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Gifts and thanks · A2 free listening lesson

Thank You for a Gift in French: A2 Listening and Reply Practice

Thank someone for a gift, explain why you wanted it and say when you will use it. Start with one short conversation, then change the gift and make the reply your own.

English-guided French practice · 58 sec

Hear the English questions, listen to the full French exchange, then try each brief reply before the model. Pause for more time.

AI-generated scenes and voices. Read both caption tracks · Earlier version on YouTube.

Use the lesson

  1. Hear the English question, then watch the complete French exchange. Leave captions off for the listening challenge, or choose the French or English track for reading support.
  2. Try a short reply before the spoken explanation and French model. Pause for more time. Then choose your answers to the two written questions below before opening their explanations.
  3. Thank a friend for a different gift. Explain why you wanted it and when you will use it. Compare a possible reply below, then try again from memory.
Try the listening and thank-you tasks

Check the meaning, then give your own reply

Watch before reading the French models below. Choose an answer before opening each explanation. Closed captions are optional and include the full dialogue.

1. Why is the recipient pleased with the book?

She has wanted to read it for a long time, or she needs it for work?

Check why the gift matters

She has wanted to read it for a long time: je voulais le lire depuis longtemps. The conversation does not say she needs it for work.

2. When will she start reading?

During the journey, or when she gets home?

Check when she will read

Pendant le trajet means “during the journey”. Je vais le commencer means “I am going to start it”; le refers to the book.

3. Thank your friend without reading

A friend gives you a book. Thank them, say you have wanted to read it for a long time, and say you will start during the journey. Give yourself about eight seconds, or pause for longer, before comparing the model.

Compare one possible thank-you

Merci pour ce livre. Je voulais le lire depuis longtemps. Je vais le commencer pendant le trajet.

Thank you for this book. I have wanted to read it for a long time. I am going to start it during the journey. Close this answer and try again from memory.

Change the gift and make it personal

This time a friend gives you a scarf. Thank them and mention its colour, or give another true detail of your own.

Read a written scarf example

Merci pour cette écharpe. J’aime beaucoup sa couleur.

Thank you for this scarf. I really like its colour. Cette agrees with the feminine noun écharpe. This variation is written only; it has no separate recording.

This page does not record or assess your voice. A2 describes the intended practice level, not an assessment result.

Continue with written French practice

Parle Books is a separate four-book collection: a main course, speaking workshops, graded readings and vocabulary. Choose English or Spanish explanations and try the complete free sample before buying the bundle.

Choose your book language and format

US$9.90 base per explanation language, plus applicable checkout tax. Secure checkout by Creem. The bundle includes four PDFs and four EPUBs. Books include no recordings or App subscription. The free main-course PDF does not sample the three companions.

English meanings and instructions (VTT) · French dialogue / English instructions (VTT)

Lesson text and French models

Read the French models and the instructions you see in the video. Open the plain-text captions.

One gift exchange between friends

The recipient is holding a book. The speakers use informal tu. The gift is fictional; it is not a Parle book advertisement.

Recipient

Merci pour ce livre, je voulais le lire depuis longtemps.

Thank you for this book; I have wanted to read it for a long time.

Giver

Ça me fait plaisir.

I am glad.

Recipient

Je vais le commencer pendant le trajet.

I am going to start it during the journey.

Giver

Tu me diras si tu l’aimes.

Let me know if you like it.

Continue in Parle

This video and its matching website practice are free. In the optional iPhone and iPad App, all 35 Sounds pages and the first 4 First Contact Course missions are free. The full 120-mission course requires Premium. Phrase Match detects words; it does not grade your accent.

Try the first 4 Course missions free

Original lesson by the developer of Parle: Learn & Speak French, App ID 6761505050. AI-assisted scripts and graphics; synthesized reference audio. About Parle.