Read the telephone conversations, define the style.

 

1)

 

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 687 6234. I need to talk to him

 

about the Nuovo line, it's urgent.

 

FRANK Could you repeat the number please?

 

PETER Yes, that's 687 6234, and this is Peter Jackson.

 

FRANK Thank you Mr Jackson, I'll make sure Bob gets this asap¹.

 

PETER Thanks, bye.

 

FRANK Bye.

 

2)

 

OPERATOR Hello, TVS Computers. Samantha speaking. How can I help you?

 

JACK Good morning. Could I speak to your marketing department, please?

 

OPERATOR Certainly. Who's calling?

 

JACK This is Jack Lytton.

 

OPERATOR [pause] I'm afraid the line's busy at the moment. Will you hold?

 

JACK Yes, please.

 

OPERATOR [pause] OK. It's ringing for you now.

 

JACK Thank you.

 

RAMON Ramon Figueras

 

JACK Ramon? Jack Lytton here – from UCLA.

 

RAMON Jack! Hi, how are you? Are you in Spain?

 

JACK No, but I'll get around to it sooner or later, don't you worry, The

 

reason I'm calling is I keep picking up rumours about Tortuga, How

 

are things over there in Madrid?

 

RAMON Well – it's what in your marketing seminars you used to call 'a very

 

interesting situation’.

 

JACK Oh boy! As bad as that, is it?

 

RAMON No, it's not all bad. In fact I did this fantastic deal last time I was in

 

California I must tell you about some time. So, anyway, I'm planning

 

to go to Bangkok in about three weeks to start investigating the market

 

¹ asap – as soon as possible.

 

for the Dolphin Commando merchandise in Asia.

 

JACK Good thinking. I have one or two contacts in Bangkok you might find

 

useful by the way – I’ll dig out their address for you.

 

RAMON Thanks, I'd really appreciate it if you could do that. Well, it's been,

 

good talking to you, Jack. I'll speak to you again soon.

 

JACK Surely. Take care now. Goodbye!

 

RAMON Bye!

 

Fill in the chart with the expressions from the dialogues.

 

Introducing yourself

Asking who is on the telephone

 

Asking for

Someone

 

Connecting

Someone

 

How to reply when someone is not available

Taking a Message

 

 

Finishing a conversation

 

Wordwork

 

a) Fill in the gaps with these words.

 

a) called b) meeting c) off d) line e) leave f) message |

1) I'm afraid he's taken the afternoon …………

 

2) Can I take a …………….?

 

3) Shall I tell him you ……………..?

 

4) Hold the ………….., please. I'll put you through.

 

5) I'm sorry, he's in a ……………...

 

6) Would you like to ………….. a message?

 

b) Match sentences 1-6 in a) to headings i-iii.

 

i. asking someone to wait

 

ii. saying someone isn't available

 

iii. offering to take a message