Lesson 4 Making Telephone Calls Business English Conversation

Lesson 4 Making Telephone Calls Business English Conversation & Listening Instructor: Hsin-Hsin Cindy Lee, PhD

Basic Rules and Concepts Conversation and Listening Practices - Check Answers and Further Practice Writing Practice Checkpoint Contents

Basic Concepts and Rules Introduction

Although nowadays a lot of business phone calls are replaced by instant messages and emails, international phone calls are still common. It’s important to learn how to make and answer a phone call properly. We will divide making a phone call into four steps: 1. Before a phone call Prepare well before you call. Plan what you want to say. Prepare answers to possible questions. Send an e-mail before the phone call, if necessary. Have all information available. Basic Concepts

2. Beginning the call Greet and identify yourself clearly. Ask for connection. After connection, greet the person. Small talk (optional) Give a reason for the call. 3. During the call Create a positive atmosphere. Communicate your objective clearly. Listen- make sure you understand. Check- make sure the other person understands you. 4. Ending the call politely and positively. On the Phone

Conversation & Listening Listening to the conversation and filling in the blanks

When do you need to make a phone call? For example, you wish to speak to your business partner in person. You would like to make a courteous call. Things can not be explained clearly in the email. There are urgent matters. You are working in a place where telephoning is more convenient than sending emails. Can you think of other situations? Common Business Situations

Theme: Making an appointment Situation: Drew Barry calls Josie Gleason to arrange a meeting. Tips: Answer the phone call with your name and greeting. Remain polite and positive on the phone. Listen to Conversation 4-A

Drew: Hello, Miss Gleason. This is Drew from ITC. Josie: Hello, Drew. What can I do for you? Drew: I’m calling on behalf of my boss, Susan Goldman. She’s (1) the product line, and she’d like to (2) a meeting with you. Josie: All right. Does Susan have anything (3) in mind? Drew: She’ d really like to introduce some of the latest, yet (4) DVD players on the market. Josie: We have a wide range of models right up that (5) . When would she like to get together? Drew: She was hoping to get together at the end of this week, if possible. She wants to get going on this (6) . Josie: Let me check my (7) . Yes, I’m (8) any time on Friday. Drew: How about 10:00 in the morning at your office? Josie: 10:00 sounds fine. I’m looking forward to seeing her on Friday. Drew: Thank you. Good-bye. Listening and Filling in the Blanks

Theme: Leaving a message Situation: Sally answers a phone call from Bill Willis. Tips : If someone leaves a message to you, don’t forget to repeat it to the caller. Make sure that you take the message right from the caller. Listen to Conversation 4-B

Sally: Good morning. Sun Tech. May I help you? Caller: This is Mr. Willis and Connections, Limited. I’m calling from (1) . May I speak to Sam Palmer in (2) ? Sally: I’m sorry. Mr. Palmer is out of the office. May I (3) a message? Caller: Do you (4) him back later today? Sally: I’m afraid he’ll be out of town all day. Caller: In that case, you can (5) a message. Please tell him I’d like to talk to him as soon as possible about the new product (6) . Sally: OK. Is there any particular time that you want him to call you? Caller: He can (7) me at my office any time tomorrow. My number is (8) 61, area code 3, number (9) . Sally: OK. Let me (10) that back to you. Mr. Willis of Connections, Limited, number (11) ; call back as soon as possible regarding the new product design. You can be reached all day tomorrow at that number. Caller: That’s (12) . Sally: OK, I’ll give him the message, Mr. Willis, and he’ll get back to you as soon as he can. Caller: Thank you. Good-bye. Listening and Filling in the Blanks

Practices Check Your Answers and Practice the Dialogues

Drew: Hello, Miss Gleason. This is Drew from ITC. Josie: Hello, Drew. What can I do for you? Drew: I’m calling on behalf of my boss, Susan Goldman. She’s (1) expanding the product line, and she’d like to (2) set up a meeting with you. Josie: All right. Does Susan have anything (3) specific in mind? Drew: She’ d really like to introduce some of the latest, yet (4) affordable DVD players on the market. Conversation 4-A (Page 1) Source: Office English (LiveABC p.100-101)

Josie: We have a wide range of models right up that (5) alley. When would she like to get together? Drew: She was hoping to get together at the end of this week, if possible. She wants to get going on this (6) right away. Josie: Let me check my (7) schedule. Yes, I’m (8) available any time on Friday. Drew: How about 10:00 in the morning at your office? Josie: 10:00 sounds fine. I’m looking forward to seeing her on Friday. Drew: Thank you. Good-bye. Conversation 4-A (Page 2)

Sally: Good morning. Sun Tech. May I help you? Caller: This is Mr. Willis and Connections, Limited. I’m calling from (1) Australia. May I speak to Sam Palmer in (2)Marketing? Sally: I’m sorry. Mr. Palmer is out of the office. May I (3) take a message? Caller: Do you (4) expect him back later today? Sally: I’m afraid he’ll be out of town all day. Caller: In that case, you can (5) leave a message. Please tell him I’d like to talk to him as soon as possible about the new product (6) design. Conversation 4-B (Page 1) Source: Office English (LiveABC p.60-61)

Sally: OK. Is there any particular time that you want him to call you? Caller: He can (7) reach me at my office any time tomorrow. My number is (8) country code 61, area code 3, number (9) 2775-2940. Sally: OK. Let me (10) repeat that back to you. Mr. Willis of Connections, Limited, number (11) 613-2771-2940; call back as soon as possible regarding the new product design. You can be reached all day tomorrow at that number. Caller: That’s (12) correct. Sally: OK, I’ll give him the message, Mr. Willis, and he’ll get back to you as soon as he can. Caller: Thank you. Good-bye. Conversation 4-B (Page 2)

Replace you and your partner’s names with the ones provided in the script. Read the script again by using your own names. Practice the different situations for socializing and small talk with your own names without reading the script. Further Practice

Writing Practice Write down your own expressions.

1) May I speak to Lisa Black? e.g. Could you please transfer me to Lisa Black? 2) Would you like to leave a message? 3) I’m afraid he is not in at the moment. 4) I’m calling to change our appointment. 5) Can I repeat your message? Write down your own expressions

Write down your own sentences. 1) May I speak to Lisa Black? e.g. Could you please transfer me to Lisa Black? 2) Would you like to leave a message? Can I take a message from you? 3) I’m afraid he is not in at the moment. I’m sorry he is not available now. 4) I’m calling to change our appointment. The purpose of this call is to change a prior appointment. 5) Can I repeat your message? May I confirm what you just said? You can say this

Prepare a note for dialing out. Write down the person’s name you’re looking for. Write down the message you would like to deliver. Take notes while answering a phone call. Write down the identify of caller and his/her company. Note the caller’s telephone number or email address. Note the date, time and the message. Repeat the message after you take it. How to Prepare a Phone Call

What do you say at the beginning of a call? How can you reach the person you look for? What can you say? How should you answer a phone call for your colleague? How do you take a message from a caller? How can you prepare a phone call? Checkpoint

-EndDo you have any questions?