How to practise French conversation
Conversation practice means rehearsing the exchanges you'll actually have: ordering at a café, asking for directions, calling about an apartment, or the role-play tasks in the TEF Canada and TCF Canada speaking tests. The dialogues and phrases above give you real models; this guide shows how to turn them into speaking confidence.
Short, regular practice beats long, rare sessions. Ten minutes of speaking out loud most days builds the reflexes you need when someone is waiting for your answer.
A simple routine for each dialogue
First, listen to the whole dialogue once without reading, just to follow the situation. Then listen again with the text and repeat each line right after the speaker (shadowing), copying the rhythm, not only the words.
Next, take one role and answer the other speaker yourself. Finally, change the details, such as the time, the price or the place, and run the conversation again. Recording yourself once a week lets you hear your progress.
Polite phrases that work in almost any situation
These keep you polite and clear with strangers, staff and examiners alike.
- Je voudrais…: I would like…
- Est-ce que vous pourriez… ?: Could you…?
- Excusez-moi de vous déranger, mais…: Sorry to bother you, but…
- Pourriez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ?: Could you repeat that, please?
- Si j'ai bien compris, …: If I've understood correctly, …
- Ça me convient.: That works for me.
- Je vous remercie de votre aide.: Thank you for your help.
Tu or vous?
Use "vous" with people you don't know, with staff and in professional settings. Use "tu" with friends, family and children. In Québec, "tu" is common in casual settings, even between people who have just met.
In exam role plays, use "vous" unless the task says you're talking to a friend or a family member. Switching between the two in the same conversation is a common slip, so pick one at the start and keep it.
Conversations in the TEF Canada speaking test
The TEF Canada speaking test has two parts, both conversations with the examiner. In Section A, you call or meet someone to get information about an advertisement, so you ask questions. In Section B, you try to convince someone, such as a friend, to do something.
For Section A, prepare families of questions: price, schedule, location, conditions and what's included. For Section B, practise giving reasons and answering objections with connectors like "d'abord", "en plus" and "je vous assure que…". Formats can change, so confirm the current tasks on the official TEF Canada site.
- Quels sont vos horaires ?: What are your hours?
- Est-ce que le prix comprend… ?: Does the price include…?
- Je comprends ton hésitation, mais…: I understand why you're hesitant, but…
Keeping the conversation going
Natural speakers use small words to think, react and keep the exchange moving. Using a few of them makes you sound far more at ease.
- Alors…: So… / Well…
- Voyons…: Let's see…
- C'est-à-dire…: That is to say… / I mean…
- Ah bon ?: Really?
- Je vois.: I see.
- Bonne question !: Good question!
French conversation: common questions
How long does it take to hold a basic conversation in French?
It depends on your starting point and how often you speak. Learners who practise out loud for a few minutes most days usually handle simple everyday exchanges much sooner than those who only read and listen.
Can I practise speaking without a partner?
Yes. Shadowing dialogues, answering the other speaker's lines yourself and recording your answers all build speaking skill. Français Pro's exam practice also includes speaking tasks with feedback.
Will people in Québec understand the French I learn here?
Yes. Standard French is understood everywhere in Canada. You'll notice a different accent and some local words in Québec, and you'll pick them up quickly once you're there.
Should I memorise whole dialogues?
Memorise the useful phrases, not the whole script. The goal is to adapt them: change the details and you can handle situations you haven't rehearsed.