Pearson Education Limited, E:dinburgh Gate I-Iarlow Essex CM20 2JE, England and Associated Companies throughout the world www.longman-elt.com © Mark Ellis, Nina O'Oriscoll and Adrian Pilbeam 1987 Published jointly by Studentlitteratur AB, Lund, Sweden and Longman Group UK Limited, London, England All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publishers First published 1987 ~Irst published in colour 1992 Ninth impression 2000 ISBN 582 09306 Set in.9/11 pt Linotron 202 Helvetica Printed in China SWTC/09 We are grateful to the following for their permission to reproduce copyright photographs: British Telecommunications PLC for page 13.jTeleFocus for page 34; The Image Bank for page 50 ,/Kaz Mori for page and/Steve Niedort for page 37; Tony Stone Worldwide for pages 19, 30 and 43 Cover Photograph by The Image Bank/Jay Freis Contents Introduction Getting through, introducing yourself and taking messages Recorded messages 13 Fixing appointments 19 Discussing information; changing appointments 30 Making a booking; repeating and clarifying information 37 Checking and discussing information 43 Participating in a telephone conference 50 Key Glossary 59 80 INTRODUCTION TO THE LEARNER Telephoning is part of the Longman Business English Skills series It presents and practises the language used in business situations where the conversation is carried out by telephone The conversations in each unit take place in familiar situations in different types of company and in different types of offices within those companies It allows you, as the learner, to both hear and practise the kind of language common to many situations Objectives The book assumes from the start that you have at least a basic general knowledge of English , and that your aim is to improve in an area of more specialized usage The book has a double function: to allow you to hear and understand fluent conversations and to practise some of the most useful language yourself The dialogues First you are presented with a dialogue, in Part of each unit You should listen to this as many times as you like to gain a general understanding, but you should not, at this point, read the tapescript To help you understand the dialogue better, turn first to the Listening for information section which contains questions intended to guide you Next, turn to the Focus on Language section , whose purpose is to help you focus on particular language points In both cases, the objective is to improve your understanding Pronunciation The Pronunciation work is designed to improve your spoken English Note the following three points contractions - this is when certain words , often auxiliary verbs, are reduced to a single consonant In every repetition practice in this book , this will be signalled to you by a line underneath the contraction liaison - this means the linking of two words by joining the last sound of one , when it is a consonant, to the first sound of the other, when it is a vowel The two together make a new syllable This is signalled to you by a half circle underneath the parts of the words to be joined stress - some words in a sentence are more important than others: and within those words , there is always one syllable which carries stress, or the main accent This is signalled to you by a circle showing you which syllable to pronounce more strongly Words which are important to the theme of a unit, and which might also be new to you , can be found in the glossary at the end of each unit There is also a general glossary of useful telephoning expressions on page 80 This book is designed above all for the student studying alone without the aid of a teacher, and this becomes especially apparent in Part of each unit, where the objective is to give you extensive practice at speaking through a series of Activities The objective of many of these activities is to simulate a dialogue Because you will very often be working alone , rather than with a teacher who could provide a response , you will find the other half of the conversation on the cassette You should prepare yourself to answer or to ask questions from the information in your book and then you should try to 'hold a conversation' with the cassette , speaking in the spaces provided If you are working alone and without the use of a language laboratory, you can add to the value of this activity by using a second cassette recorder and a blank tape and recording yourself doing each exercise You can then compare your versions with the ones on the cassette ne key The key contains the tapescripts and answers When you have finished Part of each unit, you can read the script while liste.nirig to the dialogue The answers to the Practices and Activities follow the tapescripts Remember that the answers to the Activities are suggested student responses Yours could be different However, the versions in the answer section can be used as models Approach The cassette recorder gives you great flexibility In particular, you are able to replay a dialogue or part of a dialogue as many times as you wish Do not be afraid to refer to the scripts to help you , if you find the dialogue too difficult You may want to this quite a lot, especially in the early stages If you take this approach , and not use the book and cassette as a testing device, you will find that as you progress through the units your understanding and ability to respond correctly will improve dramatically Getting through, introducing yourself and taking messages Getting through, introducing yourself and taking messages UT The object of this part of the unit is to present ways of getting through to the person you wish to speak to, and of introducing yourself ,round You are going to hear Steve Newman , manager of a small company speaking to the switchboard operator in a large office block in London which is shared by many companies He then speaks to an administrative assistant in a company which provides service offices Steve Newman's company is at present based in a London suburb , but would like to move to central London in order to be better placed to take on more business Listen to the conversation and use the memo to record the relevant details you think would be noted down by the administrative assistant at Victoria Holdings Victoria Holdings Ltd Memo Date _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ To _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ - - -_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ called Time _ Caller's number is Message From _ ~ 1 Getting through, introducing yourself and taking messages le l Focus on Language Listen to the conversation again and write down phrases that correspond to the list of purposes below Some have been done as examples PHRASE Conversation between the switchboard operator and Steve Newman Giving the reason for the call Offering to get the right person They're the people that deal with it Saying they are in charge , or responsible for it _ _ Conversation between Steve Newman and Charles Hughes the administrative assistant Asking the caller if he will wait The caller is showing he is prepared to wait The operator is explaining the connection has been made Victoria Holdings Answering by giving the name Could I have the name of the company, please? This is a polite way of asking for information 10 Maylhaveyourname? PURPOSE I'd like to speak to someone about The assistant wants to know how to write the name This is a polite way of asking the caller's name 11 The assistant promises to give the information to the right person 12 _ Asking if the person can be contacted later Getting through, introducing yourself and taking messages 13 I'll get Michael Green to call you back The assistant promises action 14 Thank you for your call Closing the conversation Check your answers in the key PRACTICE 1 In the following conversation, choose the most suitable response A Hello, is that accounts? B Yes, it is.!1 am (1) A I'd like to speak to Sara Adams, please B I amiThis is (2) Sara Adams A Hello, my name is Peter Brown, from Pacesetters I calliI'm calling (3) about a bill we sent you B Oh, you should speak to my colleague, Roger Simons I'll put you through to his extension A Thank you B The line's busy Are you holding?I Will you hold? (4) A Yes, I am.!1 will (5) B I'm afraid the line is still busy WouldlCould (6) you give me your number and 111'11 (7) ask him to call you againlback? (8) A Yes, certainly It's 56-89839 B Thank you Goodbye Check your answers in the key A Goodbye Language Summary Will This section draws attention to some of the language used in the dialogue EXAMPLE COMMENT I'll put you through Will is used in an immediate reaction , in order to offer or promise to something for the caller When speaking we usually use the contraction ('/~ , although not at the beginning of a question I'll hold on I'll pass this information on I'll get him to that Will you hold? Who'll be able to help you? Getting through, introducing yourself and taking messages Get Prepositions I'll get him to thatl to ring you back Get is a commonly used verb in English : here, it means I'll ask him to /'II' put you through to Victoria Holdings Notice the prepositions are part of the verb Can he ring you back? I'm interested in renting office space la l Telephone numbers 01-449-8927 PRACTICE Pronunciation Notice that we usually say " double four" Listen to the cassette and repeat the phrases, without the aid of the book Then listen and repeat with the book , or after having looked at it PHRASE 0 please I'd like to speak to someone about renting office space, ~ '-.J o Will you hold? o I'll hold on - \.J Can I hJ'Jp you? I'm 'iltterested in renting gffice space - 0\.J J Could you spell that name for me, please? o May I have your name? \J and your number? o 00 01-449-8927 "10 "/1 pa~s - this information gn OV 11 Can he ring you back? '-' 00 12 Yes, certainly 13 I'll g~t Michael -0 Gre~n to call you ba~k 14 Thank you for your call 10 Key As I understand it, the General Union Loan Scheme is designed to help small companies Is that right? PRACTICE 2 I've been told a loan is more appropriate than an overdraft Is that right? I believe Wool Touch is expanding into the American market Is that right? I've heard that Wool Touch won a design award last year Is that right? PRACTICE A Shall we say Tuesday at the Commodore Hotel? Shall we say 12% over 18 months? B formal formal informal informal ACTIVITY Helen Green You Helen Green You Helen Green You Helen Green You Hello, Helen Green Hello Helen, I'd like to arrange a meeting Yes , when? What about Monday morning? Monday morning? That's K What time? Shall we say eleven? Eleven 's fine Bye now Bye ACTIVITY Rafael You Rafael You Rafael You Rafael You ACTIVITY Hello, this is Rafael I'm returning your call Hello, I'd like to fix an appointment to see you Yes, certainly When for? Let me get my diary What about Wednesday morning? Wednesday morning OK What time? Shall we say half past nine? Half past nine suits me Look forward to seeing you then Bye Bye Missing sentences from the conversation Speaking This is Yes Would ten o'clock suit you? or How about ten o'clock? 67 That's fine or That's okay with me See you then ACTIVITY Sophie Weiss Tito Saronno Sophie Weiss Tito Saronno Sophie Weiss Tito Saronno Sophie Weiss Tito Saronno Sophie Weiss Tito Saronno Sophie Weiss Tito Saronno Sophie Weiss Tito Saronno Sophie Weiss Hello, Sophie Weiss Hello, this is Tito Saronno I'd like some information about your insurance benefit schemes Yes, what exactly are you interested in? You cover countries outside the U.K., don 't you? Yes, we specialize in people working abroad And I believe you have group policies, don't you? Yes, we I could send you our brochure if you like Was it medical or pension you were interested in? Medical Right, I'll send something you can have a look at and if it's interesting just give me a ring Can I have your name again al'ld address? Yes, it's Tito Saronno, that's double 'n' Yes And it's 30c via Turati , Milan Right I'll put that in the post today Thank you Bye Goodbye The broker did not tick o o o voluntary International Pensions Group Life There was one mistake: the street number was not 36, it was 30c Key UNIT TAPESCRIPT AND ANSWERS Janine Berman Nils Ekstrom Janine Berman Nils Ekstrom Janine Berman Janine Berman Hello, Janine, this is Nils Ekstrbm calling from Sweden Ah, hello Nils How are you? Oh, fine thanks It's about our meeting - I'm afraid I won 't be able to make it after all Oh dear Would you like to arrange another date? Nils Ekstrom Well , not immediately You see , we're very busy here - but I have heard some interesting rumours about the new PAL Janine Berman Yes, well, I think we can say that the PAL is very promising even if the stock market is behaving a bit strangely Nils Ekstrom Hm - the market is bad at the moment - actually some people are saying the shares are too high Janine Berman I think that's understandable and - er - in fact the AGM in two weeks' time is going to be an excellent chance for the President to clarify things for shareholders Nils Ekstrom Well , actually I am coming to the AGM and I'll be bringing a client who is in fact quite a large shareholder Janine Berman Ah well, that's very interesting I'll look forward to seeing you then and perhaps we could have a chat there instead Nils Ekstrom Listening for information Yes , indeed I'll look forward to it To explain he cannot come to the meeting He cancelled it Yes (behaving strangely - bad) No (the shares are too high) Yes, probably, because of the new PAL Yes No He wanted to talk about the company's situation, as well Focus on Language It's about our meeting - I'm afraid the PAL is very promising even if the stock market is behaving a bit strangely Well, actually, I am coming Yes, indeed Let's make it Friday Could you make it next week? PRACTICE Shall we make it 10 o'clock? 69 Key I'm afraid I can 't make the department meeting S I'm sorry but I can 't make the first appointment ACTIVITY I won 't be able to make Friday I'm afraid REASONS WH Y THEY ARE SIMILAR Numbers Numbers Numbers Numbers Numbers and and and and and mean 10 mean mean mean mean not available not present specifically not in already busy not available today ACTIVITY Patient You Patient You Patient You Patient You Patient You Patient You ACTIVITY Can I speak to Or Rogers , please? I'm afraid she'll be out all morning Could you put me through to Or Lemon , please? I'm sorry, but he's with a patient I'd like to speak to Or Willis I'm sorry but she's on holiday Or Morris, please I'm afraid he's not in today Could I speak to Or Poole, please? I'm sorry but she's not available at the moment Can I have Or Nahri, please? I'm afraid he's sick today The 1984 French arms sales total was $6.66 bn which was double the 1983 total Indeed, it was a record In Europe, wages are linked to prices and unemployment grows In Japan, wages are linked to company profits In fact, unemployment is relatively insignificant Natural Grain Products started in 1970 Its preSident, Laurence Ford, is now a rich man Actually, sales totalled $7 m last year UNIT TAPESCRIPTS AND KEY Employee Josephine Pinzan Employee Josephine Pinzan Ingrid Bellini 70 6824 Is that the restaurant? No, it isn 't You 've got the wrong extension The restaurant is 6428 Just a minute I'll see if I can put you through Thank you , sorry to trouble you Mrs Bellini Key Josephine Pinzan Ingrid Bellini Josephine Ingrid Be/lini Josephine Pinzan Ingrid Be/lini Josephine Pinzan Ingrid Be/lini Josephine Pinzan Ingrid Bellini Josephine Pinzan Ingrid Bellini Josephine Pinzan Ingrid Be/lini Josephine Pinzan Ingrid Bellini Josephine Pinzan Ingrid Bellini Josephine Pinzan Ingrid Bellini Josephine Pinzan Ingrid Be/lini Josephine Pinzan Listening for information Hello, this is Josephine Pinzan , I'm the new Press Officer Sorry, I didn 't catch your surname Pinzan P.I.N.Z.A.N Oh yes, now I recognize it How can I help you Mrs Pinzan? I'd like to book a room for lunch next Thursday I've got some people from Associated Press coming I'm afraid this is a bad line What day did you say? Thursday For lunch We'll be six or seven I'll let you know definitely later on I'm sorry but could you repeat how many? I'm afraid it really is a bad line Six or seven I'll have to confirm it And what kind of menu would you like? Nothing particularly special - what you suggest? Our regular menu , then - we normally offer a starter followed by a main course and salad , cheese and a dessert Could you run through the choices? Yes , you could have fish or meat as a main course , then souffle, ice cream or pie for dessert Sorry, souffle, ice cream or ? Pie We'll have a choice of two or three to offer you Could I think about it and call you back? Yes , please You did say Thursday was all right, didn 't you? I'll check my bookings but I'm pretty sure it is I'll let you have the details as soon as possible Thank you , goodbye Goodbye She confused the numbers in the extension number Yes , she had The line was very faint at that point Seven Something more formal The number of people and the day Focus on Language You 've got the wrong extension Sorry to trouble you 71 Key I didn 't catch your surname What day did you say? Could you repeat how many? 10 Could you run through the choices? 11 Sorry, souffle, ice cream or ? 13 Yes, please 14 You did say Thursday was all right, didn 't you? 16 I'll let you have the details as soon as possible ACTIVITY Bonnard You Bonnard You Bonnard You Bonnard You Bonnard You Hello? Bonnard speaking Hello, is that Mr Bonner? Sorry Mr who? Mr Bonner Could you spell that? B.O.N N.E.R No, this is Mr Bonnard What extension did you want? 5410 This is 5019 I'll put you back to the switchboard and they'll connect you Thank you ACTIVITY Bassett Stott Bassett Stott Bassett Stott Bassett Stott Bassett 72 Hello, James Bassett Hello Mr Bassett Simon Stott here - I'd like to ask whether you 'd be interested in seeing your products more widely available to potential customers Sorry, what did you say your name was? Simon Stott, that's S.T.O.T.T , sales director We deal with sophisticated firms such as yourselves and can offer you the possibility of wider exposure for your products than you 're probably getting already So it's about advertising , is it? Yes , but I should pOint out that as specialists ourselves we can put you in touch with the kind of customer you 're aiming your products at , through our review Could you give me the name of your review? Yes , it's The Advertiser and we have a circulation in your area alone of 45,000 So, it's The Advertiser and - what did you say the circulation was? Key Stott Bassett Stott Bassett Stott 45,000 but that's just in your immediate area Okay, Mr Stott, I'll have a word with our advertising manager and I expect he'll be in touch Can you leave a phone number? Yes, it's 4402882 Okay Goodbye Bye Essential details Simon Stott Sales director for The Advertiser Circulation: 45,000 Telephone number: 4402882 ACTIVITY Brian Williams You Brian Williams You Brian Williams You Brian Williams You Brian Williams You Brian Williams You Brian Williams You Brian Williams You Brian Williams You Brian Williams Hello? Brian speaking Hello, this is James Hello James, what can I for you? 00 you know The Advertiser? The Advertiser? No, I'm afraid I don't know it I just had a call from Simon Stott, their sales director Sorry? What was the name? Simon Stott, S.T.O.T.T S.T.O.T.T Okay He tells me the circulation figure is 45,000 55,000 - not bad! Not 55,000-45,000 Oh, 45,000 Still Could you phone him? The number is 440 2882 44028 ? 2882 Okay, I'll give him a ring Goodbye Bye ACTIVITY Caller The name of the person I want is Oelanya You Sorry, could you repeat the name? Caller I'd like to come and see you at 11.45 You Sorry, what time did you say? Caller Could I leave a message for Mr O'Arcangelo? 73 You Sorry, Mr who? Caller I'd like to speak to Mrs Dalzell on 5801 You Sorry, I didn 't catch the number S Caller You I'd like to make an appointment for Mrs Zehnacker Could you spell the name? UNIT TAPESCRIPT AND KEY Hanna Willems Lewis Brown Hanna Willems Lewis Brown Hanna Willems Lewis Brown Hanna Willems Lewis Brown Hanna Willems Lewis Brown Hanna Willems Lewis Brown Hanna Willems Lewis Brown Hanna Willems Lewis Brown Hanna Willems Lewis Brown Hanna Willems Lewis Brown Hello Lewis , Hanna here Hello Hanna, how're things? What's the weather like in Amsterdam? A bit cold , what's it like in London? Same , I'm afraid You 've got some figures for me? Yes , I've got our best estimates for January K, I've got the forecast in front of me Go ahead We 'd figured on 220 KT for heavy fuel oil but our best estimate of this is now 200 KT That's a drop of 20 KT Right Why is that? There's been a sharp increase recently in the use of other energy sources The forecast for domestic fuel is 450 KT Have you got anything new there? Yes , our best estimate is now 500 KT That's an increase of 50 KT Yes , in fact this is due to the cold weather we've been having Is the situation likely to change? It's hard to say It could The forecast for gasolene was 180 KT 180 KT, that's right Our best estimate on that is now 150 KT 150 KT! Hanna Willems This is down because of a delay in official price adjustment Lewis Brown Let's run over those estimates again : heavy fuel oil - 200, domestic fuel oil - 500 , gasolene - 150 Hanna Willems Lewis Brown Hanna Willems K Good, we'll be in touch Goodbye now Bye Key Listening for information Focus on Language Month: JANUARY Forecast Best Estimate Heavy Fuel Oil : ~~O 1.00 kG Domestic Fuel Oil : If5{) Ji 500 k.t Gasolene : (Kilotonnes) 160 k.t 700 I[...]... office You should include the following language : This is out at the moment I'll be back Please leave /'JJ call you Glossary broker cargo vessel delivery freight take off 18 someone who does business, especially buying , for other people a specific amount of goods or merchandise usually, a ship taking goods to the door of the buyer any goods, or merchandise being transported when a plane leaves ... Glossary 59 80 INTRODUCTION TO THE LEARNER Telephoning is part of the Longman Business English Skills series It presents and practises the language used in business situations where the conversation... not long ago in the past up until the present You 've got some figures for me? U.S English uses have where U.K English tends to use have got I've got our best estimates for January I've got the... improve your understanding Pronunciation The Pronunciation work is designed to improve your spoken English Note the following three points contractions - this is when certain words , often auxiliary