Can I Take a Message?

A Telephone Role-play

Fernanda Águila
 Purpose and Audience:

 The purpose of this lesson is to get the students to

practice taking and leaving messages over the telephone.
The materials are intended for false beginners to lower
intermediate students. This is also a good practical
application of reported speech: He said that… tell her
that… she told me that…
 Materials:

 Caller’s Activity Sheet

 Caller Role Cards
 Receiver’s Activity Sheet
 Receiver Will Be Back Notes
 Receiver Name Tags
 Warm-up:
 After the introduction, the teacher gives a few students
some pieces of paper with instructions to 'call' him/her.
When the students ask for the teacher, he says, "Sorry.
he's not here right now. Can I take a message?" and see
what kind of response this gets. After trying this a few
times, the teacher can write some expressions on the
board, focusing on the function of taking messages and
the grammar of reported speech.
 Class Set-up:
 The class is divided into two groups: callers and receivers.
Callers get an activity A sheet and a role card. Receivers
get an activity B sheet, a will-be-back note and a name
tag. Receivers sit facing the wall and callers sit behind the
receivers. When a caller wants to make a call, they tap
the receiver on the shoulder and say, "Bring! Bring!"
Receivers put the name tag on the back of their chair so
that the callers know who they are calling.
Caller
Receiver
 Class Activity:

 Callers sit down behind the receivers, tap them on the

shoulders and the conversation begins. Callers ask to talk
to their friend. Receivers tell them that the friend is out
and gives them the details in the 'Will Be Back' note. The
receivers then ask if they can take a message. The callers
leave a message. When they are finished, the callers get
up to call another friend on the list.
 Category: 4 3 2 1

Speaking. Speaks clearly and Speaks clearly and Speaks clearly and Often mumbles or
distinctly all (100- distinctly most ( distinctly most ( can not be
95%) the time, but 94-85%) of the 94-85%) of the understood OR
mispronounces time. time. mispronounces
one word. Mispronounces no Mispronounces no more than three
more than one more than three words.
word. words.
Use of complete Always (99-100% Mostly (80-98%) Sometimes (70- Rarely speaks in
sentences. of time) speaks in speaks in complete 80%) speaks in complete
complete sentences. complete sentences.
sentences. sentences.
Comprehension. Student is able to Student is able to Student is able to Student is unable
accurately answer accurately answer accurately answer to accurately
almost all most questions a few questions answer questions
questions posed posed by posed by posed by
by classmates. classmates. classmates. classmates.

Grammar. Always (99-100% Mostly (80-98%) Sometimes (70- Rarely uses the
of time) uses the uses the correct 80%) uses the correct structure
correct structure structure of correct structure of reported
of reported reported speech. of reported speech.
speech. speech.
 Sources:
http://bogglesworldesl.com/telephone_roleplay.htm
http://rubistar.4teachers.org