It is the first day back at a school in Lyon. You have thirty seconds to meet your new classmate in French. What do you actually need to say?
Think about it: you already know how to say hello. Today you learn how to give your name and ask for theirs.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Say your own name in French
- Ask someone else their name
- Follow a short spoken introduction
Collect three or four quick ideas from the class about what you need when you meet someone new. Do not confirm the French yet. The point of the hook is to show that a greeting alone is not enough: you also need a name phrase and a question. Keep it brisk so the word-table can do the teaching.
Quick cultural aside if it fits: French children often shake hands or faire la bise when they meet; in class a smile and a clear Je m'appelle is perfect.
Here are today's introduction phrases. Listen to each one, then say it back together as a class. Notice that French says I call myself rather than my name is.
Run the word-table in two passes so working memory is not flooded.
Pass 1 (core, extra choral rounds): Je m'appelle (zhuh mah-PELL), Comment t'appelles-tu? (koh-MAHN tah-PELL too), Et toi ? (ay TWAH). This one is satisfying to say: bounce mah-PELL back with a grin. Class repeats each phrase twice: once all together, once by table.
Pass 2 (add-ons, one clear round each): Comment vous appelez-vous ? (koh-MAHN voo zah-play-VOO) for an adult or teacher; Et vous? (ay VOO) as the formal pair of Et toi ?; Je suis (zhuh SWEE); D'où viens-tu ? (doo vyan TOO). Flag these as useful extras: the core name exchange is Pass 1; Pass 2 is recognition plus a stretch for confident speakers.
Stress the difference: tu with a friend, vous with a teacher or adult.
Someone is introducing themselves in French. Listen carefully, then answer the questions. You can play the clip more than once.
Play the full clip twice on the class speakers, pens down and eyes on the board the first time. After the second play, take answers with fingers or a partner whisper, then check together and ask what clue gave each one away. The written text is shown on screen as well as spoken.
What the clip actually says.
Émilie: Bonjour! Je m'appelle Émilie. Et toi? (Hello! My name is Emilie. And you?)
Antoine: Salut! Moi, je m'appelle Antoine. J'ai neuf ans. (Hi! My name is Antoine. I am nine years old.)
Émilie: Moi aussi, j'ai neuf ans! Où habites-tu? (Me too, I am nine years old! Where do you live?)
Antoine: J'habite à Paris. Et toi? (I live in Paris. And you?)
Émilie: J'habite à Lyon. Qu'est-ce que tu aimes faire? (I live in Lyon. What do you like to do?)
Antoine: J'aime jouer au football et lire des livres. (I like to play football and read books.)
Émilie: Super! Moi, j'aime dessiner et nager. (Great! I like to draw and swim.)
The questions the class will be asked, and the answers.
- How old are the children? Nine years old
- What does the boy like to do? Play football and read
- What does the girl like to do? Draw and swim
- True or false: The children are the same age. True
- True or false: The children live in the same city. False
Before you start: the only word from today's list that is in this clip is Je m'appelle. The rest of it is other vocabulary, so tell the class to catch what they can rather than hunt for today's words.
If the speakers or the interactive fail, read the lines above aloud yourself, twice, then ask the same questions.
Open your copy. The two model lines stay on the board: copy them and put your own name in the first one.
1. Je m'appelle ___.
2. Comment t'appelles-tu?
Take care with the apostrophes. If you finish early, add this optional third line: For a teacher I would ask: Comment vous appelez-vous ?
Pause the board interactives. Keep the word-table visible while they write, and leave the two model lines on screen. Every pupil should write something like Je m'appelle Seán and Comment t'appelles-tu?. Check apostrophes in m'appelle and t'appelles, and the double-l spelling in appelle / appelles. There is no accent on appelle/appelles, only the apostrophe after m/t. Optional stretch on the board for early finishers: Comment vous appelez-vous ?. Do not collect these.
Time to introduce yourselves for real, as if it is rentrée day in Lyon. Partner A reads the question line on the board; Partner B answers from the reply line. Then swap roles so everyone asks and answers.
Before pairing, model two quick exchanges with a volunteer and leave the scripts on the board.
Exchange 1 (friend / informal), today's must-do:
A: Comment t'appelles-tu? (koh-MAHN tah-PELL too)
B: Je m'appelle … Et toi ? (zhuh mah-PELL … ay TWAH)
A: Je m'appelle …
Exchange 2 (adult / formal), short whole-class model so vous is heard again:
A: Comment vous appelez-vous ? (koh-MAHN voo zah-play-VOO)
B: Je m'appelle … Et vous? (zhuh mah-PELL … ay VOO)
State clearly: partner chat only needs Exchange 1. Exchange 2 is a quick model; confident pairs may try it if they finish. Stretch preview (not required): Je m'appelle Ava. Je suis … or add D'où viens-tu ? if a pair wants one extra line.
Then pair pupils up. Circulate and listen for clear Je m'appelle + name and a confident Comment t'appelles-tu?. Cheer loud, clear names; if a pair freezes, jump in with the question line yourself and keep them moving. After a few minutes, ask pairs to swap roles.
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