Telephoning- Errors Pairwork

Telephoning errors pairwork
Student A
Read out what is written and listen to your partner’s different version. Decide which
version is correct and which is wrong, then the person who has the wrong version should
change it.
Useful language for the task
“How do you spell…?”
“Can you repeat…?”/ “Can you say… again?”
“Can you speak more slowly?”
“Can I read that back?”/ “Can I check that back?”
“Sorry, did you say… or…?”
Starting phone calls
Answering the phone
Greeting

1. Good evening.

Information about the company/ department etc and name of the person answering
(= receiver)

2. Alex Case speaking. Claims Department. AIG.

Offering help

3. How can I help you?

The first sentence by the caller – Giving the caller’s name and other personal
information

4. Hi Alex. John Smith from GIA speaking.

Small talk/ Chitchat/ Social language at the beginning of the telephone call

5. Hi John. How’s it going?

6. How’s business?

7. Did you have a good weekend?

8. What time is it here now?

9. How the weather there now?

10. Thanks for phoning me back.

11. How does your project go?

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2015

Finishing the small talk and talking about the topic of the phone call

12. So, how can I do for you today?

13. Anyway, the reason why I’m phoning you is…

Asking to speak to someone

14. Could you connect me through to extension 345, please?

15. I like to speak to Harold Jones, please.

Ending
Checking that there’s nothing left to talk about

16. Is there anything else?

Smoothly finishing/ Giving reasons for finishing

17. Well, I have another call waiting, so…

18. So, it is been great to talk, but…

19. I think that is all I needed to know, thanks.

20. Anyway, I know you are being very busy, so…

Talking about future contact

21. See you on Monday.

22. I’ll phone you back ten minutes after.

23. I’ll call again this afternoon.

Polite language at the end of phone calls

24. Thanks for calling.

25. Thanks for your cooperation.

Check your answers as a class.

 

Telephoning errors pairwork
Student B
Read out what is written and listen to your partner’s different version. Decide which
version is correct and which is wrong, then the person who has the wrong version should
change it.
Useful language for the task
“How do you spell…?”
“Can you repeat…?”/ “Can you say… again?”
“Can you speak more slowly?”
“Can I read that back?”/ “Can I check that back?”
“Sorry, did you say… or…?”
Starting phone calls
Answering the phone
Greeting

1. Good night.

Information about the company/ department etc and name of the person answering
(= receiver)

2. AIG. Claims Department. Alex Case speaking.

Offering help

3. Can I help you?

The first sentence by the caller – Giving the caller’s name and other personal
information

4. Hi Alex. This is John Smith from GIA.

Small talk/ Chitchat/ Social language at the beginning of the telephone call

5. Hi John. How it going?

6. How’s your business?

7. Did you have good weekend?

8. What time is it there now?

9. How’s the weather there now?

10. Thanks for phone me back.

11. How’s your project going?

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2015

Finishing the small talk and talking about the topic of the phone call

12. So, what can I do for you today?

13. Anyway, the reason why I phone you is…

Asking to speak to someone

14. Could you put me through to extension 345, please?

15. I’d like to speak to Harold Jones, please.

Ending
Checking that there’s nothing left to talk about

16. Is there nothing else?

Smoothly finishing/ Giving reasons for finishing

17. Well, I have other call waiting, so…

18. So, it has been great to talk, but…

19. I think that is every I needed to know, thanks.

20. Anyway, I know you are very busy, so…

Talking about future contact

21. See you on next Monday.

22. I’ll phone you back in ten minutes.

23. I’ll call again in this afternoon.

Polite language at the end of phone calls

24. Thanks for your calling.

25. Thanks for your help.

Check your answers as a class.

 

Without looking above, brainstorm suitable phrases into these gaps:

Starting phone calls
Answering the phone
Greeting

Information about the company/ department etc and name of the person answering
(= receiver)

Offering help

The first sentence by the caller – Giving the caller’s name and other personal
information

Small talk/ Chitchat/ Social language at the beginning of the telephone call

Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2015

Finishing the small talk and talking about the topic of the phone call

Asking to speak to someone

Ending
Checking that there’s nothing left to talk about

Smoothly finishing/ Giving reasons for finishing

Talking about future contact

Polite language at the end of phone calls