When something in your room is not working, a few polite French phrases can help you get it fixed. In this workshop, you will practice reporting a problem, asking for a repair, and understanding when someone can come. You will use short, practical sentences that work with a receptionist, host, or technician. Listen to the recordings, repeat the lines, and then try the three tasks. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so check your answers with the provided keys.
Say what is not working
Start with a polite opening. The phrase «Excusez-moi, la climatisation ne marche pas.» means 'Excuse me, the air conditioning isn't working.' Use it when you speak to a receptionist or maintenance worker. If the problem is hot water, say «Il n'y a pas d'eau chaude.», which means 'There is no hot water.' Both sentences are direct but polite. Notice that 'ne marche pas' is a common spoken way to say 'isn't working.' You can use these lines alone or together. For example, after reporting the air conditioning, you can add the hot water problem. Keep your tone calm and friendly. Practice saying each line slowly, then a little faster. Pay attention to the 'ne' and 'pas' around the verb. In fast speech, the 'ne' may be dropped, but the recordings include it, so practice with it first.
Ask for a repair and a visit time
After you report the problem, you may want to ask for a repair. The question «Pouvez-vous réparer la climatisation ?» means 'Can you repair the air conditioning?' It is a polite yes/no question. If you need to know when someone can come, use «Quand est-ce que quelqu'un peut venir ?», which means 'When can someone come?' This asks for a visit time without demanding an exact hour. In a short dialogue, a staff member might reply with a simple timeline. For example, «D'accord. Je vais envoyer quelqu'un. C'est pour quand ?» means 'Okay. I'm going to send someone. When is it for?' and «D'accord. Le technicien peut venir dans une heure.» means 'Okay. The technician can come in an hour.' These lines show a helpful exchange. You can answer with a day or time, but in this workshop you will only practice understanding the reply. Listen for 'dans une heure' to catch the time.
Put the conversation together
Now combine the phrases in a short exchange. A guest might say «Bonjour, excusez-moi. La climatisation ne marche pas.», which means 'Hello, excuse me. The air conditioning isn't working.' The staff member answers with «D'accord. Je vais envoyer quelqu'un. C'est pour quand ?». Then the guest adds «Aujourd'hui, si possible. Il n'y a pas d'eau chaude non plus.», which means 'Today, if possible. There is no hot water either.' The staff member closes with «D'accord. Le technicien peut venir dans une heure.». This dialogue shows a polite report and a simple solution. Notice that the guest reports two problems: air conditioning and hot water. The staff member asks when it is for, and the guest says 'today, if possible.' The staff member then gives a timeline: 'in an hour.' Practice both roles. First, play the guest. Then, play the staff member. This helps you understand the whole conversation, not just your own lines.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Excusez-moi, la climatisation ne marche pas.
Excuse me, the air conditioning isn't working.
ehk-skew-zay-mwah, lah klee-mah-tee-zah-syon nuh marsh pah
Il n'y a pas d'eau chaude.
There is no hot water.
eel nyah pah doh shohd
Pouvez-vous réparer la climatisation ?
Can you repair the air conditioning?
poo-vay-voo ray-pah-ray lah klee-mah-tee-zah-syon
Quand est-ce que quelqu'un peut venir ?
When can someone come?
kahn tess-kuh kel-kun puh vuh-neer
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, excusez-moi. La climatisation ne marche pas.
Hello, excuse me. The air conditioning isn't working.D'accord. Je vais envoyer quelqu'un. C'est pour quand ?
Okay. I'm going to send someone. When is it for?Aujourd'hui, si possible. Il n'y a pas d'eau chaude non plus.
Today, if possible. There is no hot water either.D'accord. Le technicien peut venir dans une heure.
Okay. The technician can come in an hour.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: report and ask
Imagine you are a guest in a hotel room. The air conditioning is not working. You call the reception. Use the recordings to guide your lines.
Your task: Say the guest's first line to report the air conditioning problem. Then ask if they can repair it. Use the exact phrases from the recordings. After you speak, listen to the staff reply in the dialogue and continue with the guest's second line about hot water.
Reply comprehension: when can someone come?
You have reported a problem. The staff member replies with a timeline. Listen to the recording and choose the correct meaning.
Your task: Listen to «D'accord. Le technicien peut venir dans une heure.». Does the technician come in an hour, tomorrow, or next week? Say your answer in English. Then listen again and repeat the French line to practice the rhythm.
Recall and role swap: guest and staff
Now try to remember the dialogue without looking at the text. You will play both roles: first the guest, then the staff member.
Your task: As the guest, say the opening line about the air conditioning and then add the hot water problem. As the staff member, say the line that asks when it is for and then give the timeline. Use the recordings to check yourself after you speak.
Common questions
Can I use these phrases if I am not in a hotel?
Yes. The phrases work in many places where you need to report a problem, such as a rented apartment, a guest room, or a workplace. The key is to speak politely and clearly. You can start with the opening from «Excusez-moi, la climatisation ne marche pas.» and then add the problem. If you need a repair, use the question from «Pouvez-vous réparer la climatisation ?». The same structure works in different settings.
What if I do not understand the staff member's reply?
You can ask the person to repeat or speak slowly. In this workshop, you practiced understanding a simple timeline from «D'accord. Le technicien peut venir dans une heure.». If you hear a time expression you do not know, you can politely say you do not understand. For now, focus on the recordings. Listen to «D'accord. Je vais envoyer quelqu'un. C'est pour quand ?» and «D'accord. Le technicien peut venir dans une heure.» several times. The more you listen, the easier it becomes to catch the key words.
Sources and further reading
- french: report a problem in the roomChecked 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