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Making a call

1. Listen to two conversations. Answer the questions.

Conversation 1

 What company is Norman Silvers from?  ………………………

b   Why can’t he speak to Mr Fredericks?   ………………………

 When should Mr Fredericks be free?   ………………………

d   What message does he leave?   ………………………

Conversation 2

e   What department does Charlie call?   ………………………

 Why does he ask to speak to Sharon?   ………………………

g   Why isn’t Sharon available?   ………………………

h   What message does he leave?   ………………………

Answer

Conversation 1

a   Highgate Investments

b   He’s in a meeting.

 He should be free after lunch.

d   He asks that Mr Fredericks calls him because it’s important.

Conversation 2

e   The Accounts Department.

 Because he needs to check some figures.

g   Because she’s out of the office.

h   To tell her that he has called.

2. Listen again to Conversation 1, and complete each expression you hear.

 Hello. ……………………… Norman Silvers.

 ……………………… possible to ……………………… Mr Fredericks, please?

 Will he ……………………… this afternoon?

 Could ……………………… to call me?

 ……………………… much. Goodbye.

Answer

a   This is

b   Would it be, speak to

c   be available

d   you ask him

e   Thanks very

3. Now match each expression (a-e) with a function (1-5).

1   Asking to speak to someone

2   Ending a call

3   Introducing yourself

4   Leaving a message

5   Asking when someone will be available

Answer

1 b   2 e   3 a   4 d    5 c

4. Listen again to Conversation 2. Write a suitable expression for each function.

1   Introducing yourself   ………………………

2   Asking to speak to someone   ………………………

3   Asking when someone will be available   ………………………

4   Leaving a message   ………………………

5   Ending a call   ………………………

Answer & Transcript

1   Hi, it’s Charlie.

2   Is Sharon there?

3   Do you know when she’ll be back?

4   When she gets in can you say …?

5   Thanks a lot. Bye.

Transcript

Conversation 1

A:     Hello, Smart Finance Limited.

B:     Hello. This is Norman Silvers from Highgate Investments. Would it be possible to speak to Mr Fredericks, please?

A:     I’m afraid he’s in meetings all morning.

B:     I see. Will he be available this afternoon?

A:     Yes. He should be free after lunch.

B:     Could you ask him to call me? It’s very important.

A:     Certainly. Norman Silvers, wasn’t it?

B:     Yes, from Highgate Investments. He has my contact details.

A:     Very good. I’ll make sure he gets the message.

B:     Thanks very much. Goodbye.

 

Conversation 2

A:     Hello, Accounts.

B:     Hi, it’s Charlie. I need to check some figures from the sales report. Is Sharon there?

A:     Nope. She’s out of the office at the moment.

B:     Do you know when she’ll be back?

A:     No, I’m afraid not.

B:     Well, when she gets in can you say I called?

A:     Sure. No problem.

B:     Thanks a lot. Bye.

Overcoming difficulties

1. Listen to five people speaking on the phone. Why is it difficult to understand each speaker? Match each speaker (a-e) with a reason (1-5).

1   The speaker has an unfamiliar name.

2   There is too much background noise.

3   The speaker is talking too softly.

4   The speaker gives too much information all at once.

5   The line quality is poor.

Answer & Transcript

1 b   2 c   3 a   4 e   5 d

Transcript

a   Hello. I’d like to speak to Mr Watson in the Personnel Department please about the position advertised in the local paper. If you …

b   My name? Yes of course. It’s Hashem Aghajari. I’m calling about …

 So we definitely need this order by the 6th …

d   The thing I want to … stress is … that the delivery should be … made … on the 20th at the latest …

e   So that means all five of us need to be there on the fourth by three or at the latest four or else the meeting about ZX34 transit plans in Room 21 will have to relocate to my office on the seventh floor which is available until six … Got it?

2. Now listen and complete each sentence you hear.

 Would you mind ………………… for me?

b   Sorry. Can you ………………… again?

 Could you …………………, please?

d   I think we have ………………… I’ll call you back.

 Could you speak …………………, please?

Answer & Transcript

a   spelling that

b   run that by me

c   speak up

d   bad connection

e   a little slower

Transcript

 Would you mind spelling that for me?

 Sorry. Can you run that by me again?

 Could you speak up, please?

 I think we have a bad connection. I’ll call you back

 Could you speak a little slower, please?

3. Imagine you take the following five calls. Listen and use one of the expressions above to help overcome each difficulty you come up against.

Example: a  Can you speak up, please?

Answer & Transcript

Your own answer. Possible answers:

b   Can/Could you speak/ Would you mind speaking a little slower, please?

c   Sorry. Can you run that by me again?

d   Would you mind spelling / Do you think you could spell that for me?

e   I think we have a bad connection. I’ll call you back.

Transcript

a   I’m sorry, I think I pressed the wrong extension. Can you put me through to …

b   Peter called earlier. He’s trying to get some figures together and he wants you to see him at five o’clock in his office if possible …

c   If Mr Banks calls, then tell him I’m in a meeting will you, and after you’ve types up the Vicks report this morning, I’d like you to first arrange a meeting with Mike at FedEx for sometime next week, and then book a flight to New York leaving before midday tomorrow.

d   Please tell her that Machiko Katsumata called.

e   If Mrs Henries calls … most important … don’t agree until … meet first … 10th at the earliest.

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