Telephone Language

1. You are Marie and you work in the finance department for a major corporation. The telephone rings ... How would you answer the phone?

1. 2. 3.

Hello? Hello, can I help you? Hello, Finance Department, Marie speaking.

2. Caller: 'Hello there. Can I speak to Clive Jenkins please?' 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 'Who's calling?' 'Who shall I say is calling?' 'Who is that?' 'There's no-one of that name here.' 'Sorry, you must have the wrong number.' 'Oh dear. Wrong number!'

3. Caller: 'It's Kenneth Avery' 1. 2. 3. 'Please hold and I'll see if he's in.' 'Hang on, Kenneth.' 'Okay. Just a second...'

4. [After a pause while you see if Clive Jenkins is in.] You: 'I'm afraid he's in a meeting at the moment... 1. 2. 3. 4. Can I help?' What do you want?' Can I take a message?' What do you want to say to Clive?'

5. Caller: 'Could you tell him that I called and that I'm in the office all day if he could call me back?' 1. 2. 3. 'Okay. What's your number?' 'Right... Can I take your number please?' Okay. Give me your number, please.

6. Caller: '020 6788 9731.' 1. 2. 3. 'All right, I'll tell him.' 'All right, I'll give it to him.' 'Okay, I'll make sure he gets the message.'

7. Caller: 'Thank you very much for your help. Goodbye!' 1. 2. 3. 'See you.' 'Goodbye.' 'Take care.'