Dialogue
Clarify who can approve a French project change
Practise a sixteen-line French conversation clarifying who coordinates, recommends and formally approves a project change before replying to a client.
- B2
- 16 lines
- Practice mode
- Learn this in the B2 notebook →
In short
Ask Qui peut valider cette modification ?, then specify the decision: technical feasibility, budget or deadline. The coordinator can collect views while a different person holds approval authority.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
The client wants an extra function. You have received a positive technical opinion, but a budget decision is still needed. In the conversation, Nadia coordinates the file, Malik gives technical advice and the director authorises resources. Practise your lines without collapsing those roles into one.
- Nadia
Tu as reçu la demande de modification du client ?
English
Did you receive the client’s change request?
- You
Oui. Avant de répondre, je voudrais vérifier qui peut l’approuver.
Yes. Before replying, I’d like to check who can approve it.
English
Yes. Before replying, I’d like to check who can approve it.
- Nadia
Je coordonne le projet, donc je rassemble les avis.
English
I coordinate the project, so I gather the views.
- You
Est-ce que tu peux aussi engager le budget supplémentaire ?
Can you also authorise the additional budget?
English
Can you also authorise the additional budget?
- Nadia
Non, cette décision relève de la directrice.
English
No, that decision belongs to the director.
- You
Et qui évalue les conséquences techniques ?
And who assesses the technical consequences?
English
And who assesses the technical consequences?
- Nadia
Malik formule une recommandation après les essais.
English
Malik makes a recommendation after testing.
- You
Sa recommandation ne vaut donc pas validation du budget ?
So his recommendation does not amount to budget approval?
English
So his recommendation does not amount to budget approval?
- Nadia
Exactement. Il peut dire si la solution est réalisable.
English
Exactly. He can say whether the solution is feasible.
- You
Je peux préparer une réponse provisoire au client.
I can prepare a provisional reply to the client.
English
I can prepare a provisional reply to the client.
- Nadia
Oui, en précisant que nous étudions la demande.
English
Yes, specifying that we are examining the request.
- You
Faut-il attendre l’accord de la directrice pour annoncer une date ?
Should we wait for the director’s agreement before announcing a date?
English
Should we wait for the director’s agreement before announcing a date?
- Nadia
Oui, car la date dépend des ressources qu’elle autorisera.
English
Yes, because the date depends on the resources she authorises.
- You
Je distingue donc faisabilité, budget et engagement de délai.
So I’ll distinguish feasibility, budget and a deadline commitment.
English
So I’ll distinguish feasibility, budget and a deadline commitment.
- Nadia
Parfait. Je transmets le dossier complet pour décision jeudi.
English
Perfect. I’ll send the complete file for a decision on Thursday.
- You
Merci. Je dirai au client quand nous pourrons lui confirmer la suite.
Thank you. I’ll tell the client when we can confirm the next steps.
English
Thank you. I’ll tell the client when we can confirm the next steps.
Name the decision, not only the person
| Person | Role | Authority stated here |
|---|---|---|
| Nadia | Coordination | Gathers views and sends the file for decision |
| Malik | Technical recommendation | Assesses whether the solution is feasible |
| Directrice | Budget decision | Authorises the extra resources |
Relever de means to fall within someone’s responsibility: la décision relève de la directrice. Engager le budget concerns authorising spending. Annoncer une date may create an expectation for the client, so the speaker asks whether that commitment must wait. The conversation explicitly supplies the roles; titles alone would not reliably establish them.
Votre avis porte-t-il sur la faisabilité, ou vaut-il également accord sur le coût ?
Does your opinion concern feasibility, or does it also constitute agreement on cost?
A provisional reply can keep the client informed: Nous étudions votre demande et vous confirmerons le calendrier après validation des ressources. This says what is happening and what remains to be decided. It avoids leaving silence while also preserving the approval step. After the decision, record the agreed scope, date and responsible person.