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French introductions: write a message to a course buddy

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Write a first French message to your course buddy: introduce yourself, name your languages and suggest a practice time in 40–60 words.

In short

For a first message to a course buddy, give your name, your languages and a time you are free, then ask one useful question. Salut…, Je m’appelle…, Je suis libre… and Tu es disponible… ? give the message a clear purpose: arranging your first practice session.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A phone showing two blank message bubbles beside coffee, a notebook and a pen.
Introduce yourself, then suggest one day and time for your course-buddy chat. Illustration: Atelier

Your teacher pairs you with another adult in the same beginner course. Your buddy has your number but has not met you yet. A helpful first message identifies who is writing and makes the next step easy. Choose one possible day and time rather than listing your entire weekly timetable.

A1 · First contact messageNot an official exam paper

Votre professeur vous donne le numéro de votre partenaire de cours, Samir. Écrivez un premier message de 40 à 60 mots. Présentez-vous. Dites quelles langues vous parlez et pourquoi vous voulez pratiquer le français. Proposez un jour et une heure pour parler ensemble. Posez une question à Samir.

(40 mots minimum)

Your teacher gives you your course buddy Samir’s number. Write a first message of 40–60 words. Introduce yourself, say which languages you speak and why you want to practise French, suggest a day and time to talk, and ask Samir a question.

Your answer

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Read a model answer

Salut Samir ! Je m’appelle Éva et je suis ta partenaire de cours. Je parle allemand et un peu anglais. Je veux pratiquer le français pour voyager. Je suis libre mercredi à dix-huit heures. On peut parler pendant vingt minutes. Tu es disponible à cette heure-là ? À bientôt !

Review your draft

Before you finish

A self-review aid, not an exam mark. Ticks are not saved.

Why these details belong in the first message

Je suis ta partenaire de cours explains how Éva knows Samir. Je parle allemand et un peu anglais gives useful information for a language-learning partnership. Un peu modifies how much English she speaks. The reason pour voyager connects practice to a personal aim. The proposed twenty-minute conversation makes the invitation manageable and tells Samir what he is agreeing to.

Replace the details while keeping the message useful
Job in the messageFrench option
Identify the connectionJe suis ton partenaire de cours.
Name a languageJe parle portugais.
Give a reasonJe veux pratiquer le français pour mon travail.
Offer a timeJe suis libre jeudi à dix-neuf heures.
Ask about availabilityTu es disponible jeudi soir ?

Partner changes with the speaker: un partenaire, une partenaire. The possessive depends on the noun: ton partenaire but ta partenaire. When addressing a fellow student in a friendly course exchange, tu is a natural choice. If the course has introduced you using vous, keep that form until you agree to change: Vous êtes disponible jeudi soir ?

Question 1No account needed
Which opening explains why Éva is writing?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je suis ta partenaire de cours.. The course-buddy sentence establishes the connection before the invitation.

Question 2No account needed
Which question helps arrange the proposed session?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Tu es disponible à cette heure-là ?. Asking about that time lets Samir accept or suggest another slot.

Question 3No account needed
Which phrase adds a purpose after “Je veux pratiquer le français”?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

pour voyager. Pour followed by an infinitive gives a reason: practising French in order to travel.

Write your version

Write the message with your own first name, real languages and one time you can offer. Keep one reason for practising and one clear invitation. If your first draft is too long, remove extra background about your family or hobbies before cutting the appointment details. The recipient needs enough information to recognise you and reply to the proposed plan.

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