Telephone dictation

2008 www.teachitworld.com 9413 Page 1 of 3

Student A: You are a receptionist at a large company. Listen to what
Peter says and complete the conversation.


Receptionist: Good morning, ABC factory store. Adabel speaking.
Peter: Oh, hello, .................... .................... Peter from the Inca branch.
.................... .................... speak to Julia Roberts please?
Receptionist: Hold the line please. Ill try her number. Hello, Im sorry but shes
not available at the moment. Can you call back later?
Peter: Yes, ok but could I .................... .................... message ....................
.................... ? Its urgent.
Receptionist: Of course. Can I take your details please?
Peter: Yes, The names Peter Schmidt and my number is ....................
Receptionist: And can you spell your surname for me please?
Peter: Of course, its ....................
Receptionist: Fine, and the message please?
Peter: Right, could .................... .................... .................... weve had a break-in
at the factory and I need .................... .................... about the insurance
as soon as possible.
Receptionist: OK, thats fine. Oh, Im sorry I didnt get the number. Can you
repeat it please?
Peter: Yes, its 971 34 67 55 but why dont you .................... a note
.................... my mobile too - its 606 785 466, just in case.
Receptionist: Ok, Ill make sure she gets that as soon as shes free.
Peter: Thanks. Oh, and .................... .................... ....................Tell her Im in
the office until .................... Perhaps she could .................... me
.................... before then.
Receptionist: No problem. Thank you for calling.
Telephone dictation
2008 www.teachitworld.com 9413 Page 2 of 3

Student B: You are Peter Schmidt. Listen to the receptionist and
complete the conversation.

Receptionist: Good morning, ABC factory store. Adabel ........................
Peter: Oh, hello, this is Peter from the Inca branch. Can I speak to Julia
Roberts please?
Receptionist: Hold .................... .................... please. Ill .................... ....................
number. Hello, Im sorry but shes .................... .................... at the
moment. Can you .................... .................... later?
Peter: Yes, ok but could I leave a message for her? Its urgent.
Receptionist: Of course. Can I .................... .................... .................... please?
Peter: Yes, The names Peter Schmidt and my number is 971 34 67 55
Receptionist: And can you .................... .................... .................... ....................
.................... please?
Peter: Of course, its S.C.H.M.I.D.T.
Receptionist: .................... and the message please?
Peter: Right, could you tell her weve had a break-in at the factory and I
need some information about the insurance as soon as possible.
Receptionist: OK, thats fine. Oh, Im sorry I .................... .................... the number.
Can you .................... .................... please?
Peter: Yes, its 971 34 67 55 but why dont you make a note of my mobile
too - its 606 785 466, just in case.
Receptionist: Ok, Ill make sure she gets that as soon as .................... ....................
Peter: Thanks oh and one last thing. Tell her Im in the office until 5pm.
Perhaps she could call me back before then.
Receptionist: No problem. Thank you .................... ....................
Telephone dictation
2008 www.teachitworld.com 9413 Page 3 of 3

TEACHERS NOTES

Level: Intermediate

Aim: To practise telephone language and encourage clear pronunciation and spelling.
This is loosely based on Mario Rinvolucris shouting dictation that uses a single piece of
text. Students sit opposite each other (with some distance between them) and have to
shout their bit of text over to their partner. I think this is what we often have to do on
the phone to make ourselves understood. With a confident group I would move the
students apart but if they are particularly shy then can just do it opposite each other.
The other option is to play music in the background. This can make students less
inhibited and its good fun.

Duration: 30 - 40 mins


Warmer
Ask students if they make phone conversations in English. Have they ever had any
problems? Why is phoning so difficult? Explain that often not seeing a persons face can
make communication really difficult and if there is background noise or a bad line it is
especially difficult.

In pairs students read their parts of the conversation to each other, spelling any difficult
words. Encourage students to speak clearly and quite loudly.

Its a good idea for the teacher to put a few useful phrases on the board:
Can you say that again please?
Can you spell that for me?
Can you speak up please?

When students have finished they put their texts together and check they have written
the dialogue correctly. The teacher should look at this. There are often mistakes!

Students then practise the completed dialogue.

Follow up

Get students to underline the useful telephone language in the conversation.

Students write their own telephone conversation and demonstrate it to the class.