In this workshop you practise a short, realistic visit to a post office. You will greet the clerk, say what you need, ask about the price, and understand a simple answer. The French examples come from the recordings, so listen to each one before you speak. You can play both roles: customer and clerk. There is no automatic correction, so use the answer checks after each task to compare what you said with the model.
Starting the exchange
A polite visit starts with a greeting and a clear statement of what you need. The recording «Bonjour, j'ai besoin de timbres pour ces cartes postales.» means 'Hello, I need stamps for these postcards.' The phrase j'ai besoin de means 'I need', and it is followed by the thing you need. Notice that de does not change in this structure. Say the line slowly, then at a natural speed. Keep your voice calm and friendly. If you are nervous, it helps to smile before you speak, because a relaxed face often makes your voice clearer. Practise the line twice: once while looking at the text, and once while looking away.
Asking about the price
After you say what you need, you often want to know the cost. The recording «C'est combien pour l'international ?» means 'How much is it for international?' This is a short, useful question. The clerk may answer with a price, or with a rate name. Listen for the number and for the word international. If you do not catch the number the first time, you can ask the same question again politely. Do not worry about speaking perfectly; a clear question is enough. Practise the question with a rising intonation at the end, because it is a question.
Ordering a specific number
When you know what you want, you can order it politely. The recording «Je voudrais cinq timbres pour le Canada, s'il vous plaît.» means 'I would like five stamps for Canada, please.' Je voudrais is the polite way to order. You can replace Canada with another country, but in this workshop we keep the recorded example as it is. The recording «Il faut combien de timbres pour une carte postale ?» means 'How many stamps do I need for a postcard?' This question is useful when you are not sure of the rate. Il faut means 'you need' or 'it takes'. Use it when you want to check a quantity before you buy.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Bonjour, j'ai besoin de timbres pour ces cartes postales.
Hello, I need stamps for these postcards.
bohn-ZHOOR, zhay buh-ZWAN duh TAHN-bruh poor say kart pós-TAL
C'est combien pour l'international ?
How much is it for international?
say kom-BYAN poor lan-tayr-na-syo-NAL
Je voudrais cinq timbres pour le Canada, s'il vous plaît.
I would like five stamps for Canada, please.
zhuh voo-DREH sank TAHN-bruh poor luh ka-na-DA, seel voo PLEH
Il faut combien de timbres pour une carte postale ?
How many stamps do I need for a postcard?
eel foh kom-BYAN duh TAHN-bruh poor ewn kart pós-TAL
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, j'ai besoin de timbres pour ces cartes postales.
Hello, I need stamps for these postcards.Pour où ?
For where?Pour les États-Unis. C'est combien ?
For the United States. How much is it?Un timbre international, c'est deux euros vingt.
One international stamp is two euros twenty.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange at the counter
Imagine you are at a post office in France. You have several postcards and you want to buy stamps. The clerk greets you and waits.
Your task: Play the customer. Greet the clerk and say that you need stamps for these postcards. Use the line from the recording «Bonjour, j'ai besoin de timbres pour ces cartes postales.». Say it twice: first slowly, then at a natural speed.
Understanding the price reply
You have asked about the price of an international stamp. The clerk gives you an answer. You need to understand it before you decide.
Your task: Listen to the recording «Un timbre international, c'est deux euros vingt.». It means 'One international stamp is two euros twenty.' Then listen to the question in «C'est combien pour l'international ?», which means 'How much is it for international?' Decide whether the answer in «Un timbre international, c'est deux euros vingt.» matches the question in «C'est combien pour l'international ?». Say yes or no, and explain in English what the price is.
Recall with the correct roles
You will now recall the short dialogue between a customer and a clerk. The customer wants stamps for the United States, and the clerk gives the international rate.
Your task: Listen to the exchange made of «Bonjour, j'ai besoin de timbres pour ces cartes postales.», «Pour où ?», «Pour les États-Unis. C'est combien ?», and «Un timbre international, c'est deux euros vingt.». Speaker A is the customer and Speaker B is the clerk. After listening, say which speaker asks 'For where?' and which speaker gives the price. Then repeat the customer's first line from «Bonjour, j'ai besoin de timbres pour ces cartes postales.» and the clerk's price line from «Un timbre international, c'est deux euros vingt.» with the correct roles.
Common questions
Do I need to use the exact recorded lines when I speak?
The recordings give you safe models to copy. In a real conversation you can change the country or the number of stamps, but in this workshop you practise the recorded lines first so that the rhythm and the polite forms become automatic. Once those feel easy, you can adapt them.
What if I do not understand the clerk's answer?
You can ask the same question again. The recording «C'est combien pour l'international ?» means 'How much is it for international?' and you can repeat it politely. Listening to the price in «Un timbre international, c'est deux euros vingt.» several times also helps you recognise numbers and the word international in a real exchange.
Sources and further reading
- french: buy a stampChecked September 2026
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