French - Teacher in the Classroom

Lesson 127 of 159

Students practicing classroom French phrases, asking permission and borrowing items, useful for A2 learners.

Goal: Useful French phrases for asking permission, reporting problems, and explaining absences

Free French lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Bonjour! In this short lesson you'll learn friendly classroom phrases you can use with your teacher and classmates. Have fun — pretend the classroom is your practice stage and speak out loud.

Level A2: Lesson 127 focuses on practical classroom phrases (asking to borrow something, saying you were absent, asking permission to enter, reporting you can't see the board, saying you don't have a partner, asking if you should write something, and that you haven't finished). This CEFR-aligned mini-lesson gives short examples, a realistic dialogue, quick quizzes, and speaking prompts so you can use these lines in real class situations.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Use simple classroom phrases to ask permission and explain problems (A2).
  • Say you were absent and ask to borrow classroom items politely.
  • Report visibility problems and ask if you need to write something down.
A friendly classroom scene showing a student asking the teacher for permission to enter and to borrow a pen.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Je n'ai pas encore fini.

I'm not finished yet.

Meaning: I'm not finished yet.

When to use: Say this when you need more time to complete a task or exam.

Tip: Avoid saying "je pas encore fini" — include the negative structure (ne ... pas) in writing or in polite speech.

Je n'ai pas encore fini, pouvez-vous attendre une minute ?
I'm not finished yet; can you wait one minute?
Désolé, je n'ai pas encore fini mon exercice.
Sorry, I haven't finished my exercise yet.

J'étais absent hier.

I was absent yesterday.

Meaning: I was absent yesterday.

When to use: Explain to the teacher that you missed the previous class; use « absente » if you are female.

Tip: Remember to change to « absente » if you identify as female.

J'étais absent hier, est-ce que je peux récupérer les notes ?
I was absent yesterday; can I get the notes?
Désolé, j'étais absent hier à cause d'un rendez-vous.
Sorry, I was absent yesterday because of an appointment.

Je n'ai pas de partenaire.

I don't have a partner.

Meaning: I don't have a partner.

When to use: Say this during pair or group activities when you need someone to work with.

Tip: Don't drop the preposition: avoid "Je n'ai pas partenaire." Use "de" after "pas".

Je n'ai pas de partenaire pour l'exercice, quelqu'un peut m'aider ?
I don't have a partner for the exercise; can someone help me?
Je n'ai pas de partenaire, est-ce que je peux travailler avec toi ?
I don't have a partner; can I work with you?

Est-ce que je peux emprunter ___, s'il vous plaît ?

Can I borrow ___?

Meaning: Can I borrow ___?

When to use: Use this polite phrase to ask to borrow classroom items (e.g., un stylo, une gomme, une règle).

Est-ce que je peux emprunter un stylo, s'il vous plaît ?
Can I borrow a pen, please?
Est-ce que je peux emprunter une règle, s'il vous plaît ?
Can I borrow a ruler, please?

Je n'arrive pas à voir le tableau.

I can't see the board.

Meaning: I can't see the board.

When to use: Tell the teacher or a classmate if something on the board is hard to read from your seat.

Pardon, je n'arrive pas à voir le tableau depuis le fond.
Sorry, I can't see the board from the back.
Je n'arrive pas à voir le tableau, pouvez-vous écrire plus grand ?
I can't see the board; can you write bigger?

Je peux entrer ?

May I come in?

Meaning: May I come in?

When to use: Ask this when you arrive late or need to enter the classroom; add « s'il vous plaît » for extra politeness.

Excusez-moi, je peux entrer ?
Excuse me, may I come in?
Bonjour, je peux entrer, le cours a déjà commencé ?
Hello, may I come in; has the class already started?

On doit noter ça ?

Do we need to write this down?

Meaning: Do we need to write this down?

When to use: Ask this when the teacher gives information and you want to know if you should take notes.

On doit noter ça ? Je ne veux pas rater l'information importante.
Do we need to write this down? I don't want to miss the important info.
On doit noter ça dans le cahier ?
Do we need to write this in the notebook?

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Two classmates during a lesson

Two students speaking in class, one explaining they were absent and the other saying they can't see the board.

Who asks to borrow a pen?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Désolé, je n'ai pas de partenaire aujourd'hui.

Sorry, I don't have a partner today.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Tu peux travailler avec moi. Est-ce que je peux emprunter un stylo, s'il te plaît ?

You can work with me. Can I borrow a pen, please?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Oui. Au fait, j'étais absent hier, tu peux me montrer les notes ?

Yes. By the way, I was absent yesterday; can you show me the notes?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Bien sûr. Mais je n'arrive pas à voir le tableau, peut-être avance-toi un peu ?

Of course. But I can't see the board; maybe move a bit forward?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

On doit noter ça ?

Do we need to write this down?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Je n'ai pas encore fini mon exercice, tu peux m'attendre ?

I'm not finished yet with my exercise; can you wait for me?

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which sentence means 'May I come in?'

Which sentence would you say if you missed class yesterday?

Which is the polite way to ask to borrow a pen?

Which phrase asks whether you should write something down?

I missed yesterday's class, so I tell the teacher: I was absent yesterday.

I missed yesterday's class, so I tell the teacher: ___.

From the back row you say to the teacher: I can't see the board.

From the back row you say to the teacher: ___.

Your pencil breaks and you turn to a classmate: Can I borrow a pen, please?

Your pencil breaks and you turn to a classmate: ___.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je n'ai pas encore fini.

I'm not finished yet.

Say this phrase out loud:

J'étais absent hier.

I was absent yesterday.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je n'ai pas de partenaire.

I don't have a partner.

Say this phrase out loud:

Est-ce que je peux emprunter ___, s'il vous plaît ?

Can I borrow ___?

Say this phrase out loud:

Je n'arrive pas à voir le tableau.

I can't see the board.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je peux entrer ?

May I come in?

Say this phrase out loud:

On doit noter ça ?

Do we need to write this down?