Making Telephone Calls and Leaving Messages "Getting Through"

ACTIVITY
Pairwork; speaking

AIM
To make short telephone calls and leave messages

GRAMMAR AND FUNCTIONS
Suggestions: Would you like to ...? How about ...? Could you ...?, Refusing and Accepting

VOCABULARY
Telephoning: to put someone through, to call, to phone, to call back, to make/leave a message, to speak to, a caller, in person
General: to break down, to invite


MATERIALS AND PREPARATION

Worksheet | Teacher's notes

Make one copy of the worksheet for each pair of students in the class. Cut out Student A and Student B sections as indicated.

TIME
40 minutes

PROCEDURE

1. Explain to the students that they are going to take it in turns to make and receive telephone calls.
2. Write up the following prompts on the board:
   
   Telephone: Oxford Software
   Ask for: The manager
   You want: To confirm your meeting with him next Friday.
   
   Then, with a confident student act out the following dialogue.
   
   You: Hello, Oxford Software.
   Student: Hello, can I speak to the manager, please?
   You: One moment. I'll put you through. I'm sorry, he's not in his office. Can I take a message?
   Student: Yes, could you tell him that I'll see him next Friday.
   
   
3. Elicit other useful phrases. For example:
   
   I'll call back later.
   I need to speak to her in person.
   I'll give him the message.
   I'll post it to you today.
   I'll send them as soon as possible.
   We'll come at 9.30
   Can I help you?
   
   
4. Ask the students to work in pairs and divide them into Student A and Student B. Give each student the appropriate part of the worksheet.
5. Tell the students that they are each going to make and receive phone calls according to the instructions on the worksheet.
6. Give the students a few minutes to study the instructions.
7. When they are ready, ask each student A to sit back-to-back with a Student B, so they cannot see each other, or see each other's worksheet.
8. The students now take it in turns to make and receive calls. As they do this, the students should make a note of information they are given.
9. When they have finished, ask each pair of students to compare their information to check they have understood each other correctly.
   
   [source: Reward Pre Intermediate Business Resource Pack by Colin Benn and Paul Dummett]

Related Posts :