Dialogue
French counterarguments: answer the concern and improve the proposal
Rehearse a French discussion about evening workshops, acknowledge an access concern and revise the proposal with a relevant response.
- B2
- 9 lines
- Practice mode
- Learn this in the B2 notebook →
In short
A counterargument helps when it raises a concern your proposal needs to answer. State the concern fairly, then explain your response: keep the proposal with reasons, limit it or change it. In a short appointment confirmation, focus on confirming the appointment; in a proposal task, an objection may reveal a useful improvement.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
Présentez votre proposition d’atelier et répondez à une objection possible.
Present your workshop proposal and respond to one possible objection.
This brief explicitly asks for an objection and a response. The dialogue below tests whether the response addresses the same concern.
- Nora
Je propose d’organiser les ateliers le soir pour les personnes qui travaillent en journée.
Propose evening workshops and explain whom they would help.
English
I suggest holding the workshops in the evening for people who work during the day.
- Karim
Certains participants terminent leur travail tard. Ils risquent de ne jamais pouvoir venir.
English
Some participants finish work late. They may never be able to attend.
- Nora
Tu as raison de soulever cette difficulté. Un horaire unique limiterait leur accès aux ateliers.
Acknowledge the specific access problem.
English
You are right to raise that difficulty. A single time slot would limit their access to the workshops.
- Karim
Comment pourrions-nous leur proposer une autre possibilité ?
English
How could we offer them another option?
- Nora
Nous pourrions alterner les séances du soir et celles du samedi.
Suggest alternating evening and Saturday sessions.
English
We could alternate evening sessions with Saturday sessions.
- Karim
Le samedi pourrait convenir à certains, mais leurs disponibilités restent à vérifier.
English
Saturday might suit some people, but their availability still needs checking.
- Nora
Demandons leurs disponibilités avant de fixer le calendrier.
Propose checking availability before fixing the calendar.
English
Let’s ask for their availability before setting the calendar.
- Karim
Nous pourrons alors comparer plusieurs horaires.
English
We will then be able to compare several time slots.
- Nora
Je maintiens donc l’idée des ateliers, avec plusieurs créneaux à étudier.
Restate the revised proposal, keeping the schedule open.
English
I therefore keep the workshop idea, with several time slots to consider.
Une réponse qui change de sujetA reply that changes the subject
Focus: a different benefit leaves the concern open
Certains participants travaillent tard, mais les ateliers sont intéressants.
Some participants work late, but the workshops are interesting.
Une réponse qui traite la difficultéA reply that deals with the difficulty
Focus: the adjustment concerns access
Certains participants travaillent tard ; nous pourrions donc proposer aussi des séances le samedi.
Some participants work late; we could therefore also offer Saturday sessions.
Interest in the workshops leaves the scheduling problem unresolved. A Saturday option responds to it, while the availability check keeps the proposal practical. The objection has changed the design of the project. Nora still supports workshops and now explains how the timetable could include more participants.
| Move | What your response needs | French opening |
|---|---|---|
| Defend the proposal | A relevant reason showing why it remains suitable. | Cette difficulté est limitée parce que… |
| Concede a limit | A clear statement of which part you accept. | Je reconnais que cet horaire… |
| Adjust the proposal | A change that addresses the concern. | Nous pourrions donc… |