Real English: Speaking on the phone

TL;DR

Learn essential phone vocabulary for phone calls, including phrases like "Answer the phone" and "Can I call you back."

Transcript

Well... Oo, actually I've got to go now because you know I'm at work. Yeah. I've just got to teach a lesson. Okay. Yeah, I'm teaching a lesson right now. Uh-huh. Okay, so I'll see ya later. Yeah? All right. See ya later, then. Bye. Bye. Sorry about that. Hi. Oo. Pen. Hi. I'm Gill from engVid, and today-sorry-we have a lesson on the phone. Not on th... Read More

Key Insights

• 📣 Importance of using polite phrases like "please" in phone conversations.
• 👔 Differentiating between formal and informal phone call language.
• 🫥 Handling various phone call situations, such as waiting on the line or dealing with connection issues.
• 📛 Clarifying names and numbers politely when mistakes occur.
• 📣 Balancing politeness and efficiency in phone communication.
• 💁 Common phrases for apologizing and providing information in phone conversations.
• 💦 Strategies for reconnecting if a call is dropped or cut off.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can you politely ask for someone on the phone?

You can say, "Hello, could I speak to Mr. Jones, please?" This is a formal and polite way to inquire about a specific person on the phone.

Q: What should you say if you can't hear the other person well on the phone?

You can politely ask, "Could you speak up, please? It's a bad line." Blame the technology, not the person, for the unclear communication.

Q: How do you handle a situation where the line is busy when you call?

You can say, "I can't get through" or "It's engaged," indicating that the person you're trying to reach is already on another call.

Q: What is the polite way to reject a call from an unknown number?

You can say, "Sorry, I think you've got the wrong number," if someone asks for a person who doesn't live or work at your location.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The lesson covers phone call vocabulary for both personal and professional contexts.

• Includes phrases for answering and making phone calls, asking for someone, and handling various situations.

• Provides polite ways to communicate on the phone in different scenarios.