In this workshop you will practice talking about weekend plans in French. You will learn how to say what you are going to do, ask someone else, and understand their answer. The main structure is the near future: the verb aller plus an infinitive. For example, je vais faire means I am going to do. You will hear and use phrases about hiking, relaxing at home, and staying home. You will also practice a short friendly exchange. Listen to each recording, repeat it aloud, and then try the exercises. You can play both roles in the dialogue, but there is no automatic scoring, so check your answers with the notes provided.
Saying What You Are Going to Do
To talk about the near future in French, use the verb aller (to go) plus the infinitive of the action. For example, je vais faire means I am going to do. You can use this pattern for many activities. To say you are going hiking, use the phrase in «Ce week-end, je vais faire de la randonnée.». This means 'This weekend, I'm going hiking.' Notice that faire de la randonnée is the activity. If you want to say you are just going to relax at home, use the sentence in «Je vais juste me détendre à la maison.». This means 'I'm just going to relax at home.' The word juste adds the idea of 'just' or 'only'. Another useful phrase is in «Je vais rester chez moi.», which means 'I'm going to stay home.' Here rester means 'to stay' and chez moi means 'at my place' or 'home'. Practice saying each sentence aloud, paying attention to the rhythm and the liaison between words.
Asking About Someone's Weekend
To ask a friend what they are going to do this weekend, use the question in «Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end ?». This means 'What are you going to do this weekend?' It is an informal question, suitable for people you know well. Notice the structure: qu'est-ce que tu vas faire. You can also hear this question in a short dialogue. In «Salut ! Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end ?», one person greets and asks the question. The other person answers in «Je vais faire de la randonnée samedi. Et toi ?», saying they are going hiking on Saturday and asking 'And you?' The first person replies in «Moi, je vais juste me détendre à la maison.» that they are just going to relax at home. Finally, the second person says «Super ! Bon week-end !», which means 'Great! Have a good weekend!' This dialogue shows a natural friendly exchange. You can practice both roles: first ask the question, then answer with your own plans using the phrases you learned.
Understanding the Reply
When someone answers your question about weekend plans, listen for the activity and the time. In «Je vais faire de la randonnée samedi. Et toi ?», the speaker says they are going hiking on Saturday. The word samedi means Saturday. They also ask 'Et toi?' which means 'And you?' This is a common way to return the question. In «Moi, je vais juste me détendre à la maison.», the speaker says they are just going to relax at home. The phrase à la maison means 'at home'. In «Je vais rester chez moi.», the speaker says they are going to stay home, using chez moi. These are slightly different: à la maison is more general, while chez moi emphasizes 'my place'. Both are correct. When you hear a reply, try to identify the main verb and the place or activity. Then you can respond appropriately, for example with «Super ! Bon week-end !» to wish them a good weekend.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Ce week-end, je vais faire de la randonnée.
This weekend, I'm going hiking.
suh wee-kend, zhuh vay fair duh lah rahn-doh-nay
Je vais juste me détendre à la maison.
I'm just going to relax at home.
zhuh vay zhewest muh day-tahndr ah lah may-zohn
Je vais rester chez moi.
I'm going to stay home.
zhuh vay res-tay shay mwah
Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end ?
What are you going to do this weekend?
kess kuh tew vah fair suh wee-kend
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Salut ! Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end ?
Hi! What are you going to do this weekend?Je vais faire de la randonnée samedi. Et toi ?
I'm going hiking on Saturday. And you?Moi, je vais juste me détendre à la maison.
Me, I'm just going to relax at home.Super ! Bon week-end !
Great! Have a good weekend!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 and Answer
Imagine you are talking to a friend about weekend plans. You will play both roles. First, you will ask the question, then you will answer with a plan.
Your task: Listen to «Salut ! Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end ?» and repeat it aloud. Then choose one of the answers from «Ce week-end, je vais faire de la randonnée.», «Je vais juste me détendre à la maison.», or «Je vais rester chez moi.» and say it as your reply. After that, switch roles: imagine your friend asks you the question, and you answer with a different plan from the list. Practice until you can say both the question and at least two answers without looking.
Reply Comprehension: What Did They Say?
You will hear a short reply about weekend plans. Your job is to understand what the person is going to do.
Your task: Listen to «Je vais faire de la randonnée samedi. Et toi ?». Then answer these questions in English: 1) What activity is the person going to do? 2) On which day? 3) What question do they ask at the end? Now listen to «Moi, je vais juste me détendre à la maison.». What is this person going to do? Finally, listen to «Je vais rester chez moi.». Where is the person going to stay?
Recall and Role-Play: Who Says What?
In the dialogue from «Salut ! Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end ?» to «Super ! Bon week-end !», two people talk about weekend plans. You will recall who says which line and then act out both roles.
Your task: Without looking at the text, try to remember: Who asks the question about weekend plans? Who says they are going hiking? Who says they are going to relax at home? Who wishes a good weekend? After you answer, act out the dialogue: play the first person (A) and say the lines from «Salut ! Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end ?» and «Moi, je vais juste me détendre à la maison.». Then play the second person (B) and say the lines from «Je vais faire de la randonnée samedi. Et toi ?» and «Super ! Bon week-end !». Try to do it without reading.
Common questions
What is the near future and how do I form it?
The near future in French is formed with the verb aller (to go) plus the infinitive of the main verb. For example, je vais faire means 'I am going to do'. You conjugate aller to match the subject: je vais, tu vas, il/elle va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont. Then you add the infinitive. This structure is used for actions that will happen soon, like weekend plans.
What is the difference between 'à la maison' and 'chez moi'?
'À la maison' means 'at home' in a general sense, referring to your house or apartment. 'Chez moi' means 'at my place' or 'at my home', emphasizing that it is your own space. Both can be used to talk about staying home. In the recordings, «Je vais juste me détendre à la maison.» uses 'à la maison' and «Je vais rester chez moi.» uses 'chez moi'. They are often interchangeable in casual conversation.
Sources and further reading
- french: share weekend plansChecked September 2026
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