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Learn languages by copying everyday conversations.

Free French audio course

Learn by copying everyday conversations.

Hear a short scene, understand the useful phrases, copy them out loud, then try your own answers in the pauses.

Episode 4

How's it going?

French · A1 beginner · 10 minutes · No signup

Download MP3 (7.0 MB) Read the transcript

Free to play, download, and read, with no account or email needed.

Voices are AI-generated. Camille, the teacher, and Sam, the learner, are fictional characters.

All episodes

Take them in order: each episode builds on the phrases before it. Every one is free to play, download, and read.

  1. Episode 1

    Where is the métro?

    A1 beginner · 10 minutes

  2. Episode 2

    Are you Martin?

    A1 beginner · 9 minutes

  3. Episode 3

    What would you like?

    A1 beginner · 10 minutes

  4. Episode 4

    How's it going?

    A1 beginner · 10 minutes · Playing on this page

  5. Episode 5

    Can I come with you?

    A1 beginner · 10 minutes

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Episodes 1 to 5 are out in every language. See all free audio courses.

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How the lesson works

  1. 1

    Hear the scene

    Marie bumps into a friend who has exams coming up. First, you just listen for one thing: who's having the better day?

  2. 2

    Understand the useful phrases

    Camille explains each phrase in English, only as much as helps your next try.

  3. 3

    Copy them out loud

    Say each phrase in the pause after you hear it. Copy the sound and rhythm before worrying about grammar.

  4. 4

    Try your answers

    Answer from memory, change tired to hungry, then play Marie, and then her tired friend. A spoken answer follows every pause, so you can compare.

Missed an answer? Keep listening. The words come back, and you don’t need to touch the screen once the episode is playing.

After this episode

You can ask a friend how it's going, say you're very well or just a little tired, ask why, and cheer them on.

Level A1. Written for adult English speakers starting French. You don’t need any French to begin.

Phrases you’ll say

  • Salut ! Comment ça va ?

    Hi! How's it going?

  • Très bien, et toi ?

    Very well, and you?

  • Ça va, je suis juste un peu fatigué.

    I'm okay, I'm just a little tired.

  • Ah bon, pourquoi ?

    Oh really? Why?

  • Courage !

    Hang in there!

  • Ça va, j'ai juste un peu faim.

    I'm okay, I'm just a little hungry.

Phrases you’ll recognize

  • J'ai beaucoup de travail en ce moment.

    I have a lot of work right now.

  • À cause de tes examens ?

    Because of your exams?

  • Oui, mais c'est bientôt fini.

    Yes, but it'll be over soon.

Listening with your screen off

The download is the most reliable way. Save the MP3 and play it offline in any audio app. Your browser puts it with your other downloads (on iPhone, in the Files app).

Playing from this page can keep going when you lock your phone, depending on your phone and browser. Some pause when you switch apps or close the tab. If yours does, use the download.

The speaking pauses are optional. If you’re driving, keep your attention on the road: just listen, or skip the speaking parts. The episode says the same.

Transcript

Every word of Episode 4. Choose a time to play from there. “Your turn” marks a pause for you to speak; French is in bold.

Welcome

Sam: I just bumped into a friend. He's yawning, and it's only ten in the morning.

Camille: Then you'll want to ask how he's doing. Welcome to Copycat Cafe. I'm Camille.

Sam: And I'm Sam. The one who did sleep.

Camille: One more thing before we start: Sam and I are AI-generated voices. This is episode four of the free French course. Today you'll ask a friend how it's going, answer the same question, ask why, and cheer them on. Listen first. Copy the sound. Then try the words for yourself.

Camille: If you miss an answer, let it go. You'll hear the words again. If you're driving, keep your attention on the road and skip the speaking exercises.

Two friends

Camille: Here's the whole scene. Sam is Marie. I'm her friend, a student. Listen for one thing: who's having the better day, Marie or her friend?

Camille: Salut Marie ! Comment ça va ?

Sam: Très bien, et toi ?

Camille: Ça va, je suis juste un peu fatigué.

Sam: Ah bon, pourquoi ?

Camille: J'ai beaucoup de travail en ce moment.

Sam: À cause de tes examens ?

Camille: Oui, mais c'est bientôt fini.

Sam: Courage !

Camille: Merci !

How's it going?

Sam: Marie, clearly. Her friend sounds a bit tired.

Camille: Marie says très bien, very well. Her friend is a bit tired. Let's start with the greeting. Salut Marie ! Comment ça va ? Hi Marie! How's it going? Comment ça va is the everyday way to ask a friend how they are. Copy it: comment ça va ?

Your turn · 4-second pause

Camille: Now the whole greeting, with Marie's name. Salut Marie ! Comment ça va ?

Your turn · 4.5-second pause

Very well, and you?

Camille: Marie answers: très bien, et toi ? Very well, and you? Bien means well. If you heard episode two, you know très and et toi. Copy it: très bien, et toi ?

Your turn · 4.5-second pause

A little tired

Camille: Her friend answers: ça va, je suis juste un peu fatigué. I'm okay, I'm just a little tired. Ça va on its own means it's going okay. It's the question without its first word. Copy it: ça va.

Your turn · 3.5-second pause

Camille: Je suis, I am. Un peu, a little. Fatigué, tired. Copy it: je suis un peu fatigué.

Your turn · 4.5-second pause

Camille: Fatigué works like enchanté from last time: a woman's spelling changes, but the sound stays the same. So anyone can say it. He also adds juste. Just. Copy the whole answer: ça va, je suis juste un peu fatigué.

Your turn · 6-second pause

Oh really? Why?

Sam: And Marie, being a good friend, asks why.

Camille: Ah bon, pourquoi ? Oh really? Why? Ah bon shows surprise or interest. It doesn't mean the news is good. Pourquoi means why. Copy it: ah bon, pourquoi ?

Your turn · 4.5-second pause

The reason

Camille: Now just listen. He says: j'ai beaucoup de travail en ce moment. I have a lot of work right now. Marie guesses: à cause de tes examens ? Because of your exams? And he says: oui, mais c'est bientôt fini. Yes, but it'll be over soon. You don't need to remember these. When you need one later, I'll give you the words to copy. For now, just catch beaucoup de travail, a lot of work, and examens, exams.

Hang in there

Sam: Exams. That explains the face.

Camille: So Marie cheers him on: courage ! Hang in there! It looks like an English word, but say it the French way. Copy it: courage !

Your turn · 3.5-second pause

Camille: And he answers: merci ! Thanks! Copy Marie's line once more: courage !

Your turn · 3.5-second pause

From memory

Camille: Let's try it without hearing the French first. You see a friend. Say hi, and ask how it's going.

Your turn · 5.5-second pause

Camille: Salut ! Comment ça va ? Now you're the one being asked. Say: very well, and you?

Your turn · 5-second pause

Camille: Très bien, et toi ? Now a different answer. Say: I'm okay, I'm just a little tired.

Your turn · 6.5-second pause

Camille: Ça va, je suis juste un peu fatigué. Now your friend says they're tired. Ask: oh really? Why?

Your turn · 5-second pause

Camille: Ah bon, pourquoi ? Your friend explains: exams. Cheer them on.

Your turn · 4.5-second pause

Change the answer

Camille: Courage ! Now let's change one piece. In episode two, Martin said j'ai faim. I'm hungry. Put that into today's answer: ça va, j'ai juste un peu faim. I'm okay, I'm just a little hungry.

Sam: That's my honest answer most days.

Camille: Copy it: ça va, j'ai juste un peu faim.

Your turn · 6-second pause

Camille: Now without hearing it first. Someone asks how it's going. Say you're okay, just a little tired.

Your turn · 6.5-second pause

Camille: Ça va, je suis juste un peu fatigué. And now say you're okay, just a little hungry.

Your turn · 6.5-second pause

Camille: Ça va, j'ai juste un peu faim. Notice the difference: tired takes je suis, I am. Hungry takes j'ai, I have.

Listen again

Camille: Let's hear the original scene again. No explanations this time. Notice which bits you recognise.

Camille: Salut Marie ! Comment ça va ?

Sam: Très bien, et toi ?

Camille: Ça va, je suis juste un peu fatigué.

Sam: Ah bon, pourquoi ?

Camille: J'ai beaucoup de travail en ce moment.

Sam: À cause de tes examens ?

Camille: Oui, mais c'est bientôt fini.

Sam: Courage !

Camille: Merci !

Your turn: be Marie

Camille: Now you're Marie. Sam will stay quiet. I'm your tired friend. After each of my lines, I'll give you a short hint.

Camille: Salut Marie ! Comment ça va ?

Camille: Say very well, and ask how I am.

Your turn · 5-second pause

Camille: Ça va, je suis juste un peu fatigué. Ask: oh really? Why?

Your turn · 4.5-second pause

Camille: J'ai beaucoup de travail en ce moment. Marie guesses it's the exams. Copy her guess: à cause de tes examens ?

Your turn · 5-second pause

Camille: Oui, mais c'est bientôt fini. Cheer me on.

Your turn · 4-second pause

Camille: Merci ! Here's one version of Marie's part: très bien, et toi ? Ah bon, pourquoi ? À cause de tes examens ? Courage ! If you missed a line, that's fine. These gaps are for practice, not a test.

Your turn: be the friend

Camille: Now switch sides. You're the friend who isn't having a great day, and Sam is Marie. You start. Say hi to Marie, and ask how it's going.

Your turn · 5-second pause

Sam: Très bien, et toi ?

Camille: Say you're okay, just a little tired.

Your turn · 6.5-second pause

Sam: Ah bon, pourquoi ?

Camille: Give the reason. Copy it if you need to: j'ai beaucoup de travail en ce moment.

Your turn · 6.5-second pause

Sam: Courage !

Camille: Thank her for the encouragement.

Your turn · 3.5-second pause

Camille: Here's one version: salut Marie ! Comment ça va ? Ça va, je suis juste un peu fatigué. J'ai beaucoup de travail en ce moment. Merci !

Sam: Exams. I'll bring you a croissant from that bakery.

Keep the phrases

Camille: One last one from memory. You meet a friend. Say hi, and ask how it's going.

Your turn · 5.5-second pause

Camille: Salut ! Comment ça va ? Keep that question, and keep ça va and et toi for the answer. You've heard them, had space to copy them, and practised changing tired to hungry. You don't need every word from the scene today. Come back and try the gaps again. This is the free Copycat Cafe audio course. The optional paid app adds pronunciation feedback and conversations that respond to you. Today's matching lesson is How's it going? In the next episode, the sun comes out and two friends plan a walk. For now, courage, et bonne journée !

Sam: Merci ! Au revoir !

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About this episode

Episode 4 of the free Copycat Cafe French audio course. It’s adapted from “How's it going?”, lesson 4 of our French course.

Camille and Sam are fictional characters with AI-generated voices. The music is original.

Want feedback on your pronunciation?

The free course gives you the phrases, the pauses, and an answer to compare with. It can’t hear you. The Copycat Cafe app is a paid app that adds a pronunciation score on every word you say, and conversations with Copy, your AI conversation partner, that respond to what you actually say. In the app, “How's it going?” uses the same scene.

See how Copycat works