Introducing yourself in French
Every French conversation starts somewhere simple: saying who you are, how you feel and where you are from. Get these right and you can talk to almost anyone.
Part of your national curriculum
- Speaking: Ask and answer questions and take part in short role plays on familiar topics
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Ask and answer questions and take part in short role plays on familiar topics
Key learning points
- • Key phrases
- • Saying how you feel
- • Building a mini role play
This lesson at a glance
- 20 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
Introducing yourself in French
Every French conversation starts somewhere simple: saying who you are, how you feel and where you are from. Get these right and you can talk to almost anyone.
In a nutshell
Ask and answer questions and take part in short role plays on familiar topics
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Key phrases
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
Key phrases
'Je m'appelle...' means 'My name is...', 'J'ai [number] ans' means 'I am [number] years old', and 'J'habite à...' means 'I live in...'. To ask someone the same question, use 'Comment tu t'appelles?' (What's your name?), 'Quel âge as-tu?' (How old are you?) and 'Où habites-tu?' (Where do you live?).
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
Saying how you feel
'Ça va?' is a very common way to ask 'How are you?', and you can reply 'Ça va bien, merci' (I'm well, thank you), 'Comme ci, comme ça' (so-so) or 'Ça va mal' (not well). Note that French uses 'avoir' (to have) rather than 'to be' for age — you literally say 'I have 13 years', not 'I am 13'.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Building a mini role play
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
Building a mini role play
A simple role play chains these together: greet ('Bonjour!'), ask a question, answer, then close politely ('Au revoir!' or 'À bientôt!'). Practising short exchanges out loud, even just with a partner or a mirror, builds the confidence needed for real spoken French.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
A simple role play chains these together: greet ('Bonjour!'), ask a question, ____, then close politely ('Au revoir!' or 'À bientôt!').
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
Which reply best answers 'Qu'est-ce que tu aimes faire le week-end ?'
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Introducing yourself in French
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Which reply best answers 'Qu'est-ce que tu aimes faire le week-end ?'
2. How do you say 'My name is...' in French?
3. Which verb does French use to say your age?
4. What does 'Comme ci, comme ça' mean?
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
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Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 17 · Watch & discover
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Ask and answer questions and take part in short role plays on familiar topics