In this workshop you practise a short, realistic conversation about a hotel shuttle. You will ask if a shuttle exists, ask where the stop is, ask what time the next one leaves, and ask how often it runs. You will also work with a short recorded exchange between a traveller and a staff member, then answer questions about it. Each French example is a recorded line you can listen to and repeat. Speak out loud as you work through the tasks, and use the self-checks to see how you did.
Asking if a shuttle exists
Start with the most important question: does a shuttle exist at all? The recorded line «Est-ce qu'il y a une navette pour l'hôtel ?» means 'Is there a shuttle to the hotel?' The opening 'Est-ce qu'il y a' is the standard polite way to ask 'is there'. Say the whole line slowly, then a little faster. When you hear an answer, listen for 'oui' or 'non' at the start. In the recorded exchange, a traveller asks this exact question and a staff member replies with useful details. Listen to «Bonjour, est-ce qu'il y a une navette pour l'hôtel ?» and «Oui, il y a une navette gratuite. Elle part toutes les vingt minutes.» together: the first line is the traveller's question, and the second line confirms that a shuttle exists and adds how often it leaves. Repeat both lines, copying the rhythm.
Finding the stop and the time
Once you know a shuttle exists, you need two more pieces of information: where to wait and when it leaves. The recorded line «Où est l'arrêt de la navette ?» means 'Where is the shuttle stop?' The word 'l'arrêt' is the stop for a bus or shuttle. The recorded line «À quelle heure part la prochaine navette ?» means 'What time does the next shuttle leave?' The word 'part' comes from the verb 'partir', which means 'to leave'. In the recorded exchange, the traveller asks where the stop is with «D'accord. Où est l'arrêt de la navette ?», and the staff member answers with a location and a departure time in «Devant la sortie 3. La prochaine navette part à quatorze heures trente.». Notice that the answer gives a place first, then a time. Practise saying «Où est l'arrêt de la navette ?» and «À quelle heure part la prochaine navette ?» clearly, then listen to «D'accord. Où est l'arrêt de la navette ?» and «Devant la sortie 3. La prochaine navette part à quatorze heures trente.» and repeat the answer line as well.
Asking how often it runs
Sometimes you also want to know the frequency. The recorded line «La navette passe toutes les combien de minutes ?» means 'How often does the shuttle run?' In conversation, you may also hear a shorter spoken variant. When you hear a frequency answer, listen for 'toutes les' followed by a number and 'minutes'. In the recorded exchange, the staff member gives a frequency in «Oui, il y a une navette gratuite. Elle part toutes les vingt minutes.»: the shuttle leaves every twenty minutes. That same line also says the shuttle is free. Listen to «Oui, il y a une navette gratuite. Elle part toutes les vingt minutes.» again and repeat it, then try saying «La navette passe toutes les combien de minutes ?» and imagine a frequency answer. You do not need to invent new phrases; use the recorded lines as your models.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Est-ce qu'il y a une navette pour l'hôtel ?
Is there a shuttle to the hotel?
ess-keel ee-ya ün na-vet poor lo-tel
Où est l'arrêt de la navette ?
Where is the shuttle stop?
oo eh la-reh duh la na-vet
À quelle heure part la prochaine navette ?
What time does the next shuttle leave?
ah kel ur par la pro-shen na-vet
La navette passe toutes les combien de minutes ?
How often does the shuttle run?
la na-vet pass toot lay kom-byun duh mee-nüt
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, est-ce qu'il y a une navette pour l'hôtel ?
Hello, is there a shuttle to the hotel?Oui, il y a une navette gratuite. Elle part toutes les vingt minutes.
Yes, there is a free shuttle. It leaves every twenty minutes.D'accord. Où est l'arrêt de la navette ?
Okay. Where is the shuttle stop?Devant la sortie 3. La prochaine navette part à quatorze heures trente.
In front of exit 3. The next shuttle leaves at 2:30 p.m.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 will play both roles in a short shuttle conversation. Use the recorded lines as your script. If you can, play the audio for one role and speak the other role yourself.
Your task: First, play the traveller. Say the question from «Bonjour, est-ce qu'il y a une navette pour l'hôtel ?» out loud. Then play the staff member and answer with «Oui, il y a une navette gratuite. Elle part toutes les vingt minutes.». Next, ask the stop question from «D'accord. Où est l'arrêt de la navette ?». Then answer with «Devant la sortie 3. La prochaine navette part à quatorze heures trente.». After that, practise the separate time question «À quelle heure part la prochaine navette ?» and answer with the time from «Devant la sortie 3. La prochaine navette part à quatorze heures trente.». Repeat the whole exchange twice, once slowly and once at a natural speed.
Reply comprehension: choose the correct answer
Read the three situations below. Each one describes what you hear. Choose the recorded line that fits best from the options provided.
Your task: Situation 1: You ask if there is a shuttle, and the staff member says there is one and it is free. Which recorded line is the staff reply? Options: (a) «Oui, il y a une navette gratuite. Elle part toutes les vingt minutes.» (b) «Devant la sortie 3. La prochaine navette part à quatorze heures trente.» (c) «D'accord. Où est l'arrêt de la navette ?» Situation 2: You ask where the stop is, and the staff member gives a place in front of an exit. Which recorded line is that reply? Options: (a) «Oui, il y a une navette gratuite. Elle part toutes les vingt minutes.» (b) «Devant la sortie 3. La prochaine navette part à quatorze heures trente.» (c) «Bonjour, est-ce qu'il y a une navette pour l'hôtel ?» Situation 3: You ask how often the shuttle runs, and the staff member gives a frequency in minutes. Which recorded line is that reply? Options: (a) «Devant la sortie 3. La prochaine navette part à quatorze heures trente.» (b) «Oui, il y a une navette gratuite. Elle part toutes les vingt minutes.» (c) «D'accord. Où est l'arrêt de la navette ?» Write your three answers, then say each chosen line out loud.
Recall with correct roles
This time, work without looking at the lines. Imagine you are at a hotel and you want shuttle information. A staff member is ready to help.
Your task: Say the three traveller questions from the recorded dialogue from memory: the existence question «Bonjour, est-ce qu'il y a une navette pour l'hôtel ?», the stop question «D'accord. Où est l'arrêt de la navette ?», and then the separate time question «À quelle heure part la prochaine navette ?». Then say the staff answers from memory: «Oui, il y a une navette gratuite. Elle part toutes les vingt minutes.» and «Devant la sortie 3. La prochaine navette part à quatorze heures trente.». Finally, say the frequency question «La navette passe toutes les combien de minutes ?» as a separate practice item. If you get stuck, listen to the recording once and try again. Do not add new phrases; use only the recorded lines.
Common questions
Do I need to learn all the lines before I start speaking?
No. Start by listening to each recorded line once, then repeat it immediately. Short repetition is more useful than memorising everything first. As you do the exercises, you will naturally remember more of the lines.
What if I cannot understand the recorded answer?
Listen for the first word. 'Oui' means yes. Then listen for a number, a place word, or 'toutes les' for frequency. Replay the recording as many times as you need. Understanding comes with repeated listening, not with speed.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask if there is a shuttleChecked September 2026
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