ENG_B1.1.

0106S

Talking on the
Phone
Conversation Topics
Speaking & Discussion
Level B1

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Talking on the Phone Outline

Content
•In this lesson you will learn to discuss talking on the telephone and necessary
language.

Learning Outcomes
• Learn various words related to talking on the telephone
• Practice key phrases and common phone situations
• Learn to talk during certain dialogue situations

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Exercises

Speaking

Discuss the following questions

1) How often do you talk on the telephone?

2) What kind of topics do you usually talk about?

3) How long do your conversations last?

4) Have you ever had a phone conversation in English ?

5) What‘s your opinion on talking on the phone?

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Vocabulary

1) Operator 11) On hold

2) Hang up 12) Call drop
3) Busy signal 13) Redial
4) Receiver 14) Speed dial
5) Pocket dial 15) Answering machine

6) Vibration
7) Conference call
8) Voicemail
9) Prank calls
10) Skype

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Exercises

Speaking

Match the words to the correct image.

Describe the images to explain your answer.
1) Skype Call
2) Cans and String
3) Selfie
4) Smartphone
5) Conference Call

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Exercises

Speaking
What are some common English phrases
used on the phone?

If you can‘t think of any, try to translate something you

would say in your native language to English?

__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

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Grammar

Please note
Introducing yourself and taking a message
are two important steps of talking on the
phone
Introducing yourself: It‘s polite to first introduce yourself before
speaking about what you would like.

Examples:
Hello, this is Johnny calling for O.J.
Hi, it‘s Kelly. Is Shannon there?
Taking A Message: It‘s polite to ask if the person would like to leave a
message.

Examples:
O.J. isn‘t here right now, may I take a message?
Shannon is in a meeting, do you want to leave a message?
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Grammar

Please note

Requests and ending phone calls

Requests or Special Phrases: useful during situations where you need

more clarity. Examples:
Could you spell that for me?
The connection/service is bad, I can‘t hear you.
Could you please repeat that?
Can you hold on for a minute? I have another call.
Ending A Phone Call: It‘s important to know how to end a phone
conversation, otherwise it will never end!
Examples:
I need to get going, let‘s talk soon.
That‘s my other line, I should go.
I must be off, talk later!
Thanks for calling, bye now.
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Grammar

Please note
Special tips to improve communication on
the telephone
Try to speak as slowly and clearly as
possible as this will prompt the other
speaker to do the same.

When you are given a number or address,

try to repeat it back to the speaker. This
way you can see you have recorded it
correctly.

If you need to spell something but are

worried that you won‘t be understood,
you can cite a word beginning with the
same letter. For example C as in Cat, H as
in Hat, R as in ....etc.
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Grammar

Common
Telephone
Situations
Talking business
Taking a message

Gossiping Sharing news

Ordering
food Clarifying
a question
Calling in sick at Asking for service
work
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 ENG_B1.1.0106S
Exercises

Speaking
Fill in the sentence with the correct
telephone situation. Remember to use the
correct form of the verb.
1) I usually use the phone to call in sick at work, if I partied too hard the
night before.

2) My sister is probably still on the phone _________ with her best

friend Diana, as usual!

3) I had to call the store to ________________ I had on the flight.

4) My mom is always on the phone with grandma ________ about me

and my sister.
5) I usually call the nail salon to ____________. I go there every few
weeks.
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Exercises

Speaking

Practice ordering a pizza with a partner

Hostess: Giovanni‘s Pizza, would you like to hear our specials?
Caller: No thank you, I‘d like to order some pizzas/
Hostess: OK, is this for delivery or pick up?
Caller: Pick up.
Hostess: What‘s the name and phone number?
Caller: Cochran, 8675-309
Hostess: What would you like?
Caller: Can I get 2 large cheese pizzas and one small pizza with half pepperoni?
Hostess: Would you like anything else with that?
Caller: No thanks, just the pizzas.
Hostess: OK, that‘ll be $25.50.
Caller: How long will it take?
Hostess: Around 15-20 minutes.
Caller: Thank you.
Hostess: Thank you for ordering with Giovanni‘s Pizza, have a good day!

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Exercises

Speaking

Now practice by filling in the gaps

Hostess: Ying’s Chinese Food, how may I help you?

Caller: Hey, I would like to.........
Hostess: OK, is this for delivery or pick up?
Caller: ______________
Hostess: What‘s the name and phone number?
Caller: ________________, _______________
Hostess: What would you like?
Caller: Can I get __________________________________?
Hostess: Would you like anything else with that?
Caller: ____________________
Hostess: OK, that‘ll be 17.75.
Caller: __________________
Hostess: Around 20 minutes.
Caller: Thank you.
Hostess: Thank you for ordering with Ying’s, have a good day!
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Exercises

Speaking

Fill in the gaps

Receptionist: Thanks for calling the Pembroke Dental Clinic, how may I help you?
Caller: ________________________________
Receptionist: The dentist is all booked this week unfortunately, I could put you in for next week,
that OK?
Caller: ________________________
Receptionist: How is Monday at 10:30 AM?
Caller: ______________________________
Receptionist: And what exactly is the reason for your visit?
Caller: __________________________________
Receptionist: OK, great, the dentist will see you then. One more thing, we‘ve moved offices
recently, may I give you the new address?
Caller: ____________________
Receptionist: 777 Rainbow Road 90210, do you have that?
Caller: __________________
Receptionist: Thank you for calling, we will see you next week!
Caller: __________________

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Exercises

Speaking

Fill in the gaps: Hair salon phone call

Receptionist: Thanks for calling the Pretty Girl Hair Salon, how may I help you?
Caller: ________________________________
Receptionist: When would you like to make an appointment for?
Caller: ________________________
Receptionist: I‘m sorry, there are no availabilities for that time, are you free on
Friday at all?
Caller: ______________________________
Receptionist: Sure that works, I will write you down for then. What services would
you like?
Caller: __________________________________
Receptionist: That‘ll cost $25 with a junior stylist and $40 with a professional stylist.
Which would you prefer?
Caller: ____________________
Receptionist: Great, thank you and we will see you on Friday.
Caller: __________________
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Exercises

Writing
Write two sentences about speaking on
the telephone

Example:
It‘s very rare for men to use the phone for gossiping.

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Exercises

Speaking
Look at the image. Oh no! Your friend is on the
phone stressed. Write three things she could
be talking about.

1.-

2.-

3.-

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Exercises

Speaking
Ask your partner what they enjoy talking about
on the phone?
Example:

Person A
- What do you enjoy talking
about on the phone?
Person B
- I like talking about business
and seeing if there are any
potential clients. I‘m a
businessman you see.

_________________________________________

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Exercises

Writing
Write about your last telephone
conversation

Ex) I think I called my mom asking if when she was coming

home so she could bring me some food. But she was busy, so
I had to cook food myself. It was a very short conversation.
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
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Exercises

Speaking

Answer the following question.

Do you prefer business or personal phone

calls? And why?

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Exercises

Speaking
What are the pros and cons of talking on the
phone?

Pros Cons

It gives people an opportunity to People sometimes waste a lot of time.

converse.

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Thank you
for choosing to learn
with

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