In this workshop you practise asking for a bank or an ATM and understanding a short, helpful reply. You will hear each French line, learn what it means in English, then use it in three short tasks: a guided exchange, a reply-comprehension choice, and a recall task where you switch roles. The recordings give you the exact lines to say, so you never have to invent a phrase you have not learned.
Asking whether a bank or ATM is nearby
Start with the simplest question. «Est-ce qu'il y a une banque près d'ici ?» means "Is there a bank near here?" — a general way to ask about a bank in your area. «Où est le distributeur automatique le plus proche ?» means "Where is the nearest ATM?" — this asks for the location of the closest cash machine. «Je cherche une banque.» means "I'm looking for a bank." — you say this when you want to explain what you need. «Il y a un distributeur dans le coin ?» means "Is there an ATM around here?" — a short question about a cash machine nearby. Notice that each line is a complete question or statement you can say on its own. Say each one slowly, then a little faster, keeping the same meaning.
A short exchange: asking and understanding the reply
Now put the questions together with a reply. «Excusez-moi, est-ce qu'il y a une banque près d'ici ?» means "Excuse me, is there a bank near here?" — you begin politely with "excuse me" and then ask about a bank. «Oui, il y a une banque au coin de la rue.» means "Yes, there is a bank on the corner of the street." — the other person says yes and gives a location. «Merci. Et est-ce qu'il y a un distributeur automatique ?» means "Thank you. And is there an ATM?" — you thank the person and ask a second question about a cash machine. «Oui, juste à côté de la banque.» means "Yes, right next to the bank." — the reply confirms the ATM and places it beside the bank. In this scene, one person asks and the other answers. The order is always: question, reply, follow-up question, reply. When you swap roles, you change who reads each part, but the order stays the same.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Est-ce qu'il y a une banque près d'ici ?
Is there a bank near here?
ess-kuh-leel-yah ün bahnk preh dee-see
Où est le distributeur automatique le plus proche ?
Where is the nearest ATM?
oo eh luh dees-tree-bü-tur aw-toh-mah-teek luh plü prohsh
Je cherche une banque.
I'm looking for a bank.
zhuh shehrsh ün bahnk
Il y a un distributeur dans le coin ?
Is there an ATM around here?
eel-yah un dees-tree-bü-tur dahn luh kwan
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Excusez-moi, est-ce qu'il y a une banque près d'ici ?
Excuse me, is there a bank near here?Oui, il y a une banque au coin de la rue.
Yes, there is a bank on the corner of the street.Merci. Et est-ce qu'il y a un distributeur automatique ?
Thank you. And is there an ATM?Oui, juste à côté de la banque.
Yes, right next to the bank.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
You are a visitor in a French town. You need a bank and then an ATM. A local person is nearby and can help. Read both roles aloud, using the recordings as your model.
Your task: Read the first question aloud: «Excusez-moi, est-ce qu'il y a une banque près d'ici ?». Then read the reply: «Oui, il y a une banque au coin de la rue.». Then read the follow-up question: «Merci. Et est-ce qu'il y a un distributeur automatique ?». Then read the final reply: «Oui, juste à côté de la banque.». After one full round, swap roles and read the exchange again in the same order.
Reply comprehension: choose the right response
You ask about a bank and an ATM. You will hear or read a reply and decide what it tells you. The reply is one of the recorded lines.
Your task: Question 1: You say «Excusez-moi, est-ce qu'il y a une banque près d'ici ?». Which reply fits? A) «Oui, il y a une banque au coin de la rue.» B) «Oui, juste à côté de la banque.». Question 2: You then say «Merci. Et est-ce qu'il y a un distributeur automatique ?». Which reply fits? A) «Oui, il y a une banque au coin de la rue.» B) «Oui, juste à côté de la banque.». Say your chosen reply aloud, then check the answer key.
Recall and role swap: be the local person
Now you play the local person who gives directions. A visitor will ask you two questions. You answer with the recorded replies. Then swap so you are the visitor again.
Your task: As the local person, listen to or read «Excusez-moi, est-ce qu'il y a une banque près d'ici ?» and answer with «Oui, il y a une banque au coin de la rue.». Then listen to or read «Merci. Et est-ce qu'il y a un distributeur automatique ?» and answer with «Oui, juste à côté de la banque.». After that, swap roles: you are the visitor, so you say «Excusez-moi, est-ce qu'il y a une banque près d'ici ?» and «Merci. Et est-ce qu'il y a un distributeur automatique ?», and your partner says «Oui, il y a une banque au coin de la rue.» and «Oui, juste à côté de la banque.».
Common questions
Do I need to invent new French sentences to do these tasks?
No. Every French line you need is in the recordings. You practise saying the recorded questions and replies, choosing the right reply, and recalling them in both roles. If you can say the recorded lines clearly and in the right order, you have completed the task.
What if I am practising alone without a partner?
You can still do all three tasks. Read both roles aloud yourself, pausing between the question and the reply. For the comprehension task, cover the answer key, choose A or B, then check. For the role swap, say the visitor lines, then say the local person lines, keeping the same order.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask for a bankChecked September 2026
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