English Conversation ANSWERING THE TELEPHONE
Improve English Speaking through everyday conversation
Learn English as Foreign Language-45 Tutorials
I have written a detailed book English conversation for all occasions, to learn English as Foreign Language.
This tutorial has been prepared from my well known book English conversation for all occasions, which I wrote for Indian students to improve everyday conversation..
English Conversation for All Occasions is a unique book of its kind, specially written to help Indian student. A quick look at the titles of the lessons would convince the reader that the book has been prepared by visualizing all types of situational conversations which may confront any man or woman in his daily activities. Whether one converses with his family members or moves about to mix in society, he will not feel tongue-tied for want of appropriate words or expressions. In a post office or barber’s shop, at a hotel or taxi stand, every person who has read this book, will be able to speak in English fluently and with confidence.
Good knowledge and satisfactory conversation drill is important in English speaking. This Tutorial would not only prove an asset to the reader in his daily life, but also on special occasions like interviews for jobs, etc. He would be able to face the interviewers with equanimity and confidence.
All the lessons have been designed in a programmed fashion. Word-meanings, Phrases and exercises have been added at the end of every lesson to help the students master the topics.
All the lesson should be read along, not once but many times, so that the conversation comes easy to the reader when he faces real life situations. The author would feel rewarded for his labours if the book helps men and women become social relations
This Tutorial should help all those readers who find difficulty in speaking fluent English. This will be completed in 45 lessons.
Please comment or send me E Mail at bookgharinfo@gmail.com
At Rama’s store, the telephone operator is a girl called Asha Mishra. The telephone rings.
Operato Rama’s store. Good morning.
Caller Is that Rama’s store.
Operator Yes. Whom do you want to speak to?
Caller May I speak to Miss Sudesh?
Operator In which department does Miss Sudesh work.
Caller In general sales
Operator Right, I’ll connect you to general sales
Operator (Receiving a call from the marketing section of Rama’s stores) yes sir.
Marketing
Manager Please get me Mr. Raman for Travel India
Operator Do you know the number sir?
Marketing
Manager No. Please look up the telephone directory.
Operator I’ll do that. I’ll call you back later.
There is another outside call.
Operator Rama’s store. Good morning.
Caller What is your number please?
Operator I am speaking from 44568
Caller Is it 454589?
Operator No. Sir. You have the wrong number
Caller Sorry. But you are sure that you are not speaking from Ayurvedic Drugs?
Operator I am sure Sir.
The operator now calls up Mr. Raman at Travel India. She dials the number 619434.
Travel India 619434
Operator from
Rama’s store Is that Travel India?
Travel India Yes.
Operator from
Rama’s store May I speak to Mr. Raman. Mr.Kukreti from Rama’s store would like to speak to him.
Travel India Just a minute please.
Operator from
Rama’s Store (Ringing Mr.Kukreti) Your call to Mr. Raman of Travel India, Sir.
Travel India (Ringing the internal telephone of Mr. Raman) Sir; there is a call from Mr.Kukreti of Rama’s store for you.
Mr. Raman All right. Please put him on. (Click on the phone) Hello
Mr.Kukreti Hello Mr. Raman Kukreti from Rama’s store. How are you?
Mr. Raman well, thank you. What can I do for you Mr.Kukreti?
Mr.Kukreti I want an air ticket to Bangalore Mr. Raman. I was wondering whether you could handle this for me?
Mr. Raman When do you want to travel?
Mr.Kukreti On Friday, 23rd by the evening flight if that is possible.
Mr. Raman Right. I’ll check on that. Should I send the ticket over to your office?
Mr.Kukreti Yes, that will be nice. Incidentally, please bill the cost of the ticket to Rama’s store.
Mr. Raman I’ll do that. Thank you. Good bye.
The telephone board has two outside lines. A salesgirl is used to making long personal outside calls.
Salesgirl (Tapping tha phone) please get me 351476.
Operator Whose number is that, Madam?
Salesgirl Friend, don’t be so stickly. This is a personal call
Operator I’ll put it through, but don’t take too long over it. Here is your number ringing now.
Salesgirl Hello? Please call Sujata from upstairs.
There is a long wait.
Sujata Hello. Is that Bela?
Bela Yes. How was the evening?
Sujata All right.
Bela Then?
Sujata Then what? I’ll tell you about it when we meet in the evening. What are you doing?
Bela Nothing much. What else is the news?
Sujata Nothing come on think of something. I’m getting so bored sitting at home.
Operator (Interrupting the conversation). Please try to finish. I have lots of official calls to make.
Bela All right. Tell me about the movie you saw day before yesterday?
Sujata I’ didn’t enjoy it at all.
Bela Why?
Sujata My mother was in a bad mood because one of the potatoes turned out to be rotten?
Bela What have potatoes got to do with the movie?
Sujata Nothing. But my mother was in bad mood over the potatoes.
Operator Please finish. I am disconnecting now.
An outside call comes in.
Operator Good morning, Rama’s store
Caller What is the matter with your telephone I’ve been calling your number for the last half an hour and it has been engaged all the time!
Operator Sorry Sir. The number may have been busy. May I help you, Sir?
Caller Well, hurry up and get me Mr.Kukreti.
Operator I’m sorry sir, he has just gone out.
May I take a message for him?
Caller Yes, please tell him that there are no seats available on the Friday evening flight to Bangalore. We have booked him provisionally for Saturday morning. Please request him to confirm this new schedule.
Operator Are you Mr. Raman from Travel India? Right Sir. I’ll convey your message to Mr.Kukreti as soon as he comes in.
Caller Thank you.
Operator You are welcome sir.
(B) VOCABULARY
receiver dial
humming cradle
slot PBX board
PHRASES
dial tone to dial a number
number is engaged to be cut off.
MEANINGS
receiver the part of the telephone which you raise to your ear and also speak into
cradle the part of the instrument on which the receiver rests.
dial the round plate on which the numbers are shown
dial tone the humming sound which tells you that the telephone can be used.
slot a narrow opening into which you put in the money at a public telephone
tapping striking with light or gentle blows or to signal
PBX Private Branch exchange
(C) Study the following responses
1 What was the correct way for the caller to ask for Miss Sudesh?
Response: The caller should not have wasted so much time in asking three questions and giving so many replies. The caller should have asked straight away “May I speak to Miss Sudesh from general sales, please.”
2 Comment on the wrong number call.
Response: This is a typical example of how irritatingly persistent people can be. Once the caller realized that he had the wrong number. He should have apologized and hung up.
3 Examine the manner in which the operator from Rama’s store connected Mr.Kukreti to Mr. Raman of Travel India. What did you learn?
Response: The call was put through efficiently by both operators. There was a minimum wastage of words and time. Full information was immediately supplied. Expect perhaps in the case of Travel India. Whose first response should have been “619434, Travel India”. The operator must identify herself clearly and fully at the first instance. The other thing that emerges is that it is good telephone manners for the caller to be on the line before the person who is being called comes on the line. The example quoted here is that Mr.Kukreti (Caller) was on the line before Mr. Raman was put on the line.
(D) Make suitable response
1 What was wrong with the telephone conversation between Bela and Sujata made from the showroom of Rama’s store?
Response ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________
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2 Is it the duty of the telephone operator to receive and convey messages? Or she should have been unhelpful and said “Please call again. I can’t take the message.”
Response ________________________________________________
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3 What do you think of the conversation between Raman and Kukreti? Should they not have been more friendly and chatted about their work, the weather and their families?
Response _______________________________________________
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