`

Learning Material
in

Foreign Language II

GENIE T. MAGSAYO

CBM-05-12; Module/6th January 2020

 UNIT 4 Telephone Conversation
(6 hours)

In this lesson, you will learn how to ask an operator to help you find someone’s
phone number, and how to respond when you dial a wrong number. You’ll also learn
many new words related to electronic communication methods, and some more insights
to Chinese culture and customs.

Competencies
 Identify new Mandarin words used in telephone
conversation.
 Act the answering of telephone in Mandarin
languages.

Enduring Understanding Effective communication relies on the purposeful use of

information in a format appropriate to the task and the
audience.

Essential Questions a. How does new information influence how I

think and act?
b. How can one talk to someone more effectively
using a different language ?

Values Integration Students will develop appreciation by giving respect on

how to answer telephone observing Chinese culture.

Strategies
1. Lecture/discussion
2. Video presentation
3. Assignment
4. Individual Recitation

Materials Needed 1. Handouts

2. Pen and Paper
3. Notebook
4. Mobile phones

CBM-05-12; Module/6th January 2020

 Telephone Conversation

Objectives:
a. Identify Mandarin words used in telephone conversation.
b. Act the answering of telephone in Mandarin languages.

Before you can talk on the phone, you need some simple words and phrases to
get you started.

As in western countries, in China many new words and terms related to

communication technologies have made their way into people’s daily speech. Not all
these words have corresponding Chinese translations; people say some of the terms in
their original English, such as 3G, Facebook, and PC. But many of the words do have
Chinese equivalents.

Activity 1: New Vocabulary Words

Task 1: The following are new vocabulary words used in telephone conversation in
Chinese language. Study them with the correct pronunciation and toning as what you
learned in Unit 1. Translate them into their English meaning. Write your answers in the
notebook.

1. dial - _______________________ 26. set time - _________________________

2. phone - _______________________ 27.
3. hello - _______________________ 28.
4. whom/who - _______________________ 29.
5. talk, speak - _______________________ 30.
6. may - _______________________ 31.
7. to - _______________________ 32.
8. long time - _______________________ 33.
9. free - _______________________ 34.
10.can - _______________________ 35.
11.do - _______________________ 36.
12.need - _______________________ 37.
13.help - _______________________ 38.
14.number - _______________________ 39.
15.home - _______________________ 40.
16.office - _______________________ 41.
17.church - _______________________ 42.
18.right - _______________________ 43.
19.wrong - _______________________ 44.
20.meet - _______________________ 45.
___________________
21.postpone - _______________________ 46. Busy line - _______________________
22.cancel - _______________________
23.inform - _______________________
24.delay - _______________________
change schedule - ________________
schedule - ________________________
Make a phone call - _______________
mobile phone - ____________________
computer - _______________________
Laptop - _______________________
Desktop - _______________________
Email add - _______________________
Email - _______________________
disturb - _______________________
Never mind - _______________________
Internet - _______________________
SMS - _______________________
Send text message - ________________
Google - _______________________
Internet surfing - __________________
Web page - _______________________
Microsoft - _______________________
Call on/look for -

CBM-05-12; Module/6th January 2020

 25.arrange - _______________________

Wéi is a word that has special usage for telephone calls. It can
be translated as “Hello” in English. When you make a phone
call, the tone “wéi” should be spoken as neutral tone or second
tone, especially when you call someone you may not know or
when you call someone for the first time.

Note that there are several ways to express “You’re welcome!” in Chinese.
Some people use “Bú kè qì” and others like to say “Bú yòng xiè!” It’s up to
you to choose the one you prefer,

Task 2: Make a simple dialog out of the new vocabulary words in task 1.

A: ________________________________________________________________________________
B: ________________________________________________________________________________

A: ________________________________________________________________________________
B: ________________________________________________________________________________

A: ________________________________________________________________________________
B: ________________________________________________________________________________

In China, when you get a phone call and don’t know who is
calling, you should say “Nĭ shì nă wèi?” (May I ask who is
calling?) or Nĭ zhăo shuí (Who are you looking for?) Don’t ask
simply Nĭ shì shuí? (Who are you?) because Chinese view that
sentence as impolite in a phone-call context.

To say phone numbers in Chinese isn’t difficult, because you already know
how to say the basic single numbers in Chinese. As in English, you just
need to read out each digit of the phone number, one by one. (Do you still
remember what you learned in the last Unit – that “I” can be spoken as
“yāo” instead of “yī”? Local home phone numbers in China are eight digits.
Mobile phone numbers have eleven digits.

CBM-05-12; Module/6th January 2020

Useful Sentences
Here are some useful sentences that people use in almost every phone calls and
the fifth sentence are use in some cases you answer or dial a wrong number, you will
know how to respond to the situation.

 Whom do you want to speak to? – Nĭ zhăo shuí?

 Is he in? – Tā zài ma?
 This phone call is for you. – Zhè shì nĭ de diàn huà.
 Please wait for a moment. – Qĭng děng yī xià.
 You have a wrong number. – Nĭ dă cuò le
 I’m sorry for disturbing you. – Duì bù qĭ, dă răo nĭ le
 This is his mobile phone number. – Zhè shì tā de shŏu jī hào mă.

You may also use this sample conversation for more useful sentences. Click on this
link: youtube.com/watch?v=BdxG2WzPlhM

Task 3: Connect the sentences:

Connect each sentence with the correct pinyin.

1. You have a wrong number. A. Zhè shĭ shŏu jī

2. This phone call is for you. B. Nĭ dă cuò le
3. I’m sorry for disturbing you. C. Duì bu qĭ, dă răo nĭ le
4. I am looking for Li Hong D. Zhè shĭ nĭ de diàn huà
5. This is a mobile phone. E. Wŏ zhăo Lĭ hóng

Assessment
This activity is by pair. You choose your own partner and create your own dialog
using the new words/phrases found in this unit. The presentation will be at least 2-3
minutes duration. Be ready next meeting for role play.

References

Books
Cheng, Ma. 2009. Learn Chinese: Language Pack for Beginners. New Delhi:
Academic (India) Publishers.
Yi Ren and Xiayuan Liang., (2012). Mastering Conversational Chinese: Chinese
for Beginners. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing.

Website youtube.com/watch?v=BdxG2WzPlhM

Audio Learn Chinese: Language Pack for Beginners Audio – CD

CBM-05-12; Module/6th January 2020

CBM-05-12; Module/6th January 2020