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Episode SIXTEEN:
Speaking English on the Phone – Part 2
Last week, we talked all about some practical tips for talking on the phone. One of the biggest tips I can give you when speaking on the phone in English is to be prepared. You should be ready for the topic and prepared with vocabulary words that will be tough, as well as be confident with pronunciation. The more prepared you are for a phone conversation, the better it will go.
Last week was all about advice for having a successful phone conversation in English, and how to avoid the challenges.
This week, I’m going to give you some easy phrases you should say on the phone to sound more like a fluent English speaker.
Now let’s talk about some helpful phrases that you can use while on the phone.
Introducing Yourself
This is Andrea.
Hello, Andrea speaking
If you are answering for a business, you can usually just state the business name. You can also add “How can I help you?” For example, “Thank you for calling Study With Andrea. How can I help you?”
Asking Who Is on the Telephone
Sometimes, you’ll need to find out who is calling. Ask them politely for this information.
May (Can) I ask who is calling, please?
Sorry, I don’t have your number in my phone. Who’s this?
Asking for Someone
At other times, you’ll need to speak to someone else, especially when calling business. Here are some examples:
Could I speak to…?
Is Josh in? (Idiom meaning: Is Josh in the office right now?)
Is Josh available?
Another part of the conversation that can be difficult is knowing how to close a conversation. You don’t just want to say “goodbye” at the end of the conversation. It might sound rude to others if you end the call too quickly.
That’s why it’s often helpful to have a pre-closer. What is a pre-closer? It’s a sentence or phrase that politely lets your conversation partner know that you need to get off the phone. Most conversations need at least one pre-closer. Some people will use several pre-closers, depending on the relationship the two people have. Pre-closers also will vary depending on the local culture. For example, people from the southern United States usually take longer to close a conversation than people from the northeast United States.
Here are a few pre-closers that you can say when you’re ready to start closing the conversation:
Pre-closers with Friends
Well, it’s been great talking to you…
I’m so glad that you called!
This has been fun.
Well, I’d better let you go.
Pre-closers in Business
I appreciate your call.
Thanks for your time.
Practice these phrases, so that you can be confident speaking on the phone. And don’t forget my helpful tips for phone confidence. Whether you’re calling your internet provider, talking to your son’s school, or ordering pizza, these tips will help you understand others and be understood on the phone.
Happy learning!
P.S. If you want to dramatically improve your pronunciation skills, take my latest course Clear English Pronunciation. People are changing their lives by taking this course! The results have been dramatic. Simply visit StudyWithAndrea.com/speak to learn more.
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The following is a TOEFL Reading practice test to help you prepare for the Reading section of the TOEFL test.
Instructions: Read the sample passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
TOEFL Reading Practice Passage
Gorillas are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forest of central Sub-Saharan Africa. The genus Gorilla is divided into two species: the eastern gorillas and the western gorillas (both critically endangered), and either four or five subspecies. They are the largest living primates. The DNA of gorillas is highly similar to that of humans, from 95 to 99% depending on what is included, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the chimpanzees and bonobos.
Gorillas' natural habitats cover tropical or subtropical forest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Although their range covers a small percentage of Sub-Saharan Africa, gorillas cover a wide range of elevations. The mountain gorilla inhabits the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2,200 to 4,300 metres (7,200 to 14,100 ft). Lowland gorillas live in dense forests and lowland swamps and marshes as low as sea level, with western lowland gorillas living in Central West African countries and eastern lowland gorillas living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near its border with Rwanda.
(#1) Gorillas move around by knuckle-walking, although they sometimes walk upright for short distances, typically while carrying food or in defensive situations. (#2) A 2018 study investigating the hand posture of 77 mountain gorillas at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (8% of the population) found that knuckle walking was done only 60% of the time, and they also supported their weight on their fists, the backs of their hands/feet, and on their palms/soles (with the digits flexed). (#3) Studies of gorilla handedness have yielded varying results, with some arguing for no preference for either hand, and others right-hand dominance for the general population. (#4)
The eastern gorilla is more darkly colored than the western gorilla, with the mountain gorilla being the darkest of all. The mountain gorilla also has the thickest hair. The western lowland gorilla can be brown or grayish with a reddish forehead. In addition, gorillas that live in lowland forest are more slender and agile than the more bulky mountain gorillas. The eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla. Like humans, gorillas have individual fingerprints. Their eye color is dark brown, framed by a black ring around the iris. Gorilla facial structure is described as mandibular prognathism, that is, the mandible protrudes farther out than the maxilla. Adult males also have a prominent sagittal crest.
A gorilla's lifespan is normally between 35 and 40 years, although zoo gorillas may live for 50 years or more. Colo, a female western gorilla at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was the oldest known gorilla at 60 years of age when she died on 17 January 2017.
Questions
1. According to the passage, gorillas can live in
a. a variety of altitudes.
b. several different countries in Africa.
c. thick forests.
d. lowland forests only.
2. All of the following is true about gorillas EXCEPT
a. they primarily eat smaller animals.
b. they live in a forest habitat.
c. their genetics are similar to humans.
d. their diet consists of vegetation.
3. Look at the word predominantly in paragraph 1. The word predominantly in this passage refers to
a. impulsively
b. unfortunately
c. mainly
d. lastly
4. Look at the word inhabits in paragraph 2. The word inhabits in this passage refers to
a. lives in
b. protects
c. goes
d. works
5. The author implies that
a. most gorillas prefer using their left hand over their right.
b. gorillas rarely walk on their knuckles.
c. gorillas regularly walk upright for long distances.
d. studies haven't solidly proven which hand gorillas prefer using.
6. Why does the writer mention that the eastern gorilla also has a longer face and broader chest than the western gorilla?
a. To validate the importance a broad chest in western gorillas
b. To define the meaning of "broad"
c. To highlight a physical difference between types of gorillas
d. To demonstrate that most gorillas are identical in physical build
7. Which of the following statements is true for BOTH eastern and western gorillas.
a. Both eastern and western gorrilas are brown with red foreheads.
b. Both eastern and western gorrilas have unique fingerprints.
c. Both eastern and western gorrilas have thin hair.
d. Both eastern and western gorrilas have light brown eyes.
8. In Paragraph 3, look at the four numbers (#1, #2, #3, #4) that indicate where the following sentence would be added to the passage.
Such a range of hand postures was previously thought to have been used by only orangutans.
Where would the sentence best fit?
(View all the correct answers below.)
Great job! If you're ready to take your TOEFL preparation to the next level, go to StudyWithAndrea.com/TOEFL.
Answers: 1. d 2. a 3. c 4. a 5. d 6. c 7. b 8. #3
Click on one of the following links to start speaking clearer English!
1) TOEFL MASTER CLASS
2) free mini-course "punctuation mistakes to avoid"
3) Clear English Pronunciation Video Course
4) English Vocabulary - Audio Files & PDF - TOEFL & IELTS
About Andrea
Andrea Giordano is the founder of StudyWithAndrea.com and has taught more than 1,000,000 students from 180 countries. Andrea holds a Master of Education (TESOL) from Shenandoah University, and is the former Executive Director of TESOL and ESL programs at Campbellsville University. Andrea is a proven leader in online English teaching and is driven by her passion to help you speak English clearly.
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