Can I leave a message?

After finishing this lesson, you will be able to

▪ make a phonecall
▪ take or leave a message on the phone
▪ know some expressions that are commonly used on the phone
 1 SNAPSHOT
Listen and answer the questions that follow.
o You’ve probably experienced this situation
before: someone calls your office and wants to
talk to someone who isn’t there. What do you
do?
o How do you ask the caller if they would
actually like to leave a message?
o If you are the caller and you want to leave a
message, what do you simply ask if you want
to do that?
21b-telephone-english-skills-taking-and-leaving-a-message/

PLAY THE AUDIO AT 00:00 – 01:33

STUDY THESE!
When we want to make an offer, an invitation or a polite request we can use would you like, but do know
how to use it correctly? Let’s study the following patterns!

WOULD YOU LIKE + NOUN WOULD YOU LIKE TO + VERB

▪ Would you like a cup of tea?
▪ Would you like some help?
▪ Would you like this candy?
▪ Would you like some water?
WOULD YOU LIKE = DO YOU WANT
would you like is formal and more polite
▪ Would you like to leave a message?
▪ Would you like to wait a moment?
▪ Would you like to come to my birthday
party?
▪ Would you like to eat some cheese?
WOULD YOU LIKE TO = DO YOU
WANT TO would you like to is formal
and more polite

EXERCISE 1 Individual work Complete the following sentences using would you like/like
to in postive or interrogative.

1. a glass of water?
2. come to my wedding party?
3. introduce myself to you.
4. a cup of tea for my breakfast.
5. me to help your brother in math?
6. buy some vegetables at the grocery store?
 7. some sugar?
8. pass me the salt?
9. go out for dinner tonight?
10. invite her to my birthday party.

2 WORD POWER language for making a phone call

EXERCISE 2 Pair work read the expressions below and practice with your partner.

Introduction / making contact Taking / Receiving a Call

Hello
Good Morning Hello, this is speaking
Good Afternoon speaking, how may I help you?
This is speaking
Could I speak to please?I
would like to speak to I’m Asking the caller to wait
trying to contact
‘Could you hold on a moment please
‘Just a moment please
Asking for more information / ‘Hold the line please
Making a request ‘Hang on a second
‘I’ll put you through
May I ask who’s calling please? ‘I’ll just transfer you now
Can I ask whom I’m speaking to please
Where are you calling from? Giving Negative Information
Is that definitely the right name/number?
Could I speak to someone who ?
I’m afraid the line is busy at the moment
I would like to make a reservation please That line is engaged at the moment, could
Could you put me through to extension you call back later please?’
number please?’
I’m afraid ’s busy at the moment, can I
take a message?
I’m sorry, he’s out of the office today
Leaving / Taking a Message You may have dialed the wrong number
I’m afraid there’s no one here by that name
May I leave a message?’
May I take a message?’
I’ll ask him to ring you when gets back Saying Goodbye
Could you tell that I called please? Thank you for calling
I’ll let know that you rang Have a good day
Goodbye

3 SPEAKING telephone conversation

Pair work Read the dialogue then practice with a classmate. FinIaNllTyERmMaEkD
e IATE 1 35
EXERCISE 3
your own dialogue with a classmate about similar topic.
 Situation 1: Mr. Rahman is a jobseeker and he is calling the company that he is going to apply for to
make sure whether position is still available or not.

Caller : Hello. This is Rahman Hidayat. May I speak to Ms. Sunshine, please.
Receptionist : Hold the line a moment, I'll check if she is in her office.
Caller : Thank you.
Receptionist : (after a moment) Yes, Ms. Sunshine is in. I'll put you through.
Ms. Sunshine: Hello, this is Ms. Sunshine. How can I help you?
Caller : Hello, my name is Rahman Hidayat, and I'm calling to inquire about the position
advertised on JobSearch.com.
Ms. Sunshine: Yes, the position is still open. Could I have your name and number, please?
Caller : Certainly, My name is Rahman.

Situation 2:Fred is going to talk to Mr Jack Parkins but Mr jack is out the office and finally Frend
wants to leave a message.

Fred : Hello. Could I speak to Jack Parkins, please?

Receptionist : Who's calling, please?
Fred : This is Fred Blinkingham. I'm a friend of Jack's.
Receptionist : Hold the line, please. I'll put your call through. (after a moment)—I'm afraid he's out at
the moment. Can I take a message?
Fred : Yes. Can you ask him to give me a call? My number is 909-345-8965
Receptionist : Could you repeat that, please?
Fred : Certainly. That's 909-345-8965
Receptionist : OK. I'll make sure Mr. Parkins gets your message.
Fred : Thank you. Goodbye.
Receptionist : Goodbye.

https://www.thoughtco.com/telephone-practice-english-with-dialogues-1211307

4 WRITING make a phone call based on the note.

Role-play. Look at the board above the operator’s desk in the picture below. It tells
EXERCISE 4
you who is in the office, who is not in the office, and when some of the office staff
will be back in the office. The name of the office is Green Paper Products andtheir
telephone number is 255-7248.

INTERMEDIATE 1 36
 In Out Back at
Mr. Sam Mr. Yusuf 2:45

Mr. Chris Mrs. Simpson 4:30

Mrs. Jenie Miss. Katniss 3:30

Mrs. Andrew
Mr. Bruce
Practice dialogue about the names on the board. Use the language expressions on the
previous page.

5 CASE STUDY
EXERCISE 5 Group work Discuss these topics and exchange thoughts with class.

1. What is good telephone etiquette?

2. Now that you own a mobile phone would you ever consider not possessing a phone
in the future?
3. Mobile phones can be seen as fashion statement, can this put pressure on you
to renew your phone tothe newest model?
4. At what age do you think you should be allowed to have a mobile phone?
5. At what age do kids now get cell phones?

INTERMEDIATE 1 37