IV. Role-play the following telephone situation

One of you is a company employee who has arranged to meet a colleague (your partner) from one of your subsidiaries. Explain that you cannot keep the appointment, and give a reason. Suggest an alternative time.

III. The telephone

I. This datafile gives you many of the terms and phrases commonly used in making telephone calls.

Direct dialling.

With direct dialling, you go straight through to the number of the person you want in the UK, and you pay in the country you’re in. All you need to know is the telephone number in the UK, which is made up of the phone number itself, and its area code, e.g. 0272 (area code for Bristol)

When dialling from abroad you must always omit the initial “0” of the area code. The only other information you need is the international code for the UK which you must dial first. This will vary from country to country.

Remember, for direct dialling you will need to know:

INTERNATIONAL CODE FOR THE UK

UK AREA CODE (LEAVING OUT INITIAL “0”)

LOCAL NUMBER

The phone book.

Look up their number in the phone book (or directory)

The number is unlisted.

I’ll ring Directory Enquiries for the number. (UK)

I’ll call information. (US)

The line.

He’s on the other line.

Would you like to hold the line?

The line is engaged. (UK)

The line is busy. (US)