![[D] Making Business Phone Calls](https://images.ctfassets.net/r30ratzbtbbf/78hF2IP75LPYAsN3ZKJOU1/1515b5da8e46960e184b930744550221/BUSINESS_ENGLISH_COMING_SOON-06.png)
LET'S LEARN! 📚
Put someone through - to connect a person's telephone call
-
Would you mind putting her through for a moment?
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I'd like you to put me through Michael Anderson.
Examples:
Who's on the line - used to ask the name of the person calling
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May I know who's on the line, please?
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Who's on the line, please?
Examples:
I'm afraid - used to express polite or formal apology or regret
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I'm afraid she's with a client at the moment.
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I'm afraid she's not in the office.
Examples:
pass along a message - means to tell someone something that another person has told you
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I'll be sure to pass this message along to Mr. Smith.
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I'll pass it along to the team.
Examples:
On hold - if you are on hold when using the phone, you are waiting to speak to someone
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Can you please put the call on hold for a moment?
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I was put on hold for twenty minutes.
Examples:
LET'S READ! 📖
Trying to get through
Situation:
Mark wants to speak with Anna Laurenson.
Staff
Mark
Hello. Can you put me through to Anna Laurenson in sales, please?
Staff
One moment, please. I'm afraid the line's busy. Do you want to hold or would you like to call back later?
Mark
I'll call again later. What's her direct line?
Staff
Her direct line is 7821- 3456.
Mark
Got it. Thanks.
Voicemail 1 💬
Situation:
Later, Mark calls again, and this time he gets through to Sally Anderson's voicemail. This is her greeting.
You're through to the voicemail of Anna Laurenson. I'm away for a business trip until Monday the 7th, but I'll be picking up my voicemail on my mobile. If you leave a message, I'll get back to you. For anything urgent, please call my PA, Alice Yu, on extension 8325. Please leave a message after the tone."
QUESTIONS
1. Where is Anna right now?
2. What can he do if he has urgent concerns?
Getting through
Situation:
Mark phones again and gets through to Anna Laurenson's PA.
Staff
Anna Laurenson's office, good morning.
Mark
Hello, Can I speak to Alice Yu, please? Is she available?
Staff
I'm afraid she's not available. She's with a customer right now.
Mark
Oh right. Can I leave a message for her, please?
Staff
Of course.
Mark
Thanks. Please tell her to please return my call. I've got very important matters to discuss with her.
QUESTION
What was Mark's message to Alice?
Giving and taking messages
The receiver could say: | The caller could say: |
|---|---|
Can I take a message? | Could I leave a message? |
Would you like to leave a message? | Could you tell her that...? |
I wonder if you could call back later? | I'm calling about.. |
Which company are you calling from? | I'd like to talk about... |
Can/May I ask what it's about? | I'm calling to confirm that.. |
I'll be sure to pass along your message. | Could you ask her to call me back? |
Checking information: |
|---|
I'm sorry I didn't catch your name. Could you spell it, please? |
Where did you say you're calling from? |
Is that with a D as in delta at the end? |
LET'S PRACTICE! 📝
👂🏻 Listening Exercise
Direction: Listen to the audio in each item and answer the questions that follow.
- What's the name of the company she's calling?
- What should the caller do if it's an emergency?
- What's the purpose of the call?
🗣 Speaking Exercise
Direction: Formulate your own dialogue and do a role play with your mentor. Refer to the situation below.
Situation:
You are the telephone operator of Tabisuta Group of Companies and a client is looking for Steven Preston from the sales department to ask for your updated price list. However, Steven can't take the call. Your mentor will act as the client.
Learner
(Task 1. Introduce yourself)
Mentor
Good morning. Could I speak with Steven Preston from the sales department?
Learner
(Task 2. Tell your mentor that Steven is away. Take her message.)
Mentor
Oh. Thanks. Could you ask him to send me the updated price list? I need it ASAP.
Learner
(Task 3. Assure your mentor that you will let Steven know.)
Mentor
And please tell him I have a new number. It's 654-7843.
Learner
(Task 4: Check if you got the details correctly.)
Mentor
Thank you. Good bye.
Tabisuta Inc., good morning.