Suggest a time: 'On pourrait se retrouver à 18h devant le cinéma ?' Confirm the plan: 'Parfait, à samedi !' During the conversation, use at least one phrase from your audio lesson on making plans.
Declining politely and suggesting another day
You are practising how to decline an invitation politely. Your AI tutor will invite you to a party on Friday evening. You are busy that evening because you have a language class. You want to decline, give a reason, and suggest another day. You have reviewed 'Désolé(e), je ne peux pas, j'ai déjà quelque chose de prévu' and 'Ça te dit de reporter à dimanche ?'.
Your task: Start with your brief: 'I want to practise declining an invitation politely and suggesting another day. Please invite me to a party on Friday. Use simple French.' When the tutor invites you, respond: 'Désolé(e), je ne peux pas vendredi. J'ai un cours de français.' Then suggest an alternative: 'Ça te dit de faire quelque chose dimanche ?' If the tutor asks what you want to do, suggest a simple activity: 'On pourrait aller au parc.'
Common questions
Can I ask the AI tutor to slow down or repeat something?
Yes. You can say 'Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement, s'il vous plaît ?' or 'Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?' The tutor can adjust its pace or repeat a sentence. This is a normal part of a conversation session and helps you catch sounds you missed.
What should I do if I do not understand the tutor's question?
Use a repair phrase: 'Je ne comprends pas. Pouvez-vous expliquer autrement ?' or 'Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ?' Then try to answer with what you did understand. After the session, note the question and look for a related audio lesson on Yapr to hear similar phrases in context.
Sources and further reading
- french: hello and goodbyeChecked September 2026
- french: introduce yourselfChecked September 2026
- french: make plansChecked September 2026
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