In this workshop you practise a short, realistic ticket-counter exchange in French. You will ask for a return ticket to a destination, give a return date and time, and check that you understand the price. Each French example comes from the supplied recordings, so you can listen and repeat the exact lines. You can play both roles: the customer and the staff member. There is no automatic scoring, so use the answer keys and self-checks to judge your own speaking. Work slowly, keep your voice calm, and repeat each line several times before you move on.
Asking for a return ticket
Start with a polite request. The key structure is un aller-retour pour plus a destination. In «Un aller-retour pour l'aéroport, s'il vous plaît.», the speaker asks for a return ticket to the airport. The word pour means 'to' or 'for' here, and s'il vous plaît makes the request polite. In «Je voudrais un aller-retour pour Paris.», the speaker uses je voudrais, which means 'I would like'. This is a soft, polite way to ask. Notice that the destination changes, but the structure stays the same: un aller-retour pour plus the place. Practise both lines aloud. Keep the rhythm even and do not rush the phrase s'il vous plaît. When you can say both without looking, move to the next section.
Giving a return date and time
The staff member often asks about the return. In «Le retour est pour quand ?», the question means 'When is the return for?'. You can answer with a date. In «Je reviens le 15 juin.», the speaker says Je reviens le 15 juin, meaning 'I'm coming back on June 15'. Use le before a specific date. In «Pour le 15 juin, à 18 heures, si possible.», the speaker adds a time: Pour le 15 juin, à 18 heures, si possible. This means 'For June 15, at 6 p.m., if possible'. The phrase si possible softens the request. Practise saying the date and time clearly. If you make a mistake, slow down and repeat the whole line.
Understanding the price
After you give your details, the staff member may state the price. In «D'accord. Ça fait 24 euros.», the line is D'accord. Ça fait 24 euros. This means 'All right. That comes to 24 euros.' The phrase ça fait is a common way to give a total. Listen for the number and the word euros. You do not need to repeat the price in this workshop, but you should understand it. Practise listening to «D'accord. Ça fait 24 euros.» and writing down the number you hear. Then say the line aloud yourself, as if you were the staff member. This helps you recognise the structure when you hear it again.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Un aller-retour pour l'aéroport, s'il vous plaît.
A return ticket to the airport, please.
uh(n) ah-lay ruh-toor poor lah-ay-roh-por, seel voo pleh
Je voudrais un aller-retour pour Paris.
I would like a return ticket to Paris.
zhuh voo-dreh uh(n) ah-lay ruh-toor poor pah-ree
Le retour est pour quand ?
When is the return for?
luh ruh-toor eh poor kah(n)
Je reviens le 15 juin.
I'm coming back on June 15.
zhuh ruh-vyan luh kanz joo-an
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, un aller-retour pour l'aéroport, s'il vous plaît.
Hello, a return ticket to the airport, please.Bien sûr. Le retour est pour quelle date ?
Of course. What date is the return for?Pour le 15 juin, à 18 heures, si possible.
For June 15, at 6 p.m., if possible.D'accord. Ça fait 24 euros.
All right. That comes to 24 euros.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 for a ticket
Imagine you are at a ticket counter. You want a return ticket to the airport. The staff member is ready to help.
Your task: Say the customer's first line aloud. Use the exact words from «Bonjour, un aller-retour pour l'aéroport, s'il vous plaît.». Then say the staff member's question from «Bien sûr. Le retour est pour quelle date ?». Repeat the two lines three times, switching roles each time.
Reply comprehension: choose the right answer
You hear a customer give a return date and time. You need to understand what they said.
Your task: Listen to «Pour le 15 juin, à 18 heures, si possible.». Then choose the correct meaning: (a) The customer returns on June 15 at 6 p.m., or (b) The customer returns on June 18 at 5 p.m. Say your choice aloud, then say the full line from «Pour le 15 juin, à 18 heures, si possible.» yourself.
Recall with correct roles
You will now recall the whole exchange from memory. One person is the customer, the other is the staff member.
Your task: Say the customer's request from «Bonjour, un aller-retour pour l'aéroport, s'il vous plaît.». Then say the staff member's question from «Bien sûr. Le retour est pour quelle date ?». Then say the customer's answer from «Pour le 15 juin, à 18 heures, si possible.». Finally say the staff member's price line from «D'accord. Ça fait 24 euros.». Do this once as the customer and once as the staff member.
Common questions
Do I need to say the price back to the staff member?
No. In this exchange, the staff member gives the price in «D'accord. Ça fait 24 euros.». Your main job is to understand it. The workshop focuses on asking for the ticket and giving your return details.
Can I use these lines in different French-speaking places?
The structure un aller-retour pour plus a destination is standard in France, Belgium and Switzerland. In Canada, you may also hear un billet aller-retour, but the lines from «Un aller-retour pour l'aéroport, s'il vous plaît.» and «Je voudrais un aller-retour pour Paris.» are still useful. The polite phrase je voudrais in «Je voudrais un aller-retour pour Paris.» works in many contexts. Always listen to the person you are speaking with and adjust if needed.
Sources and further reading
- french: buy a return ticketChecked September 2026
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