English Club: #15
Topic: telephone & instructions
Ice breaker: (15 min) Instruction practice. Pass out a blank piece of paper to each student and tell them to follow your instructions. Start with the first activity on the “Drawing Instructions” sheet attached. Ask your class to show their drawings to you and discuss the differences. Repeat with the second and third activities.
Small groups: Divide into as many groups as there are facilitators.
1. (10 min) Vocabulary. Pass out the “telephone phrases” sheet. Explain that these are different phrases we commonly use when talking on the telephone. Next, go through the phrases and discuss new words with your students.
2. (20 min) Telephone practice. Divide your class into groups of two and pass out the first telephone dialogue to each pair. Have them read through the dialogue with their partner twice, switching roles the second time through. Next, ask for any unfamiliar words or phrases and explain them to your class. Finally, have them turn the paper over and try to have a similar phone conversation with one-another. Repeat with the second and third exercises.
3. (10 min) Discussion. Talk about the following questions as a group:
· Do you like to talk with your friends on the phone? Explain.
· How would life be different if we didn’t have cell phones?
· How much time do you spend talking on the phone each day? With whom?
· Do you read your new cell phone instructions or try to figure it out yourself?
· Is it difficult for you to follow instructions? Explain.
4. (15 min) Telephone dialogue creation. Give each pair one of the situations below and ask them to create a telephone dialogue to share with the rest of the class.
· Inviting a friend to your birthday party
· Making a haircut appointment
· Asking the bank for your account balance
· Asking a store about a computer you want to buy
· Inviting a friend to English club
· Making a reservation at a restaurant
· Calling the airport for information on your flight
5. (10 min) Oral anecdote. Explain to your group that they are to try and remember as much as they can about the anecdote as your read it to them. Read the anecdote twice to your group and ask questions to test their comprehension (examples found in part A). Next, ask if there are any unfamiliar words in this story. Finally, ask one student to summarize what happened in this story and have another student explain why this story is funny.
Large group: (10 min) Idioms. Go through the following idioms:
o We are just chatting.o Let’s connect tomorrow after lunch.
o He hung up on me!
Drawing instructions
Activity #1
1. Draw a large circle in the center of your paper.
2. Draw a line from the center of the circle to the top, right corner of your paper.
3. Draw a triangle to the left of the circle.
4. Draw a square to the right of the circle.
5. Draw a line from the triangle to the square.
6. Draw a line near the bottom of the paper from one edge to the other edge.
7. Draw a small car on this line.
8. Draw a flower in the top, left corner of your paper.
9. Draw a star above the car.
10. Draw a line from the star to the flower.
Activity #2
1. Turn the paper over.
2. Draw a line near the bottom of the paper from one edge to the other edge.
3. Draw a large square above the line so that the bottom edge touches the line.
4. Draw a triangle above the square so that the bottom edge touches the top of the square.
5. Draw two smaller squares inside the large square.
6. Draw a circle near the top, right corner of your paper.
7. Draw five short lines around the circle.
8. Draw a bird above the triangle.
9. Draw a man sitting on the triangle.
10. Write your name below the line.
Activity #3
1. Fold your paper in half.
2. Fold your paper in half again.
3. Unfold your paper
4. Write the number “1” in the top, left square and “4” in the bottom right square.
5. Turn your paper over.
6. Fold your paper in half twice.
7. If you can see the number 1, write “3” on the other side.
8. If you can see the number 4, write “2” on the other side.
9. Unfold your paper.
Telephone phrases
· Thank you for calling Wal-Mart. Fred speaking. How can I help you?
· Doctor's office.
B: / · Hey Fred. It's George calling. (informal)
· Hello, this is George from the dentist's office.
· Is Fred in? (informal)
· Is Fred there, please? (informal)
· Can I talk to your brother? (informal)
· May I speak with Mr. Green, please?
A: / · This is he.
· Speaking.
· Just a sec. I'll get him. (informal)
· Hang on one second. (informal)
· One moment please.
· Fred’s not in. Who's this? (informal)
· I'm sorry, Fred’s not here at the moment. Can I take a message?
· He's busy right now. Can you call again later?
· All of our operators are busy at this time. Please hold.
B: / · Yes, can you tell him his brother called, please?
· No, that's okay, I'll call back later.
· Yes, it's George. When do you expect him back in the office?
· Thanks; could you ask him to call Fred when he gets in?
A: / · I'll let him know you called.
· I'll make sure he gets the message.
· I’ll pass your message on to Fred.
· You said your name was George, right?
· Let me write that down so I don’t forget.
· Well, I guess I better get going. Talk to you soon.
· Thanks for calling. Bye.
· I'll talk to you again soon. Good-bye.
B: / · Ok, bye.
· See you later.
Practice 1: Making an Appointment
Receptionist: / Thank you for calling maple Dental Clinic. Jennifer speaking. How can I help you?Shannon: / Hi Jennifer. This is Shannon Smith calling. How are you today?
Receptionist: / I'm fine Mrs. Smith. How are you?
Shannon: / Well, actually, I have a sore tooth. I was hoping Dr. Morris would have some time to see me this week.
Receptionist: / I’m afraid he's busy this week. I can write you down for 2pm next Tuesday. How does that sound?
Shannon: / That would be great.
Receptionist: / Let me give you the address of our new office.
Shannon: / Oh, that's right, you moved.
Receptionist: / Yes, we moved downtown. Do you have a pen and paper?
Shannon: / Yes, I’m ready.
Receptionist: / Okay, we are at 723 Baltic Avenue. Suite 004.
Shannon: / Okay great. I'll see you on Tuesday.
Receptionist: / Okay. Thanks for calling. See you then.
Shannon: / Thanks. Bye.
Practice 2: Taking a Message
Leslie: / Hello?Cameron: / Hi, is this Leslie?
Leslie: / Yes
Cameron: / It's Cameron. Is Maria in?
Leslie: / No, she just stepped out for a moment. Can I take a message?
Cameron: / Yes, thanks. Could you ask her to meet me at the Capitol movie theater at 7 pm tonight?
Leslie: / Sure. Let me write that down. Oh Cameron. Could you wait a second? I have to find something to write on.
Cameron: / No problem.
Leslie: / Hi. Sorry about that. Now could you please repeatthat information?
Cameron: / Sure. It's the Capitol theater at 7 o'clock.
Leslie: / Okay, I've got it. Is there anything else?
Cameron: / No, that's all.
Leslie: / Okay. I will pass your message on to Maria.
Cameron: / Okay, thanks. Good-bye
Leslie: / See you later.
Practice 3: Ordering a Pizza
Cafe: / Pepi's Pizza. One moment please. Thank you for waiting. How can I help you?Customer: / Hi. I'd like to order a pizza please.
Cafe: / Jim speaking. Is this for take-out or delivery?
Customer: / Delivery please.
Cafe: / Can I have your name and address please?
Customer: / My name is...
Cafe: / Sorry, it's really noisy in here. Could you speak upa little please?
Customer: / Oh, sure. This is Angie Smith. My address is number two Front Street.
Cafe: / Is that an apartment or a house?
Customer: / It's an apartment. Number seventeen.
Cafe: / Okay. And what would you like to order today?
Customer: / I'd like a large pepperoni pizza with mushrooms, onions and extra cheese.
Cafe: / One large pepperoni pizza with mushrooms and onions. Is there anything else?
Customer: / Yes, I would also like two bottles of Pepsi.
Cafe: / Okay. Is that all?
Customer: / Yes, how long will that be?
Cafe: / It will be about thirty minutes, Miss Smith.
Customer: / And how much will it cost?
Cafe: / The total will be $18.50.
Customer: / Ok, thank you. Good-bye.
Cafe: / Thanks for calling. Bye.