Scenarios and phrases for talking on the phone. Business English: phrases for talking on the phone Dialogues in English phone conversation

How to introduce yourself

Table 2. How to introduce yourself on the phone in English

How to ask to speak to someone

Table 3 How to call to the phone in English

How to ask to wait

Table 4 How to ask to wait in English

How to ask for something on the phone

Table 5. How to ask by phone in English

How to ask to leave a message

Table 6 How to ask to leave a message in English

How to leave a message

Table 7 How to leave a message in English

How to confirm something

Table 8 How to confirm in English

How to listen to a message on the answering machine

Table 9 How to listen to a message in English

How to leave a message on the answering machine

Table 10 How to leave a message on an answering machine in English

How to end a conversation

Table 11 How to end a phone conversation in English

Glossary of terms for talking on the phone

Table 12. English vocabulary for talking on the phone

And in Bulgarian "Telephone directory" - "telephone index", and in Ukrainian "telephone guide".

Having talked with my students, I can confidently conclude that even those who have successfully reached the Pre-Intermediate or Intermediate levels are afraid of telephone conversations in English. The main reason is that here you have to rely only on your language capabilities. Facial expressions, gestures, drawings - nothing will help. This is the final exam with hands and feet tied. In addition, life is a b * tch: not only do you need to concentrate strongly only on the sounds of someone else's speech, but also the connection is not the best. To do this, teachers develop listening skills in you and select recordings of telephone conversations, especially with poor audibility, and voices of people with accents (you will not always come across British or Americans with a reference pronunciation, do not wait), that is, they prepare you for reality, - how for example, our best teachers do it. In order to know exactly what to answer during a conversation on the phone, I offer you a set of the following phrases that you can use as templates and simply substitute your x and y.

When difficulties arise, you can always let your interlocutor know that you do not understand everything or may not understand: My English isn't very strong, could you please speak slowly?(I don't speak English very well. Please slow down) Don't be shy - people will meet you halfway (checked). And do not forget about manners, try to use Could instead of Can, and Please And thank you.

Answering a call and introducing yourself:

Hello. Can I help you?- Hello, how can I help you? (standard answer to an incoming call)

Who is calling, please? / Who's speaking?- Who you are? (please introduce yourself)

Ni! This is Helen. Hi, this is Elena.

Hello, Petra. This is Jean speaking.- Hello, Petra! This is Jin.

Hello, may I speak to Mr. Kelly, please? This is John Ried calling.- Hello, can I speak to Mr. Kelly, please? This is John Reid.

Hello! Could you connect me to Mary Kile, extension 12, please?- Hello! Could you connect me to Mary Kyle, extension 12?

I'm calling on behalf of Mr. Johnson.- I'm calling on Mr. Johnson's behalf.

If you dialed the wrong number:

Are you sure you have the right number?- Are you sure you dialed the correct number?

I must have got the wrong number. I must have got the wrong number.

You dialed the wrong number.- You dialed the wrong number.

You must have misdialed. You probably have the wrong number.

Please talk to someone:

Could / May I speak to Anna, please? / I'd like to speak to Anna.– May I speak to Anna, please?

May I speak to Harry?"Please Harry!"

Is Olga in? Is Olga there?

Please wait:

One minute...- Wait a minute...

Hold the line, please.- Do not broadcast the phone, please.

Could you hold on, please?- Don't hang up, please.

Please hold. I'll just put you through.- Wait, please, I'll connect you now.

Just a moment, please.- Give me a sec.

Thank you for holding.- Thanks for waiting.

I'll put you though now / I'll connect you now.- Now I will connect you.

We answer that a person cannot answer the phone:

Mr Peterson is out at the moment. Mr Peterson is out.

I'm afraid he's out at the moment. I'm afraid he's gone now.

I am afraid he's in a meeting now. I'm afraid he's in a meeting right now.

He is talking on another phone now. He is on a different phone now.

She is not in the office at the moment. She is not in the office right now.

Line is busy:

The line is busy.- Busy.

I can't get through at the moment.- I can't get through.

The line's engaged, could you call back later?- Line is busy. Could you call back?

Please call back:

Can you call me back, please?– Could you call me back, please?

Could you call again a bit later, please?– Could you call back a little later?

Try calling again later.– Try to call back later.

We ask and answer when the person returns:

When will he be in?- When will he come?

In about 3 hours.- 3 hours later.

Not'll be back in 20 minutes. He will be back in 20 minutes.

She'll be back in an hour.- She'll be here in an hour.

We ask and call the phone number:

What is your phone number?– What is your phone number?

Can you leave your phone number, please?– Could you leave your number?

Could I get your phone number, please?- May I have your number?

My telephone number is …- My phone number …

You can reach me at … You can contact me on the number...

Call me at...- Give me a call on...

We ask and invite you to send a message to:

May I take a message?– What can I convey?

What message would you like to leave?- What would you like to convey?

Could / Can / May I take a message? Can I give him something?

Would you like to leave a message?- Would you like to leave a message?

Can you, please, tell me…- Tell me please…

Could you give me your name and address?- May I know your name and address?

Could you spell that please?- Could you spell it out?

Tell him I will call in the evening, please. Tell him I'll call you tonight, please.

Tell him Mary phoned and I'll call again at three. Tell Mary that she called and I'll call you back at three.

I'll make sure he gets the message. I will make sure he gets your message.

sure. I "ll tell her you called.- Of course, I'll tell you that you called.

Please repeat:

Could you, please, repeat that?- Could you repeat it, please.

I'm sorry, I didn't get that / I didn't catch that. Could you say it again, please?- Sorry. I didn't quite understand. Could you repeat what was said?

I'm sorry I can't hear you very well.- Sorry. I can not hear you very well.

Bad connection:

This is such a terrible line (It's a really bad line). I can't hear a thing.“I can’t hear anything—a terrible connection.

The line just went dead.- Disconnected.

This line is so poor.- A very bad line.

Can you speak a bit louder, please?– Could you speak a little louder?

Sorry, can you speak up?– Excuse me, could you speak louder?

Please phone number:

Please give me the telephone number of …- Give me your phone number, please...

Do you know the number for…?- Do you know the number of ...?

Could you tell me the number for…?– Could you tell me the number of …?

End of conversation:

Look forward to hearing from you soon. I look forward to your next call.

Thank you for calling.- Thank you for calling.

It's been nice to talk to you.– It was a pleasure to talk with you.

Talk to you soon.- See you later. (informal)

Speak to you again soon.- See you later.

Important phrasal verbs:

hold on- wait

‘Could you hold on a moment, please?’

(Please wait)

hang on- wait, wait (inform.)

‘Could you hang on a moment, please?’

It's no secret that the phone has long been an integral part of our daily lives. Effective business communication by phone has its own characteristics and secrets, which should not be forgotten. Our article is for those who strive for successful business communication with native English speakers via telephone.

“There is no such thing as a good call at 7 AM. It "s been my experience that all calls between the hours of 11 PM and 9 AM are disaster calls.”

“There is no good call at 7 am. In my experience, all calls between 11:00 am and 9:00 am are distress calls."

~ Janet Evanovich

Basic rules of business communication by phone

Telephone conversations are more complicated than live ones in that the interlocutor is not visible, it is impossible to track his non-verbal reaction, which is often much more frank than words.

Before proceeding directly to a business conversation in English, you need to develop certain general telephone communication skills.

Preparing to speak in English on the phone

Before making a call, you must handle your inner stress. First of all, try to focus on the upcoming conversation and relax. After all, the interlocutor does not see you and, hearing the tension in your voice, he may have an erroneous opinion about you. A man may seem more stubborn and stubborn, a woman - unbalanced and unpredictable, and such people in business are very difficult to deal with.

Important!

Try to overcome your fear of the microphone. To do this, you can introduce your interlocutor. It's very good if you know what it looks like. After all, it is much easier to have a conversation with a living person than with a soulless telephone receiver.

Take the call into your own hands. This will give you many benefits. Firstly, you will be able to conduct a conversation in the direction that is beneficial to your company. And secondly, it will be much easier for you to mentally tune in, as there will be an opportunity to prepare for the upcoming call, think it over, and line it up in a logical chain.

Think carefully about the timing of the call. It is better not to call on important issues in the morning and at the end of the working day, it is also not recommended to try to resolve important issues before weekends or on holidays. Before you call, plan the conversation. Write down the main questions to be discussed.

How to behave while talking on the phone

Always speak briefly, without deviating from the main topic of the conversation- save your time, and the time of your interlocutor. Business partners will definitely appreciate it. The rules for talking on the phone with clients suggest that productive negotiations fit into 3-4 minutes.

When preparing for a telephone conversation in English, write down the phrases you want to use, and also keep an online translator at hand - this will give you more self-confidence. Get a small notebook or notebook for business conversations in English. A business person will not use scraps of paper or calendar sheets for this.

Important!

When communicating on the phone, 55% of the information is lost, as there is no body language and gestures. 38% of information is remembered with the help of intonation and only 7% of information is conveyed by words.

Rehearse the telephone conversation several times bring the use of phrases in English to automatism and success is guaranteed to you. A feature of the phone is that it enhances speech deficiencies. You need to carefully monitor your diction and pronunciation. Recording on a voice recorder and listening to your telephone conversations will help to improve the technique of negotiations.

How to start a phone conversation in English?

It is the stage of greeting that can be the key to a successful outcome of the entire conversation. It is very important to set the mood of the conversation and give it an emotional color. It is important to immediately show the interlocutor that he is dealing with a business person.

Welcome phrases in English on the phone

How to ask to connect with the right person

How to clarify information about the interlocutor in English

Phrases for solving problems during a telephone conversation

Examples of videos of telephone conversations

In this video you can see and hear how to answer phone calls in English correctly.

Always remember business phone etiquette. Never break his rules. In the next article, we will talk about how to leave and receive a message from the interlocutor in a conversation in English.

Summing up:

• Before calling, you need to outline a clear plan for the conversation, to cope with physical and psychological stress.
• During a conversation, you must follow the rules of telephone etiquette.
• To conduct a successful conversation in English, you need to learn the most common phrases, prepare the questions you want to ask. Don't forget to rehearse the upcoming phone call.
• After a telephone conversation, be sure to analyze your mistakes so as not to repeat them again.

In contact with

Ring ring! The article is dedicated to those who want to learn how to talk on the phone in English beautifully and competently. Basically, we will talk about workflows. With the help of our phrases for a telephone conversation in English, you will learn how to correctly greet your interlocutor or answer a greeting, find out who called and ask to leave a message, make an appointment or leave an important message for a partner, and much more. Enjoy reading!

The most important rule in a telephone conversation is not to be afraid of difficulties. If you do not understand something during the conversation, tell the interlocutor about it:

My English isn't very strong. Could you speak slower, please?
I am not very strong in English. Could you speak more slowly, please?

Don't be shy, people will come to meet you. And don't forget to be polite, try to use " сould" instead of " can" , and " please" And " thanks you».

How to greet someone

Any conversation, as you know, begins with a greeting or acquaintance:

Hello.
Hello.
This is Nick Carter calling.
Worried about Nick Carter.
Nick Carter here.
This is Nick Carter.
It's Nick Carter from "Green House" here.
This is Nick Carter from the Green House Company.

After you've introduced yourself, don't forget to ask an important question:

Is it convenient for you to talk at the moment?
Are you comfortable talking now?

If, suddenly, your interlocutor is busy, immediately specify whether it is possible to call back and what time will be the most suitable:

Can I call you back?
Can I call you back?
Could you tell me the best time to call you back?
Can you please tell me when is the best time to call you back?

How to answer a greeting on the phone

Let's imagine the opposite situation: you got a call and introduced yourself. How to answer correctly?

Start with the standard "Good morning / afternoon / evening", then you can use the following phrases:

It's Green House. How may I help you?
This is Green House. How can I help you?
"Green House", Nick Carter speaking. How may I be of help?
"Green House", Nick Carter on the phone. How can I help you?
"Green House", Nick Carter speaking. Is there anything I can do for you?
"Green House", Nick Carter on the phone. Can I help you?

Or this situation: you are very busy at the moment and cannot talk.

Sorry, I'm busy at the moment.
I'm sorry, I'm busy right now.

And do not forget to politely ask the interlocutor to call you back later.

Could you call back a bit later, please?
Could you call back a little later?

What if the person has the wrong number? In this case, use one of the following phrases:

What number are you calling?
What number are you calling?
Sorry, you must have the wrong number.
Sorry, you must have the wrong number.
Sorry, you've got the wrong number.
I'm sorry, you have the wrong number.
You must have misdialed.
You must have dialed the wrong number.

How to check caller information

If the interlocutor did not introduce himself, be sure to specify who is calling you and for what purpose. In such a situation, the following phrases will help you:

Who is calling, please?
Please, introduce yourself.
May I ask who's calling?
May I ask who is calling?
Can I have your name, please?
May I know your name please?
Where are you calling from?
Where are you calling from?
Could you tell me what it's about?
Could you tell me the purpose of the call?
Could you tell me the purpose of the call?
Who do you want to speak to?
Who would you like to talk to?
What company are you calling from?
What company are you calling from?

How to ask to be connected to the right person

You call the company and the wrong person answers. Ask a member of staff to connect you to the right person. Use these phrases:

Can I speak to Ann?
May I speak to Anna?
Can I get to Ann, please?

May I speak to Ann, please?
Can I speak to Anna please?
Could I speak to Ann, please?
Can I speak to Anna please?
Could you put me through to Ann, please?
Could you connect me to Anna, please?
Is Ann there, please?
Tell me, please, is Anna there?

How to ask to wait for a connection with the right person

The opposite situation: you pick up the phone and realize that the caller wants to talk not with you, but with another employee. Ask the interlocutor to wait a bit. The following phrases will help you with this:

Hold the line, please.
Please stay on the line.
One moment please.
One minute please.
I "ll put you through to him / her.
I will connect you with him/her.
Please hold and I'll put you through to his office.
Please wait and I will connect you to his office.
One moment, please. I'll see if Ann's available.
One minute please. I'll see if Anna can come to the phone.

What to do if the connection is bad

You call, but the interlocutor cannot hear you - interference on the line. Don't be discouraged, these phrases will help you out (or not help you out, because the connection is bad):

Can you hear me?
You hear me?
I can't hear you.
I can not hear you.
It's a bad line. I can barely hear you!
Bad connection. I can barely hear you!
Could you please speak up a little?
Could you speak a little louder, please?
Could you speak a bit louder, please?
Could you speak a little louder, please?
Sorry, I didn't get that.
I'm sorry, I did not catch you.
Could you please repeat that?
Could you repeat that?
Come again?
Repeat?
Could you say it again, please?
Sorry, I didn't understand what you said. Could you repeat, please?
You said his name was Alex, right?
You said his name is Alex, right?
Let me repeat that just to make sure.
Let me repeat to make sure I understand everything correctly.
Could you please call me back? I assume we have a bad connection.
Could you call me back? I think we're having communication problems.

How to make an appointment by phone

Are you calling a person to make an appointment but don't know how to do it? Then the following phrase templates are for you. They sound polite and will help you negotiate with your co-worker.

I'd like to arrange an appointment.
I would like to arrange a meeting.
When is it convenient for you?
When is it convenient for you?
Would next Monday be okay?
Is next Monday convenient for you?
I can make it after six.
I can meet you after six o'clock.
Shall we say, 6:30 next Monday, at the "Green House" office?
So, at 6:30 on a Monday at the Green House office?

How to politely interrupt someone on the phone

You are talking on the phone and suddenly a question arises during the conversation, and you need to interrupt the interlocutor to clarify the information. You can do this politely with the help of such phrases:

Wait a minute, please. What about...?
Wait a minute! And what's about...?
Would you mind if I just say something here?
Do you mind if I say something now?
Hold on a second. May I add something here, please?
Wait a second. Can I add something please?

How to ask to tell the person that you called

Have you called your foreign partners, but the person you need is not in place? Ask him to tell him about your call and do not forget to leave your contact details.

Could you please tell her Nick Carter from "Green House" called?
Could you please tell her that Nick Carter from Green House called?
Tell her I will call tomorrow, please.
Please tell her that I will call tomorrow.
Please, tell her Nick Carter phoned and I'll call again at half past six.
Please tell her Nick Carter called. I will call back at 18:30.
Could you ask her to call me back?
Could you ask her to call me back?
She can reach me at 777-5555.
She can contact me at 777-5555.

How to take a message to someone

They called you and asked you to hand over the phone to a colleague, but he is not there. You need to politely communicate that the person can't answer the phone and offer to leave a message.

I "ll let him know you called.
I'll tell him you called.
What is your number?
What's your phone number?
Would you like to leave a message?
Would you like to leave a message?
I'm sorry, Nick's not in at the moment. Can I ask who's calling?
Unfortunately, Nick is not there. May I know who is calling?
He's busy right now. Could you please call back later?
At the moment he is busy. Could you call back later?
I'm sorry, he's on another call at the moment.
Unfortunately, he now speaks on a different line.

How to leave a message on the answering machine

You called, but no one answers your call. The answering machine has been activated and you need to leave a message.

Hello, this is Nick Carter calling for Ann. Could you please call me back as soon as possible? My number is 777-5555. thank you.
Hello, this is Nick Carter, I need Anna. Please call me back as soon as you can. My number is 777-5555. Thank you.

What message to write for your answering machine

Do not be too lazy to record a message for your answering machine. This will help you not to miss important calls. The text might look like this.

Thank you for calling. There's no one here to take your call at the moment. Please, leave your message after the signal, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. thank you.
Thank you for calling. There is no one near the phone to answer your call. Please leave a message after the beep and I will call you back as soon as I can.

Hello, this is Nick Carter. I "m sorry I"m not available to take your call at this time. Please, leave a message and I"ll get back to you as soon as I can. Hello, this is Nick Carter. I'm sorry, but I can't take your call right now. Please leave me a message and I will call you back as soon as I can.

Yes? ...ha-ha! Just kidding, this is voicemail. Leave a message if you got something to say. If you ain't got something to say, then don't leave anything. Bye!
Yes? ... Haha! Just kidding, it's an answering machine. Leave a message if you have something to say. If you have nothing to say, then leave nothing. Bye!

Farewell on the phone

You have successfully talked on the phone, and now it is time to end the conversation. How to do it right? To do this, you will need the following phrases:

It's been nice talking to you.
It was a pleasure talking to you.
I hope I"ve been informative.
I hope I could help you.
Have a nice day.
All the best.
Thanks for calling. goodbye.
Thank you for calling. Goodbye.
Goodbye, Ann.
Goodbye, Anna.

We advise you to use our simulator to consolidate the words on the topic "Telephone conversation"

An example of a telephone conversation in English (with translation)

Now let's look at a couple of examples of talking on the phone in English.

Secretary: Good morning, "Best Motors" Company. How can I help you?
Jack: Hello, this is Jack Wharton speaking. Could I speak to Nick Stanley, please?
Secretary: Oh, I'm afraid Mr. Stanley isn't here at the moment. Would you like to leave a message?
Jack: Certainly. Would you, please, ask him to call me back? I need to talk to him urgently!
Secretary: Yes, of course. Thank you for your call.
Jack: Thanks, bye.
Secretary: good bye.

Receptionist A: Cassat Company. Can I help you?
Patrick: Yes, I would like to speak to Mr. Green please.
Receptionist 1: Do you have an extension for him?
Patrick: No, I don't, but I know he is in the delivery department.
Receptionist 1: Hold on, please. I "ll ring that department.
Patrick: thank you.
Receptionist B: Delivery department, Miss Elliot.
Patrick: Mr. Green please.
Receptionist B: Mr. Green is on the other line at the moment. May I know who's calling to let him know?
Patrick: This is Patrick Brown. Mrs. Priesley suggested that I call him.
Receptionist B: Will you hold on or would you like to leave a message?
Patrick: I'll hold on, thank you.
Mr. green: Mr. Green speaking. How can I help you?
Patrick: Yes, my name is Patrick Brown. A mutual friend of ours, Susan Priesley, referred me to you. I am interested in changing careers, and she thought you would be a valuable source of information for me.
Mr. green: Mrs. Priesley, of course. How can I help you?
Patrick: I would like very much to come up and speak with you. Would you be willing to give me a few minutes of your time?
Mr. green: Well, my schedule is a little tight. When would you like to meet?
Patrick: Whenever it is convenient for you.
Mr. green: Well, can you make it after five o'clock some day next week?
Patrick: Yes, absolutely.
Mr. green: Fine, then how about 5:15, Wednesday, my office?
Patrick: Next Wednesday at 5:15 then. Thank you very much, Mr. green.
Mr. green: You "re welcome. Hold on, my secretary will give you directions.
Patrick: thank you. See you on Wednesday!

Conclusion

So, if you practice these phrases, then during a telephone conversation in English, they will be remembered instantly. It's a great idea to practice with some of your colleagues or friends: call each other, and let at least part of the telephone dialogue be in English. Dare!

Big and friendly family EnglishDom

Business telephone conversation in English is one of the most difficult tasks that employees of international companies have to perform. The point here is the language barrier, and the fear of not understanding the interlocutor. Therefore, we will tell you what phrases can be used in a telephone conversation in English in different cases, and give general advice on how to properly communicate on the phone with native speakers in order to understand and be understood.

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Useful phrases for talking on the phone

Greetings

The theater begins with a hanger, and a telephone conversation in English begins with a greeting. In addition to the usual Good morning/afternoon/evening, you need to introduce yourself. According to the rules of etiquette, you need to immediately tell the interlocutor who is bothering him. In this case, it is advisable to give not only your full name, but also the company that you represent.

Welcome phrases in English on the phone:

And after the person greets you, be sure to ask a simple but very important question:

If the person is busy, immediately ask when you can talk to him. Consider the following phrases:

It may also happen that you dial the wrong number. In this case, you can use the following phrases:

How to respond to a greeting

And now imagine the opposite situation - they called you and introduced themselves. How to answer the interlocutor correctly?

First, be sure to say hello in the usual words Good morning/afternoon/evening, then, depending on your position and the specifics of cooperation with foreign partners and clients, you can use the following phrases to talk on the phone in English:

Are you busy at the moment? Politely ask the person to call you back later.

Did the person have the wrong number? Tell him about it with one of the following phrases.

There are situations when a person did not make a mistake with the number, but his call is unpleasant for you, for example, if he obsessively offers you unnecessary goods or services. How to politely answer an unwanted call?

How to check caller information

Let's say you get a call, but you don't introduce yourself. In this case, you need to avoid pauses in the conversation and immediately clarify who is calling and for what purpose. In this situation, use the following phrases:

How to ask to be connected to the right person

You call the firm, but you get to the secretary or to the general phone of a large department. In this case, you need to ask the employee to call the person you need to the phone. You can also ask to be connected to the internal phone of a specific employee. Use these phrases:

How to ask to wait for a connection with the right person

And again the opposite situation - they call your company, and you understand that the interlocutor needs another employee. In this case, you need to ask the person not to hang up and wait for the connection. In a telephone conversation in English, depending on the specifics of your activity, the following phrases are used:

What to do if the connection is bad

Interference on the line is the main phobia of any person who needs to conduct a telephone conversation in English. However, don't be discouraged, a few simple phrases will help you deal with this situation. These phrases will help you out in case of technical problems:

Sometimes not a bad connection, but a call on another line prevents you from talking. If a call on the second line is more important than a call on the first, you can apologize to the interlocutor and ask him to enter into your position. Use these phrases:

How to make an appointment

If you are calling a person to make an appointment with them, use the phrase templates below. They sound polite and will help you quickly negotiate with the interlocutor. Use the following phrases to make an appointment:

How to politely interrupt a person

During a telephone conversation with a foreign partner or client, it is better not to interrupt the interlocutor, but there are times when this is necessary. You can do this politely with the help of such phrases:

And you will find even more similar phrases in the article “How to masterfully interrupt an interlocutor? Dealing with interruptions".

How to ask to tell the person that you called

Have you called your foreign partners, but the person you need is not in place? Ask him to tell him about your call and do not forget to leave your contact details. Politely ask for a call in the following ways:

If it's more convenient for you to call the person back yourself, say the following:

How to take a message to someone

Did you get a call and were asked to hand over the phone to a colleague, but he is not in place or is he busy? In this case, you should politely inform that the person cannot answer the phone and offer to leave a message. In this case, do not forget to specify the name of the caller, as well as his contact phone number. Learn these phrases:

You can also ask the other person to call you back later by using these phone phrases in English:

How to leave a message on the answering machine

If you only got through to the answering machine, do not rush to hang up. Leave a message so that the person can call you back as soon as they are free. You can leave a simple message like this:

What message to write for your answering machine

Do not neglect the auto answer function in your own phone, because this option will allow you not to miss any important calls. Take 5 minutes and record a simple text for the caller. The text might look like this.

Parting

Have you successfully talked on the phone, resolved all the issues? Then the time has come to say goodbye, and this must also be done correctly: without sentimentality and politely. You can say goodbye to the interlocutor like this:

And to see and hear what a telephone conversation in English looks like in practice, we recommend watching the following video:

Successful telephone conversation in English: general tips

1. Write a conversation plan ahead of time

If you are going to call your partner or client abroad, your task is simplified, because you can think in advance what you will talk about, what words and phrases to use. Do not be too lazy to write a short plan of your conversation on paper, in this way you will kill not even two, but three birds with one stone: study the phrases while writing them, make the most accurate and complete plan of the conversation and save your nerves, because during the conversation you will know what to say and when.

2. Try rehearsing the dialogue

To sound confident, try saying the dialogue a few times in front of a mirror or on the phone with a friend. This way you will remember the phrases faster, and during the conversation you will not have to check your plan.

And if you are learning a language online, try to study with your teacher without a camera. This will be a complete imitation of a telephone conversation. Try acting out a dialogue with the teacher using your plan. If you practice this way at least a few times, then when talking on the phone it will be easier for you to understand the person on the other end of the line.

3. Don't worry

Excitement affects understanding in the same way as poor communication: if you listen to interference (or an inner voice that says you will not understand anything), they will interfere with you, and if you do not pay attention to them, you will be able to understand the interlocutor . The more relaxed you are about a telephone conversation in English, the easier it will be for you and the person on the other end of the line.

4. Be formal

The formal style of communication is different from the usual conversational. We communicate politely with business partners, avoid slang, word abbreviations, etc. You can read more about the features of the formal style of English.

5. Be as polite as possible

The concept of "politeness" in our country and abroad is quite different. Pay attention to the phrase templates we have proposed: in almost every one of them there is a “Could you please” construction, in every sentence there is the word “please”. Moreover, in translation into Russian, the word “please” does not even always fit logically into the phrase. It sounds like obsessive politeness to us. In sentences in English, be sure to use words such as “please” and “thank you”, otherwise you may seem rude to the interlocutor.

6. Keep an electronic dictionary handy

Are you unable to understand a certain word that plays an important role in your partner's speech? Ask the interlocutor to spell this word and look up its meaning in the dictionary. It is impossible to learn all the words from the English dictionary, so your partner will normally react to the request to repeat the word. So before every business conversation on the phone in English, turn on the computer and open one of the electronic dictionaries.

7. Ask to repeat what you don't understand.

Remember, even when we have a telephone conversation in Russian, sometimes we don’t understand the interlocutor or we can’t hear some words due to poor communication. In this case, without a shadow of embarrassment, we ask the interlocutor to repeat what was said. What prevents us from doing the same when talking on the phone in English? Your partner or client understands that you are speaking a non-native language, so they will calmly accept a request to repeat a phrase.

8. Develop Your Listening Skill

The more often you listen to foreign speech, the faster you will get used to it and begin to understand (if you also study grammar and new words at the same time). Therefore, listen to podcasts and audio books, watch videos and news in English. And you can check your understanding of the language by ear and at the same time listen to sample dialogues on the phone in English on the Simple English website. Choose one of the dialogues, turn on the audio recording and try to insert the missing words into the exercise under dictation. And also read our articles "" and "".

9. Work on pronunciation and intonation

Take care not only of yourself, but also of your interlocutor. Try to speak clearly, take your time, pronounce words and sounds correctly. Fluent speech is good in a normal conversation, but not in a dialogue on the phone with business partners. It will be ideal if you try to adjust to the pace of your interlocutor’s speech, in which case you will be “on the same wavelength” with him. If you know that your pronunciation is not yet perfect and you may not be understood, speak at an average pace. A measured pace of speech will allow your interlocutor to understand you and give your words a confident sound. Be sure to read the article "". Keep an eye on your intonation: speak confidently, but in a calm, friendly tone.

10. Learn useful phrases for communication

Those phrases that we presented in the article are excellent "blanks" for your speech. It is best to learn them by heart, so that when you call, do not pick up words, but speak in patterns you already know.

11. Read examples of dialogues in English on the phone

To see how the phrases you have learned "work" in a natural conversation, study examples of telephone conversations, for example, on the official website of the BBC company. On the pages of the resource, you will see several examples of telephone conversations on various topics and pass a test for knowledge of "telephone" vocabulary.

12. Study professional vocabulary

To leave a positive impression of yourself after the conversation, study not only the phrases we have presented, but also the professional vocabulary of your field of activity. Understanding between you and the interlocutor will arise when you speak the same language both literally and figuratively.

Complete list of phrases for download

We have compiled a document for you that will make it easier for you to conduct a dialogue over the phone. You can download it from the link below.

(*.pdf, 292 Kb)

Now you know how to successfully conduct a telephone conversation in English. Engage in listening, learn the phrases we have proposed in English for a telephone conversation and improve your pronunciation, then the interlocutor will understand you, and you will understand him. We wish you successful telephone negotiations!

And if you want to thoroughly study business English with a competent teacher, we suggest studying in. Our teachers will help you master the business style of communicating in English, teach you to understand the speech of the interlocutor and speak so that you are understood.