$MODULE
DIOCO_DOC_ID: lc_sample_french_u01
TITLE: Unit 1: At the Café
DESCRIPTION: Learn to order drinks at a French café.
TARGET_LANG_G: fr
HOME_LANG_G: en

VOICE_DEFAULT: Aoede | Speak clearly and naturally
VOICE: Serveur | The Waiter | Achernar | Speak like a formal French waiter
VOICE: Client | The Customer | Aoede | Speak like a tourist

$LESSON Ordering a Coffee

$DIALOGUE At the Counter
INTRO: A tourist orders coffee at a Parisian café.
INSTRUCTION: Listen and repeat each line.

VOCAB: désirez
VOCAB_T: desire (formal "would like")
SPEAKER: Serveur
LINE: Bonjour ! Qu'est-ce que vous désirez ?
LINE_T: Hello! What would you like?
NOTES: "Désirez" is more formal than "voulez"

VOCAB: voudrais
VOCAB_T: would like (conditional of vouloir)
VOCAB: s'il vous plaît
VOCAB_T: please (formal)
SPEAKER: Client
LINE: Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
LINE_T: I would like a coffee, please.

SPEAKER: Serveur
LINE: Un express ou un café crème ?
LINE_T: An espresso or a coffee with cream?

SPEAKER: Client
LINE: Un café crème, s'il vous plaît.
LINE_T: A coffee with cream, please.

SPEAKER: Serveur
LINE: Voilà, Monsieur. Ça fait deux euros cinquante.
LINE_T: Here you are, sir. That's two euros fifty.

$GRAMMAR Polite Requests with "Je voudrais"

## The Conditional for Requests

**Je voudrais** is the conditional form of *vouloir*. It's the polite way to make requests:

- {Je voudrais un café.} - I would like a coffee.
- {Je voudrais un croissant.} - I would like a croissant.
- {Je voudrais l'addition.} - I would like the check.

## Asking "What would you like?"

In formal service contexts, you'll hear:

- {Qu'est-ce que vous désirez ?} - What would you like? (formal)
- {Vous désirez ?} - What would you like? (shorter, common)

$EXERCISE Ordering Practice
INTRO: Now practice ordering items at the café.
INSTRUCTION: Say what you would like.

EXAMPLE
PROMPT: coffee
PROMPT_T: coffee
RESPONSE: Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît.
RESPONSE_T: I would like a coffee, please.

PROMPT: croissant
RESPONSE: Je voudrais un croissant, s'il vous plaît.

PROMPT: the check
RESPONSE: Je voudrais l'addition, s'il vous plaît.

PROMPT: a coffee with cream
RESPONSE: Je voudrais un café crème, s'il vous plaît.

PROMPT: two espressos
RESPONSE: Je voudrais deux express, s'il vous plaît.

$CHAT Your Turn at the Café
INTRO: Now practice a real conversation at the café.
SCENARIO: You are at a Parisian café. Order a drink and a pastry. The waiter may ask follow-up questions. Use polite language.
INITIAL_PROMPT: You are a friendly French waiter at a café in Paris. Greet the customer, take their order, and respond naturally. Keep responses short and appropriate for a beginner learner. Use formal "vous" throughout.