If you don’t understand something, don’t say “répétez s’il vous plaît”, because the person will repeat exactly what he/she just said. And, if you didn’t get it the first time, it’s unlikely you will the second. We use this only when we didn’t hear well the first time.
So what should you say?
If you just say "Je ne comprends pas" (I don’t understand), the person will think you didn't get anything, and is very likely to just switch into English, or give up on you.
So, instead, say, "Je ne comprends pas bien" (I don’t understand everything), causing your interlocutor to reformulate his sentence, using other words. And do not hesitate to say, "S’il vous plaît, parlez plus lentement et plus fort" (Please, speak slower and louder). Speed and bad hearing are often a big part of not understanding.
Written by Camille Chevalier-Karfis
I am the founder of FrenchToday.com. My unique teaching method has been written about in The Boston Globe, This City Paris, Le Journal Français... I’ve published 2 intermediate audiobooks, and I’m the voice behind the 64+ hours of audio of this site. After 16 years in the US, my family and I recently took a leap of faith and moved back to France!!I’m passionate about my work, and thanks to today’s technology, I am still teaching French over the phone and Skype to French learners all over the world, with excellent results. Contact me to learn more.
