Meeting your child's teacher

The situation

You: You're picking up your 8-year-old from school. The teacher waves you over.

Them: Mme Lavoie, your child's homeroom teacher.

Goal: Understand how your child is doing, ask one specific question, schedule a follow-up if needed.

The conversation (French & English)

Bonjour ! Vous êtes le parent d'Alex ?
Hello! Are you Alex's parent?

Oui, c'est ça. Comment ça se passe ?
Yes, that's right. How is it going?

Très bien. Alex s'adapte vite. Il participe en classe et il a déjà des amis.
Very well. Alex is adapting quickly. He participates in class and already has friends.

Ah, c'est rassurant. Est-ce qu'il a des difficultés en français ?
Oh, that's reassuring. Does he have any difficulties in French?

Un peu en écriture, mais il progresse. On va voir ça ensemble en novembre.
A little in writing, but he's improving. We'll review it together in November.

D'accord. Est-ce qu'il y a quelque chose que je peux faire à la maison ?
OK. Is there anything I can do at home?

Lisez avec lui quinze minutes par jour. Ça suffit.
Read with him fifteen minutes a day. That's enough.

D'accord, merci beaucoup.
OK, thank you very much.

Key vocabulary

un parent	a parent
s'adapter	to adapt
participer en classe	to participate in class
rassurant	reassuring
des difficultés	difficulties
l'écriture	writing (skill)
progresser	to progress / improve
à la maison	at home
lire avec	to read with
ça suffit	that's enough

Grammar in this conversation — Imperatives — giving advice / instructions

For advice and instructions, French drops the subject and uses imperative form. For -er verbs, the tu/vous form looks like the present minus the subject. The "you formal" form is the same as the regular vous-form.

• Lisez avec lui quinze minutes par jour. (vous form)
• Parle doucement. (tu form, no -s on -er verbs)
• Allons-y. (nous form = let's)

Phrases to practise aloud

Bonjour, comment ça se passe ? — Hello, how is it going?

Est-ce qu'il a des difficultés en français ? — Does he have any difficulties in French?

Est-ce qu'il y a quelque chose que je peux faire à la maison ? — Is there anything I can do at home?

D'accord, merci beaucoup. — OK, thank you very much.

Check your understanding

1. How is Alex doing in class?
Answer: Adapting well, participates

2. In which area does Alex have a small difficulty?
Answer: Writing

3. What does the teacher suggest doing at home?
Answer: Read 15 min/day with him

4. When will they meet again?
Answer: November

Your speaking challenge

Ask the teacher how your child is doing. Ask one specific question (academic or social). Ask what you can do at home to help.

Bonjour, comment ça se passe avec mon enfant ? Est-ce qu'il a des difficultés en [subject] ? Est-ce qu'il y a quelque chose que je peux faire à la maison ?
Hello, how is it going with my child? Does he have difficulties in [subject]? Is there anything I can do at home?