In this workshop you will practice a small but very useful hotel conversation: asking for extra towels and understanding the reply about delivery. You will hear polite request lines and a short exchange between a guest and a staff member. The goal is not to memorize a long script, but to say one clear request, understand a question about timing, and answer with a suitable line. You can play both roles with the audio, and you can use the answer keys and self-checks to judge your own speaking.
Make a polite request
Start with one clear request. A formal option is «Pourrais-je avoir deux serviettes supplémentaires, s'il vous plaît ?», which means 'Could I have two extra towels, please?' The conditional form makes it polite and works well at a front desk or on the phone. A slightly less formal option is «Est-ce que je peux avoir deux serviettes de plus ?», which means 'Can I have two more towels?' Here 'de plus' means 'more' or 'extra'. If you want to stress that you need them, use «J'aurais besoin de deux serviettes supplémentaires.», which means 'I would need two extra towels.' All three lines ask for the same thing, so choose the one that feels comfortable and repeat it slowly. Keep the polite 's'il vous plaît' when you use the first line.
Understand the delivery question
After your request, the staff member may ask about timing. In the recorded exchange, the guest says «Bonjour, pourrais-je avoir deux serviettes supplémentaires, s'il vous plaît ?», which means 'Hello, could I have two extra towels, please?' The staff member answers with «Bien sûr. Vous les voulez pour quand ?», which means 'Of course. When do you want them for?' This is a question about when you need the towels, not about how many. Listen for the word 'quand' (when). A simple answer is a time phrase, but in this workshop you will practice understanding the question first. You can also ask the timing question yourself with «Quand pouvez-vous les apporter ?», which means 'When can you bring them?' Use it after making your request if you want to know the delivery time.
Give a time and a place
In the recorded scene, the guest gives both a time and a place: «Dans une heure, si possible. Pouvez-vous les déposer devant ma porte ?», which means 'In an hour, if possible. Can you leave them in front of my door?' The staff member confirms with «Pas de problème. Je les apporterai dans une heure.», which means 'No problem. I will bring them in an hour.' Notice that the guest uses 'devant ma porte' (in front of my door) to say where to leave the towels. This is a location, not an instruction to turn. When you practice, say your time phrase clearly, then add the place if you need to. You do not need to invent new phrases; use the recorded lines as your model.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Pourrais-je avoir deux serviettes supplémentaires, s'il vous plaît ?
Could I have two extra towels, please?
poo-reh-zhuh ah-vwahr duh sehr-vyeht sew-pleh-mahn-tehr, seel voo pleh
Est-ce que je peux avoir deux serviettes de plus ?
Can I have two more towels?
ess kuh zhuh puh ah-vwahr duh sehr-vyeht duh pluh
J'aurais besoin de deux serviettes supplémentaires.
I would need two extra towels.
zhoh-reh buh-zwahn duh duh sehr-vyeht sew-pleh-mahn-tehr
Quand pouvez-vous les apporter ?
When can you bring them?
kahn poo-veh voo leh zah-por-teh
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, pourrais-je avoir deux serviettes supplémentaires, s'il vous plaît ?
Hello, could I have two extra towels, please?Bien sûr. Vous les voulez pour quand ?
Of course. When do you want them for?Dans une heure, si possible. Pouvez-vous les déposer devant ma porte ?
In an hour, if possible. Can you leave them in front of my door?Pas de problème. Je les apporterai dans une heure.
No problem. I will bring them in an hour.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided request exchange
Imagine you are a guest at a hotel. You need two extra towels. A staff member is at the front desk.
Your task: Say your request using «Pourrais-je avoir deux serviettes supplémentaires, s'il vous plaît ?». Then pause and imagine the staff member asks when you want them. Answer with the time phrase from «Dans une heure, si possible. Pouvez-vous les déposer devant ma porte ?»: 'Dans une heure, si possible.' Then add the place phrase from «Dans une heure, si possible. Pouvez-vous les déposer devant ma porte ?»: 'Pouvez-vous les déposer devant ma porte ?'
Choose the right reply
Rebuild the recorded hotel scene in its original order. Choose the staff line heard at each point, using the timing information the guest has supplied.
Your task: Listen to «Bonjour, pourrais-je avoir deux serviettes supplémentaires, s'il vous plaît ?». Which reply occurs at this point in the recording: «Bien sûr. Vous les voulez pour quand ?» or «Pas de problème. Je les apporterai dans une heure.»? Say your choice aloud. Then listen to «Dans une heure, si possible. Pouvez-vous les déposer devant ma porte ?». Which reply occurs at this point in the recording: «Bien sûr. Vous les voulez pour quand ?» or «Pas de problème. Je les apporterai dans une heure.»? Say your choice aloud.
Recall with correct roles
You will now recall the recorded exchange without looking at the lines. Decide who says each line: the guest or the staff member.
Your task: Say «Bonjour, pourrais-je avoir deux serviettes supplémentaires, s'il vous plaît ?» as the guest. Then say «Bien sûr. Vous les voulez pour quand ?» as the staff member. Then say «Dans une heure, si possible. Pouvez-vous les déposer devant ma porte ?» as the guest. Then say «Pas de problème. Je les apporterai dans une heure.» as the staff member. Try to keep the same order as the recorded scene.
Common questions
Do I need to use the formal request line every time?
No. «Pourrais-je avoir deux serviettes supplémentaires, s'il vous plaît ?» is formal and polite, while «Est-ce que je peux avoir deux serviettes de plus ?» is slightly less formal but still polite. Both ask for two more towels. Choose the one that fits the situation and feels comfortable for you. If you want to stress that you need the towels, you can use «J'aurais besoin de deux serviettes supplémentaires.».
What should I listen for in the staff member's reply?
Listen for the question word 'quand' (when). In «Bien sûr. Vous les voulez pour quand ?», the staff member asks when you want the towels. This is a timing question, not a question about the number of towels. You can answer with a time phrase, and you can add a place phrase like the one in «Dans une heure, si possible. Pouvez-vous les déposer devant ma porte ?» if you need to say where to leave them.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask for extra towelsChecked September 2026
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