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Telephone English

Here are the responses: A. Secretary : Techno Comp. Good Morning. Can I help you? Caller : Good morning. (1) Could I speak to Helena Hasan, please? Secretary : (2) Just a moment, please. I’ll get her. Caller : OK. Thank you. B. Secretary : Good morning. National Bank. (3) Can I help you? Caller : Good morning. (4) I’d like to speak to Mr Melson Santoso, please? Secretary : I’m sorry, Ma’am. He has been away for a few days. (5) Would you

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405 views

Telephone English

Here are the responses: A. Secretary : Techno Comp. Good Morning. Can I help you? Caller : Good morning. (1) Could I speak to Helena Hasan, please? Secretary : (2) Just a moment, please. I’ll get her. Caller : OK. Thank you. B. Secretary : Good morning. National Bank. (3) Can I help you? Caller : Good morning. (4) I’d like to speak to Mr Melson Santoso, please? Secretary : I’m sorry, Ma’am. He has been away for a few days. (5) Would you

Uploaded by

Ardias Purboyono
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Telephone English - Important Phrases

There are a number of phrases and idioms that are only used when telephoning. Let's first take a
look at an example dialogue: Here are the most common:

 Operator: Hello, Frank and Brothers, How can I help you?


 Peter: This is Peter Jackson. Can I have extension 3421?
 Operator: Certainly, hold on a minute, I'll put you through...
 Frank: Bob Peterson's office, Frank speaking.
 Peter: This is Peter Jackson calling, is Bob in?
 Frank: I'm afraid he's out at the moment. Can I take a message?
 Peter: Yes, Could you ask him to call me at . I need to talk to him about the Nuovo line,
it's urgent.
 Frank: Could you repeat the number please?
 Peter: Yes, that's , and this is Peter Jackson.
 Frank: Thank you Mr Jackson, I'll make sure Bob gets this asap.
 Peter: Thanks, bye.
 Frank: Bye.

As you can see, the language is rather informal and there are some important differences to
everyday English. Look at the chart below for key language and phrases used in telephone
English:

Introducing yourself
This is Ken.
Ken speaking

Asking who is on the telephone


Excuse me, who is this?
Can I ask who is calling, please?
Asking for Someone
Can I have extension 321? (extensions are internal numbers at a company)
Could I speak to...? (Can I - more informal / May I - more formal)
Is Jack in? (informal idiom meaning: Is Jack in the office?
Connecting Someone
I'll put you through (put through - phrasal verb meaning 'connect')
Can you hold the line? Can you hold on a moment?
How to reply when someone is not available
I'm afraid ... is not available at the moment
The line is busy... (when the extension requested is being used)
Mr Jackson isn't in... Mr Jackson is out at the moment...
Taking a Message
Could (Can, May) I take a message?
Could (Can, May) I tell him who is calling?
Would you like to leave a message?
I. HANDLING TELEPHONE

Make a telephone call:

- Could you put me through to extension 132, please?


- Hello, good morning / afternoon / evening…….
- May I speak to………., please?
- I’m … from ( mention your office / address)
- I’m calling about………
- Could you put me to Mr. / Mrs. …..
- Could you take my message for…….., please!
- Please, tell him / her to call me if she is back.
- Please, tell him that I’ll call her back at four this afternoon.

Receive a telephone call:

- Good morning / afternoon / evening…( name your hotel / office)


- May I help you?
- Who is speaking please?
- Just a moment, please?
- May I have your name, please?
- Thank you for calling.
- Could you speak up, please. it’s a terrible connection.
- Sorry, the line is engaged.

1. Waiter : Would you like to order breakfast now?


Guest : ……………

a. Waiter : Wait a minute please.


b. Yes, I’ll have chicken pie and ice cream
c. Yes, I’ll have cheese omelet and tea
d. Yes, I’ll have orange juice, please
e. Yes, I’ll have green beans and carrots
2. X : Good morning………
Y : I’ll have the steak, please.

X : Certainly, sir.

a. Would you help me? c. Can you help me?


b. Could you help me? d. May I help you?
3. A : May I have a look at the menu, please?
B : ……… here you are.

a. Of course, Madam c. No way, Madam


b. Of course not, Madam d. No, not at all
4. X : ………
Y : Fried, please?

a. How are you? c. How much do you want?


b. How would you like your eggs d. What do you want?
1. A : Call Gama Techno. You need to speak to Mr Naruto Razimoto. If he is not
there, leave a message. Use your own name and number.
B : You work for Gama Techno. Mr Razimoto’s line is engaged at the moment. Ask
the caller to hold on or call again later. Offer the caller to leave a message.
Take the caller’s name and phone number.

2. A : Call Ancient Gallery. You need to speak to the Marketing Manager. If she/he is
not there, leave a message that your company wants the price list and the latest
catalogue of Ancient Gallery.
B : You work for the Ancient Gallery. Ask the caller to wait. You need to check if
your Manager is available. Then, you find out that he has just gone out of the
office. Offer the caller to leave a message. Tell the caller that you will give
his/her message

A. Secretary : Techno Comp. Good Morning. Can I help you?


Caller : Good morning. (1) Could I speak to Helena Hasan, please?
Secretary : (2) Just a moment, please. I’ll get her.
Caller : OK. Thank you.

B. Secretary : Good morning. National Bank. (3) Can I help you?


Caller : Good morning. (4) I’d like to speak to Mr Melson Santoso, please?
Secretary : I’m sorry, Ma’am. He has been away for a few days.
(5) Would you like to leave a message?
Caller : Please tell him to contact me as soon as possible.
Secretary : (6) Could I have your name, please?
Caller : Niken Aditya of Ancient and Modern Art Gallery.
Secretary : (7) Could I have your phone number, please?
Caller : Sure. +62 274 654 221.

C. Secretary : Good afternoon. Marketing Department of Nusa Indah Corporation.


(8) May I help you?
Caller : Good afternoon. I’d like to speak to Mr Fahrur Assegaf.
Secretary : I’m sorry. (9) The line is engaged.
Do you want to hold on, or call again later?
Caller : (10) OK. I’ll call again later.

A. Secretary : Techno Comp. Good Morning. Can I help you?


Caller : Good morning. (1)_______________ Helena Hasan, please?
Secretary : (2)_______________, please. I’ll get her.
Caller : OK. Thank you.

B. Secretary : Good morning. National Bank. (3)_________________?


Caller : Good morning. (4)__________________ Mr Melson Santoso, please?
Secretary : I’m sorry, Ma’am. He has been away for a few days.
(5)____________________?
Caller : Please tell him to contact me as soon as possible.
Secretary : (6)_________________?
Caller : Niken Aditya of the Ancient and Modern Art Gallery.
Secretary : (7)____________________?
Caller : Sure. +62-274-654-221.

C. Secretary : Good afternoon. Marketing Department of Nusa Indah Corporation.


(8)_______________?
Caller : Good afternoon. I’d like to speak to Mr Fahrur Assegaf.
Secretary : I’m sorry. (9)_________________. Do you want to hold on, or call again
later?
Caller : (10)__________________.

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