Summary
This downloadable lesson for B2 ESL students helps them master business phone calls. This class material provides comprehensive practice in professional telephone etiquette, grammar, and key phrases for effective communication.
This comprehensive lesson guides students through the essentials of professional phone calls. It begins with a warm-up discussion and a matching exercise on key telephone phrases. A listening activity based on a voicemail message hones comprehension skills. Grammar sections focus on polite requests with modal verbs and reported speech for taking messages. The lesson culminates in practical role-play scenarios, allowing students to apply everything they have learned in a realistic context.
Activities
- Students start by discussing their experiences with business calls and then match essential telephoning phrases to their functions, building a strong foundation of practical language before moving on to more complex tasks.
- The lesson includes a listening exercise where students complete a gapped text from a voicemail message and answer comprehension questions, improving their ability to understand key details in natural, spoken English.
- Two targeted grammar exercises focus on using modal verbs for politeness and transforming direct speech into reported messages. These tasks provide clear examples and structured practice to ensure students can apply the rules.
- The lesson concludes with three engaging role-play scenarios (rescheduling a meeting, leaving a message, and handling a bad connection) that allow students to practice their new skills in a dynamic and interactive setting.
Transcript
Vocabulary focus
This lesson focuses on practical and professional telephone vocabulary. Students will learn and practice essential phrases for various situations, such as stating the reason for a call ("I'm calling regarding..."), asking to be connected ("Could you put me through to...?"), and handling a bad connection ("The line is very bad"). The vocabulary is tailored for immediate use in a business environment.
Grammar focus
The grammar section is split into two key areas for business calls. First, students practice using modal verbs like 'can', 'could', and 'would' to form polite and professional requests. Second, the lesson covers the essential skill of using reported speech to accurately take and relay messages, including changes in tense and pronouns. Both sections include clear explanations and targeted practice exercises.
