In this workshop you will practise speaking about what you like and do not like in French. You will hear short French phrases and use them in simple, realistic situations. The focus is on clear, useful expressions for everyday conversation: strong liking, mild dislike, neutral feelings, and saying no directly. You do not need to invent new sentences. Instead, you will reuse the recorded phrases in guided exchanges, choose the right reply, and then recall the phrases with the correct roles. Each task includes a self-check so you can confirm your answer. Speak aloud as much as possible, even when you are alone. If a phrase feels difficult, slow down and repeat it in small parts. The goal is confidence, not speed.
Strong liking and giving a reason
To say you really like something, use a strong expression. The recorded line «J'adore le café parce que ça me réveille.» means 'I love coffee because it wakes me up.' Here, the first part shows strong liking, and the second part gives a reason. Notice that the reason starts with a small word that means 'because'. When you speak, keep the two parts connected smoothly. In this workshop you will practise this recorded phrase exactly. Listen to the rhythm: the liking part is quick, and the reason part is a little longer. Repeat after the recording, then say it without looking. If you can say it clearly and remember the meaning, you are ready for the first exercise.
Mild dislike and neutral feelings
Not every opinion is strong. The recorded line «Je n'aime pas trop attendre.» means 'I don't really like waiting.' This is softer than saying you hate something. It is useful when you want to be honest but not too direct. Another useful phrase is «Ça m'est égal.», which means 'I don't mind' or 'It's all the same to me.' You use it when either option is fine. These two phrases help you sound natural in conversation. Pay attention to the difference: one shows a mild negative feeling, the other shows no strong feeling either way. Practise saying both slowly, then a little faster. Make sure you do not mix them up. In the next exercise, you will choose the right phrase for a situation.
Refusing directly and answering questions
Sometimes you need to say no. The recorded line «Je ne veux pas y aller.» means 'I don't want to go there.' It is a direct refusal. You can use it when someone invites you somewhere and you prefer not to go. In a short dialogue, one speaker asks a question and the other answers. The recorded exchange «Tu aimes le café ?» and «J'adore ça, parce que ça me réveille le matin.» shows a question about coffee and a positive answer with a reason. Later, «Et le thé ? Tu en veux ?» and «Ça m'est égal. Je ne veux pas de café, mais je veux bien du thé.» show a question about tea and a reply that mixes a neutral feeling with a polite choice. When you practise, decide who is speaking: the person asking or the person answering. Then say your line with the right tone. A question usually goes up at the end, while a statement stays flat or goes down.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
J'adore le café parce que ça me réveille.
I love coffee because it wakes me up.
zhah-DOR luh ka-FEH par-suh kuh muh ray-VAY
Je n'aime pas trop attendre.
I don't really like waiting.
zhuh nem pah troh ah-TAHNDR
Ça m'est égal.
I don't mind. / It's all the same to me.
sah meh tay-GAL
Je ne veux pas y aller.
I don't want to go there.
zhuh nuh vuh pah ee ah-LAY
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Tu aimes le café ?
Do you like coffee?J'adore ça, parce que ça me réveille le matin.
I love it, because it wakes me up in the morning.Et le thé ? Tu en veux ?
And tea? Do you want some?Ça m'est égal. Je ne veux pas de café, mais je veux bien du thé.
I don't mind. I don't want coffee, but I'd like some tea.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: coffee or tea?
Imagine you are talking with a friend about drinks. You will play both roles, but first focus on the person who answers. Use the recorded lines to guide you.
Your task: Listen to the question «Tu aimes le café ?». Then answer with the recorded reply «J'adore ça, parce que ça me réveille le matin.». Say both lines aloud, taking a short pause between them. Then swap roles: ask «Tu aimes le café ?» and answer with «J'adore ça, parce que ça me réveille le matin.». Repeat the exchange three times, getting a little faster each time.
Choose the right reply
In this task you will hear or read a situation and choose the best recorded phrase for it. There is only one correct answer for each situation.
Your task: Situation 1: A friend asks if you want to go to a place you do not like. Which recorded line fits? Situation 2: Someone asks if you prefer coffee or tea, and you really do not care. Which recorded line fits? Situation 3: You want to say you strongly like something and give a reason. Which recorded line fits? Say your chosen line aloud for each situation.
Recall and role-play
Now you will recall the phrases from memory and use them in a short role-play. Imagine a simple conversation at a café or at home. You will play both the person asking and the person answering.
Your task: First, say the line for strong liking with a reason from memory. Then say the line for mild dislike from memory. Next, say the line for neutral feeling from memory. Finally, say the line for refusing directly from memory. After that, act out a short exchange: ask the coffee question «Tu aimes le café ?», answer with «J'adore ça, parce que ça me réveille le matin.», ask the tea question «Et le thé ? Tu en veux ?», and answer with «Ça m'est égal. Je ne veux pas de café, mais je veux bien du thé.». Do this without looking at the text if you can.
Common questions
Do I need to memorise every phrase perfectly before moving on?
No. It is better to practise a few phrases until you can say them clearly and understand their meaning. You can always come back and review the others. Speaking a little every day helps more than trying to learn everything at once.
Can I use these phrases in real conversations?
Yes. The recorded phrases are common and useful in everyday French. You can use them when talking about drinks, activities, or simple choices. Just remember that the recorded lines are fixed examples, so you may need to change a word if you talk about something else. For now, practise these exact phrases to build confidence.
Sources and further reading
- french: express likes dislikesChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's French into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr