In this workshop you will practice a short fictional exchange at a bank or bureau de change. You will learn how to state what you want, ask about the rate and any commission, and understand simple questions about the amount and your passport. Each French example is a full recorded line, so you can listen and repeat exactly what you hear. The amounts, rate, and commission belong to the practice scene and are not current venue or policy information. You will play both the customer and the staff member, but remember that you are practicing on your own; there is no automatic check of your pronunciation or answers. Use the answer keys to compare what you said or chose.
Starting the exchange politely
Begin with a greeting and a polite request. The recorded line «Bonjour, je voudrais échanger des dollars contre des euros.» means 'Hello, I would like to exchange dollars for euros.' The word contre introduces the currency you want to receive. After the greeting, you can also state a specific amount. The line «Je voudrais changer cent dollars, s'il vous plaît.» means 'I would like to change one hundred dollars, please.' Notice that the amount comes after changer, and s'il vous plaît keeps the request polite. In a real counter, the staff member may first ask how many dollars you want to exchange. The question «Très bien. Combien de dollars ?» means 'Very well. How many dollars?' You can answer with a number and the word dollars, as in the recorded reply «Deux cents dollars. Quel est le taux de change ?», which begins 'Two hundred dollars.'
Asking about the rate and commission
Before you agree, ask about the cost. The question «Quel est le taux de change ?» means 'What is the exchange rate?' Use it to find out how many euros you get for one dollar. The question «Il y a une commission ?» means 'Is there a commission?' In this fictional practice scene, the recorded answer gives a rate and a five-euro commission. The line «Un euro dix pour un dollar, et il y a une commission de cinq euros. Votre passeport, s'il vous plaît.» means 'One euro ten per dollar, and there is a five-euro commission. Your passport, please.' Listen for the rate, the commission, and the request for your passport. You do not need to invent new numbers; you can repeat the recorded rate and commission when you practice.
Understanding the staff member's questions
The staff member may ask for your passport or confirm the amount. In the recorded dialogue, the staff member says «Un euro dix pour un dollar, et il y a une commission de cinq euros. Votre passeport, s'il vous plaît.», which includes 'Votre passeport, s'il vous plaît.' This means 'Your passport, please.' You can respond by showing your passport, but in this workshop you will practice recognizing the request. The staff member also asks the amount with «Très bien. Combien de dollars ?», meaning 'How many dollars?' The customer answers with «Deux cents dollars. Quel est le taux de change ?», which starts with the amount and then asks the rate. When you play the staff role, you can use the same recorded lines to ask the customer for the amount and the passport.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Je voudrais échanger des dollars contre des euros.
I would like to exchange dollars for euros.
zhuh voo-DREH ay-shahn-ZHAY day DOO-lar kontr day uh-ROH
Quel est le taux de change ?
What is the exchange rate?
kel eh luh TOH duh SHAHNZH
Il y a une commission ?
Is there a commission?
eel ya ewn koh-mee-SYOHN
Je voudrais changer cent dollars, s'il vous plaît.
I would like to change one hundred dollars, please.
zhuh voo-DREH shahn-ZHAY sahn DOO-lar seel voo PLEH
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, je voudrais échanger des dollars contre des euros.
Hello, I would like to exchange dollars for euros.Très bien. Combien de dollars ?
Very well. How many dollars?Deux cents dollars. Quel est le taux de change ?
Two hundred dollars. What is the exchange rate?Un euro dix pour un dollar, et il y a une commission de cinq euros. Votre passeport, s'il vous plaît.
One euro ten per dollar, and there is a five-euro commission. Your passport, please.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: customer at the counter
You are the customer at a bureau de change. You want to exchange dollars for euros. Use the recorded lines to guide your speech. Play the audio for each line and repeat it aloud.
Your task: First, greet the staff member and say you would like to exchange dollars for euros using «Bonjour, je voudrais échanger des dollars contre des euros.». Then ask the exchange rate using «Quel est le taux de change ?». Next, ask if there is a commission using «Il y a une commission ?». Finally, state that you would like to change one hundred dollars using «Je voudrais changer cent dollars, s'il vous plaît.».
Reply comprehension: choose the correct response
You will hear a staff member's line and choose the best customer reply from the recorded options. This checks your understanding of the exchange dialogue.
Your task: Listen to the staff line «Très bien. Combien de dollars ?», which means 'Very well. How many dollars?' Choose the best customer reply: (a) «Deux cents dollars. Quel est le taux de change ?», which starts with the amount and then asks the rate, or (b) «Je voudrais échanger des dollars contre des euros.», which only says you would like to exchange dollars for euros. Then listen to «Un euro dix pour un dollar, et il y a une commission de cinq euros. Votre passeport, s'il vous plaît.» and choose the best follow-up: (a) mime showing a passport, or (b) ask «Quel est le taux de change ?» again.
Recall and role swap: play both sides
Now you will recall the full exchange without looking at the lines. Then you will swap roles and play the staff member. Use the recorded lines as your model.
Your task: First, play the recorded dialogue in its exact order: customer A says «Bonjour, je voudrais échanger des dollars contre des euros.», staff B asks «Très bien. Combien de dollars ?», customer A answers «Deux cents dollars. Quel est le taux de change ?», and staff B says «Un euro dix pour un dollar, et il y a une commission de cinq euros. Votre passeport, s'il vous plaît.». Then practise the separate customer phrase «Je voudrais changer cent dollars, s'il vous plaît.» and mime showing a passport after the staff request.
Common questions
Do I need to memorize all the numbers in the recorded lines?
No. The recorded lines include specific amounts and rates, such as one hundred dollars, two hundred dollars, one euro ten per dollar, and a five-euro commission. You can repeat these exact phrases when you practice. The goal is to recognize the pattern and use the same polite questions and requests in your own exchange.
What if the staff member asks something I do not understand?
In this workshop, focus on the recorded lines. If you hear «Très bien. Combien de dollars ?» or «Un euro dix pour un dollar, et il y a une commission de cinq euros. Votre passeport, s'il vous plaît.», you can use the recorded reply «Deux cents dollars. Quel est le taux de change ?» and respond to the passport request by miming the action. Practice listening to the audio several times so the questions become familiar.
Sources and further reading
- french: exchange currencyChecked September 2026
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