Conversational
Strategies
Ways to carry on
a conversation
in French.
CIRCUMLOCUTION
•Use familiar vocabulary to “talk
around” an unfamiliar word or phrase.
Example:
If you don’t know the word for “tiger”, say:
“a big orange and black cat in the jungle”
talking around a word
•
•
•
•
•
une personne qui…
une chose qui est…
“un endroit” où…
un autre mot pour…
un animal qui…
• “un endroit” où je nage  une piscine
SURVIVAL SKILLS (1)
•Use learned expressions in
appropriate situations to continue
conversation.
Examples:
please explain, please repeat,
how do you say…?, I don’t understand
SURVIVAL SKILLS (2)
•Use nonverbal cues such as facial
expressions and body language to
clarify meaning.
INTONATION
•Use inflection or rising voice
pitch to show that you are asking
a question.
SELF-CORRECTION
•Use self-correction if you
make a mistake.
Example:
Je suis douze …. J’ai douze ans. 
RESPOND TO VERBAL
CUES
• Use clues from conversation partner
to use in your own responses to selfcorrect, clarify, or restate.
Example:
A - Give me a thing to write with.
B - OK. Do you want a pen or a pencil?
A - I need a pencil.
ATTENTION-GETTING
DEVICES
• Use conversation starters.
Examples:
- Bonjour!
- Pardon.
- Comment vas-tu?