Reading

Mediate in French: summarise two priorities fairly

Read a French event-planning exchange and its mediation summary. Practise attribution, shared aims and the difference between an option and a decision.

In short

Name each speaker’s priority: Nora met l’accent sur… ; Adam souligne… Then check the shared aim with Si je vous comprends bien… End by naming the choice still to be made and who will make it.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A facilitator listening to two colleagues planning an event.
Lina finds un objectif commun behind the two priorities. Illustration: Atelier

An association is preparing a training event. Nora handles registrations; Adam checks the programme. Lina is facilitating, and the director will decide when registration opens. Read the exchange, then compare Lina’s short summary with what each person actually said.

A planning exchange and a summary for the director

Ouvrir les inscriptions maintenant ?

Les deux priorités

Nora : « Nous devons ouvrir les inscriptions cette semaine. Les participants ont besoin de temps pour organiser leur déplacement. Si nous attendons encore, certains choisiront un autre événement. »

Adam : « Je comprends cette urgence. De mon côté, je veux éviter de publier un programme susceptible de changer1. Deux intervenantes doivent encore confirmer leur présence. Les participants ont aussi besoin d’informations fiables. »

La reformulation de Lina

Lina : « Nora met l’accent sur le temps nécessaire aux participants pour s’organiser, tandis qu’Adam souligne la fiabilité du programme. Si je vous comprends bien, votre objectif commun est de permettre aux participants de prendre une décision éclairée. Est-ce exact ? »

Nora : « Oui, c’est bien cela. » Adam : « Oui, à condition que les informations publiées soient vérifiées. »

Lina : « Pourrait-on annoncer la date dès maintenant et ouvrir les inscriptions une fois le programme vérifié ? » Nora : « Cette piste mérite d’être examinée2. » Adam : « D’accord pour vérifier ce que nous pouvons annoncer. »

La note à la directrice

Nora privilégie une ouverture rapide des inscriptions pour laisser aux participants le temps de s’organiser. Adam demande la vérification du programme avant sa publication. Tous deux confirment un objectif commun : fournir une base fiable pour la décision des participants. Une annonce de date séparée de l’ouverture des inscriptions est à l’étude. La décision d’ouverture relève de la directrice3.

Read it in English

Nora: “We need to open registration this week. Participants need time to arrange their travel. If we wait any longer, some will choose another event.”

Adam: “I understand the urgency. For my part, I want to avoid publishing a programme that may change. Two speakers still need to confirm their attendance. Participants also need reliable information.”

Lina: “Nora emphasises the time participants need to make arrangements, while Adam highlights the reliability of the programme. If I understand you correctly, your shared aim is to enable participants to make an informed decision. Is that right?”

Nora: “Yes, that’s right.” Adam: “Yes, provided the published information is checked.”

Lina: “Could we announce the date now and open registration once the programme has been checked?” Nora: “That option is worth examining.” Adam: “Agreed to check what we can announce.”

Nora favours opening registration soon to give participants time to make arrangements. Adam asks for the programme to be checked before publication. Both confirm a shared aim: to provide a reliable basis for participants’ decisions. Announcing the date separately from opening registration is under consideration. The director is responsible for deciding when to open registration.

How do you summarise two views fairly in French?

Nora privilégie une ouverture rapide.Nora favours opening soon.

Focus: Attributes a priority to Nora.

person + privilégier + noun

Nora met l’accent sur le délai d’organisation.
Nora emphasises the time needed to make arrangements.

Adam demande la vérification du programme.Adam asks for the programme to be checked.

Focus: Preserves the specific request Adam made.

person + demander + noun

Adam souligne le besoin d’informations fiables.
Adam highlights the need for reliable information.

Tandis que puts the two priorities side by side. Est à l’étude labels an option being considered. Relève de names responsibility. Together, these phrases let a short summary carry three different things: the speakers’ positions, the status of the proposal and the person who will decide.

Question 1No account needed
Which summary keeps both priorities?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Nora veut ouvrir vite ; Adam demande un programme vérifié.. The first summary preserves timing and reliability, the two priorities stated in the exchange.

Question 2No account needed
What do both speakers confirm?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

A shared aim of helping participants decide. Both agree to the shared aim Lina checks; the opening date remains for the director to decide.

Question 3No account needed
Which phrase accurately records the proposed separate announcement?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Cette piste est à l’étude.. The speakers agree to examine the option; à l’étude records that stage.