Summary
This downloadable PDF lesson for A1 ESL students helps them learn basic office phone skills. This English class material uses a listening exercise and role-plays to teach students how to answer a work phone, take messages, and use key phrases professionally.
This lesson helps beginner students develop confidence in workplace communication. Activities include a warm-up discussion about phone use, a vocabulary matching task, and a listening exercise to practice comprehension. Students will then order a conversation to practice useful phrases, study key grammar points like 'to be' and 'can', and engage in a guided role-play to apply everything they've learned. The material is designed to generate meaningful conversation and provide practical communication tools for common workplace scenarios.
Activities
- A warm-up discussion where students share personal experiences with phone calls, setting the stage for the lesson's theme of professional communication in real-life scenarios.
- A vocabulary matching task where students connect essential terms like 'caller' and 'available' with their definitions, followed by a gap-fill exercise to reinforce usage.
- A listening exercise where students fill in gaps based on a short audio script about phone etiquette, improving their comprehension of spoken English.
- A phrase matching and conversation ordering task to help students understand the structure and flow of a typical professional phone call, practicing common phrases.
- A grammar exercise focusing on 'to be' and 'can' through simple sentences, directly connecting grammar to phone communication.
- A guided role-play scenario involving common office phone situations, allowing students to practice giving and receiving information using newly learned vocabulary and phrases.
Transcript
00:00 Answering the office phone professionally is crucial for our company's image. It's often the first impression many clients get of us.00:12 Always greet callers warmly. State your name and company clearly. Be prepared to take messages accurately if the person they're calling isn't available. Remember to speak clearly and maintain a helpful, positive tone. Even if it's a difficult call, politeness goes a long way. These simple steps truly make a difference in how we are perceived.
Vocabulary focus
The vocabulary section introduces fundamental terms for handling office phone calls. Key terms include 'caller', 'company', 'message', and 'available'. Students will learn and practice verbs like 'to take a message', ensuring they can understand and use the essential language for basic telephone communication in a professional setting.
Grammar focus
This lesson concentrates on two high-frequency structures essential for A1 learners. Students will review and practice using the verb 'to be' (is, are) for giving information and the modal verb 'can' for making requests and offers (e.g., 'Can I help you?', 'Can I take a message?'). Simple exercises help solidify their correct usage in the context of phone calls.
