In this workshop you practise a short hotel conversation in French. You will learn how to ask what time check-out is, how to understand a simple answer, and how to ask politely whether you can leave later. Each native example comes from the supplied recordings, so you can listen and repeat exactly what you hear. You can play both roles: the guest and the person at reception. There is no automatic scoring, so use the answer keys and self-checks to judge your own speaking.
Asking the check-out question
Start with the most useful question. The recording «À quelle heure est le départ ?» means "What time is check-out?" It is neutral and works at reception or on the phone. A common spoken variant is «Le départ, c'est à quelle heure ?», which means "Check-out is at what time?" The phrase "c'est" makes it sound more conversational. A more formal and precise option is «À quelle heure faut-il libérer la chambre ?», which means "What time do we have to vacate the room?" Here "libérer la chambre" means to free up or vacate the room. Choose one question and say it slowly, then a little faster. Keep your voice calm and friendly. If you are the guest, you can begin with a greeting, as in «Bonjour, à quelle heure est le départ ?», which means "Hello, what time is check-out?"
Understanding the answer
When you ask the question, listen for the time. In «Le départ est à onze heures, madame.», the person at reception says "Check-out is at eleven o'clock, madam." The important part is the time expression. You do not need to understand every word to catch the hour. Listen once for the general sound, then again for the number. If you hear a time, you have understood the key information. Practise repeating the full line after the recording. Then cover the text and say it from memory. This helps you recognise the same pattern when someone answers you in a real hotel.
Asking for a later check-out
If you want to leave later, use the polite question «Est-ce que je peux partir plus tard ?», which means "Can I leave later?" It is direct and polite. In the dialogue, the guest uses this question to ask about a late check-out. The answer in «Oui, un départ tardif est possible jusqu'à treize heures, avec un supplément.» means "Yes, a late check-out is possible until one p.m., with an extra charge." Listen for "oui" at the start, then the time, then the word for extra charge. Practise the question and the answer separately. When you feel ready, play both roles: first the guest, then the person at reception.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
À quelle heure est le départ ?
What time is check-out?
ah kel UHR eh luh day-PAR
Le départ, c'est à quelle heure ?
Check-out is at what time?
luh day-PAR, say tah kel UHR
À quelle heure faut-il libérer la chambre ?
What time do we have to vacate the room?
ah kel UHR foh-teel lee-bay-RAY lah SHAHM-bruh
Est-ce que je peux partir plus tard ?
Can I leave later?
ess kuh zhuh puh par-TEER plew TAR
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, à quelle heure est le départ ?
Hello, what time is check-out?Le départ est à onze heures, madame.
Check-out is at eleven o'clock, madam.Est-ce que je peux partir plus tard ?
Can I leave later?Oui, un départ tardif est possible jusqu'à treize heures, avec un supplément.
Yes, a late check-out is possible until one p.m., with an extra charge.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: ask and answer
Imagine you are at a hotel reception. You want to know the check-out time. Play the recording «Bonjour, à quelle heure est le départ ?» and listen to the guest's question. Then play the recording «Le départ est à onze heures, madame.» and listen to the answer.
Your task: Say the guest's question from «Bonjour, à quelle heure est le départ ?» out loud. Then say the receptionist's answer from «Le départ est à onze heures, madame.» out loud. Repeat the exchange twice, trying to match the rhythm of the recordings.
Reply comprehension: choose the correct meaning
Listen to the recording «Oui, un départ tardif est possible jusqu'à treize heures, avec un supplément.». It is the receptionist's answer about a late check-out. Read the three options below and choose the one that matches the recording.
Your task: Option A: Check-out is at eleven o'clock. Option B: A late check-out is possible until one p.m., with an extra charge. Option C: Check-out is not possible. Say your chosen option out loud, then say the full line from «Oui, un départ tardif est possible jusqu'à treize heures, avec un supplément.».
Recall and role-play: guest and reception
Cover the text of the recordings. Imagine you are the guest asking about check-out, and then the receptionist answering. Use only what you remember from the recordings.
Your task: First, say the guest's question from «Bonjour, à quelle heure est le départ ?» from memory. Then say the receptionist's answer from «Le départ est à onze heures, madame.» from memory. Next, say the guest's question from «Est-ce que je peux partir plus tard ?» from memory. Finally, say the receptionist's answer from «Oui, un départ tardif est possible jusqu'à treize heures, avec un supplément.» from memory.
Common questions
Do I need to memorise every word of the recordings?
No. Focus on the key question and the time in the answer. The recordings «À quelle heure est le départ ?» and «Le départ est à onze heures, madame.» give you the main pattern. Once you can say those, you can build confidence with the other lines.
Can I use these questions outside a hotel?
The questions about check-out time are specific to hotels or similar accommodation. The polite question «Est-ce que je peux partir plus tard ?» is designed here for a hotel reception setting, where it asks about leaving later. Use it in that context to practise the source dialogue accurately.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask about check out timeChecked September 2026
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