https://www.engvid.com/how-to-start-end-a-business-call-3-easy-steps/
1. Language Focus: Identifying yourself
Good
morning, Yasmine speaking (person receiving call)
Hello,
this is Yasmine Alcide
from Spike British School. (caller)
Hello,
my name is Yasmine Alcide. I’m calling from Spike British School. (caller)
Hi,
it’s Yasmine from Melbourne. (caller, informal)
Hi,
Yasmine here. (caller, informal)
2. Language Focus: Saying
who you want to speak to
I’d
like to speak to Mr. Jones, please.
Could
I have the Accounting Department, please?
Could
you put me through to Mrs. Weaver, please?
Could
I have extension 234, please?
Could
I speak to someone in the Accounting Department?
Is
Mr. Robinson there, please?
3. Language Focus: Leaving
a message
Could
you give him/her a message?
Can
I leave him/her a message?
Please
ask him/her to call me back. My number is…
Please
ask him/her to ring me back.
Please
ask him/her to get back to me.
4. Language Focus:
Explaining the purpose of your call
I’m phoning about…
The reason I’m calling is…
I need some information
about…
It’s in connection with…
I’d like to…
I’m ringing to….
5. Language Focus: Asking
for repetition
Sorry, I didn’t catch your
name / your number…
Sorry, could you repeat
your name / number / etc.
Sorry, I didn’t hear that.
Sorry, I didn’t
understand/get that.
Could you spell that?
6. Language Focus:
Acknowledging repetition
Ok, I’ve got that.
(Ms. Ventura.) I
understand.
I see, thank you.
7. Language Focus: Saying
someone is not available
I’m sorry, he/she is not
available (right now).
Sorry, he/she’s away for
the week.
Sorry, he/she’s not in.
I’m afraid he/she’s in a
meeting (at the moment).
He/she’s in Paris. He/she won’t be back until Monday.
8. Language Focus: Taking
messages
Can I take a message?
Would you like to leave a
message?
If you give me your number
I’ll ask him/her to call you later.
Shall I ask him/her to call
you back?
9. Language Focus:
Offering to help in other ways
Can anyone else help you?
Can I help you perhaps?
Would you like to speak to
his/her assistant?
Sample
Phone Dialogue 1 : Formal
Receptionist:
Howard Engineering. How can I help
you?
Caller: This
is James Harvey. Could I speak to Joshua
Reynolds?
Receptionist:
I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.
Caller: James
Harvey.
Receptionist:
Could you tell me what it’s about?
Caller: It’s
in connection with a new order.
Receptionist:
Just a moment, I’ll put you through.
4. Sample Phone Dialogue 2 : Informal
Max: Max speaking.
Leslie: Leslie Taylor here. How are you?
Max: Fine, and you?
Leslie: Not too bad. Pretty busy
actually.
Max: I know what you mean. So, what
can I do for you?
Leslie: The reason I’m calling is to try and fix a meeting early next month.
Making
Arrangements
Cathy: Good afternoon, Sunland Tech Systems.
Earl: Good afternoon. Could I speak to Petra Landers?
C: I’m afraid
Ms Landers isn’t here today. Can I help
you?
E: Is that
Cathy?
C: Yes.
E: Hello,
Cathy. This is Earl Branson.
C: Oh, hello
Earl. How are you?
E: I’m fine
thanks. Er… I got a message from Petra
on my answerphone, asking me to contact her about a meeting…
C: Ah, yes,
Petra told me about it. Can you make it
on Monday or Tuesday?
E: Well, I’m
afraid I’m not free on Monday or Tuesday morning, but Tuesday afternoon would
be OK.
C: I see.
Would two fifteen suit you?
E: Yes, that
would be fine.
C: Good. Then let’s make a provisional appointment for
two fifteen... That’s Tuesday, the third, right? But I need to check the time with Ian and
Petra. Could I ring you back to confirm
that?
E: Yes, of
course. Speak to you later then. Goodbye, Cathy.
C: Thanks
Earl. Goodbye.
Changing
arrangements
Earl: Hello, Earl Branson speaking.
Cathy: Hello, Earl. It’s Cathy
again. I’m phoning about the meeting
next week. I’m sorry, but Ian isn’t
available at the time we arranged, he’s got another appointment. But he’s free later on. Would four o’clock be possible for you?
E: So, that’s four o’clock instead of two fifteen?
C: Yes. Is that time convenient
for you?
E: Yes, that’s fine.
C: Oh, good. So, we look forward
to seeing you next Tuesday, then.
Goodbye, Earl.
10. Language focus: Making arrangements
Can
you make it on Monday or Tuesday?
Would
two fifteen suit you?
I’m
afraid I’m not free on Monday morning, but Tuesday afternoon would be OK.
Yes,
that would be fine.
Then
let's make a provisional appointment for two fifteen. That’s Tuesday, the third, right?
Could
I ring back to confirm?
11. Making arrangements: Key
words
Fix = Arrange
Manage = Able to do
Shift = Change, move
Suit = Be convenient
Ideal = Perfect
12. Language focus: Changing
arrangements
I’m
sorry, but he’s not available at the time we arranged. Could you possibly move the meeting to four
o’clock?
I’m
afraid I won’t be able to meet on Tuesday after all. Can we arrange another
time?
My
plane may not arrive on time so I would like to move the meeting to a couple of
hours later, is that possible for you?
13. Language focus: Ending a call
I’m
afraid I have another meeting starting.
Thanks for calling.
I
think that covers everything. Is there
anything else?
I’m
sorry, we will have to leave it there.
Thank
you for your help.
I
look forward to seeing you soon.
I’ll
get back to you.
Have
a good weekend/trip/holiday.
14. Language focus:
Confirming arrangements
Can
I check that? You said…
All
right, then. We’ll see you on the 18th
at 9 sharp.
Very
good. I have you down for 5 o’clock at
the Paris campus.
No
problems then with June 14th at noon. See you
then.
15. Phrasal verbs used on the phone or when making arrangements.
PHRASAL VERB | DEFINITION |
to be tied up | to be busy |
to pencil in | to make note of a provisional appointment |
to get through | to be connected |
to look something up | to search and find information (dictionary, database, reference book) |
to get back to | to ring the person again with some information |
to put someone through | to connect the call for someone |
to drop someone a line | to contact someone in an informal manner |
to get together | to meet |
FFollow the
structure when making arrangements
Caller (Brindle Associates)
|
Called person (Merlin Datasoft)
|
|
“Merlin Datasoft,
good morning”
|
Greeting.
|
|
Introduce
yourself.
|
|
|
Check
name.
|
Correct/confirm.
|
|
|
Offer
to help.
|
Ask
for appointment with Mr Parks.
|
|
|
Ask
what it’s about.
|
Explain
that you want to discuss European marketing project.
|
|
|
Acknowledge—ask
when would be a good time.
|
Suggest
next week.
|
Reject. Mr Parks is away.
|
|
Suggest
beginning of next month.
|
Agree.
|
|
Suggest
Monday 4th.
|
Reject. On Monday, Mr Parks is busy all day.
|
|
Suggest
Tuesday.
|
Agree. Suggest 10:00 a.m.
|
|
|
Agree—ask
for fax to confirm.
|
|
Offer
to book hotel.
|
Agree
to fax—hotel booking is not necessary.
|
|
Signal
end of call.
|
|
|
End
call/thanks/refer to fax, etc.
|
End
call.
|
|