ESL: Improve Your English Telephone Skills

 Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/telephone-practice-english-with-dialogues-1211307 

By Kenneth Beare - Updated July 18, 2019 

Practice your telephone skills using the short English conversations provided below that focus on several everyday situations. Print these telephone scenarios for use in class or share telephone conversations with your friends online. For example, you could Skype your friend, navigate to a telephoning English practice page, and rehearse together by each taking a role, exchanging roles, and practicing a few times. 

Telephone Tips

Practice each dialogue with a friend or classmate a few times. Next, write your own telephone dialogues, go into another room, and use your smartphone to call your partner. Practicing by using a real phone will make future conversations with native speakers much easier. After you've practiced with a friend, try these tips:

1. Call local businesses: The best way to get better is by practicing calling various stores or businesses. Before calling, jot down a few notes on the information you would like to find out. Use your notes when you call the stores to help you feel more confident when you speak.
2. Call yourself: To practice leaving messages, call yourself and leave a message. Listen to the message to see if you can understand the words clearly. Play the recording for a native-speaking friend to see if she understands the message you have left. 
3. Introduce yourself properly: When on the phone, use "This is..." rather than "I am..." when introducing yourself in English. 

Don't be shy about asking the speaker (politely) to repeat names and numbers to ensure that you get the right information. Repeating names and numbers will help slow speakers down.

Key Vocabulary

Before practicing the following dialogues, familiarize yourself with the following terms, which are common to many telephone conversations:

• This is ...
• May (Can, Could) I speak to...?
• I'm calling ...
• Please hold...
• put someone through...
• Who's calling...?
• take a message

Calling Someone at Work

• Caller: Hello. This is [your name]. May I speak to Ms. Sunshine, please.
• Receptionist: Hold the line a moment, I'll check if she is in her office.
• Caller: Thank you.
• Receptionist: (after a moment) Yes, Ms. Sunshine is in. I'll put you through.
• Ms. Sunshine: Hello, this is Ms. Sunshine. How can I help you?
• Caller: Hello, my name is [your name], and I'm calling to ask about the position advertised on JobSearch.com.
• Ms. Sunshine: Yes, the position is still open. Could I have your name and number, please?
• Caller: Certainly, My name is [your name]...

Leaving a Message

• Fred: Hello. Could I speak to Jack Parkins, please?
• Receptionist: Who's calling, please?
• Fred: This is Fred Johnson. I'm a friend of Jack's.
• Receptionist: Hold, please. I'll put your call through. (after a moment)—I'm afraid he's out at the moment. Can I take a message?
• Fred:  Yes. Can you ask him to give me a call? My number is 909-345-8965.
• Receptionist: Could you repeat that, please?
• Fred:  Certainly. That's 909-345-8965.
• Receptionist: OK. I'll make sure Mr. Parkins gets your message.
• Fred: Thank you. Goodbye.
• Receptionist: Goodbye.

 

 

Finding a Job During the Pandemic

Find a job is always difficult, but now there are new challenges because of the pandemic and shutdown. Here are some tips for finding a job.

• Think about what kind of companies are hiring. For example, there are jobs in healthcare, shipping, delivery drivers, and technology companies. Go to company websites to see if they are hiring. (Hint: the Careers or Jobs link is usually at the bottom of the page.)
  
• Apply for many jobs. The more jobs you apply to, the more likely you are to get an interview!
• Set aside time each day to look for jobs and apply.
• Make an updated resume so that you can quickly apply for jobs. Here is a template.  
• Include your English language classes on your resume under Education. This shows employers that you are working hard and improving your English skills. Example:
• FCPS Adult English as a Second Language, September 2019 - present, Advanced class
  
• Sign up for job alerts/emails about new jobs on websites like www.indeed.com. Click here to create an account.  
• Practice interview questions, especially for a phone or virtual interview. Here is a YouTube video interview conversation practice.  
• If you have a video interview, dress professionally and make sure your background looks clean and tidy. 
  

Find more ideas and interview tips at https://gwc.aurora.edu/news/archive/12-tips-to-navigate-your-job-search-during-covid-19.html.  

 

Volunteer to Get Career Experience

Have you ever volunteered - at your children's school, in a neighborhood cleanup, with your church or temple? Volunteering can help you get work experience to add to your resume and job applications.

Here are some organizations that are looking for volunteers. Some even have virtual/remote work you can do from home!

American Red Cross

We have volunteer opportunities to match a wide range of interests and time commitments. Contact your local chapter to find out more about what is available in your area. Many of these volunteer opportunities are virtual!

Opportunities include:

• Volunteer Leads
• Disaster Relief
• Training Services
• Services to Armed Forces
• Fundraising
• Communications
• Manufacturing
• International Relief
• Internship
• Business Unit Specific Volunteers (Human Resources, Corporate Communications, etc.)
• Nurses/Nursing Students

Check out these links to get connected!

• Chapter Locator: https://www.redcross.org/find-your-local-chapter.html
• Volunteer Role Finder: https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/volunteer-role-finder.html

Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board

Pantry Coordinator: Are You an Organized Individual with Great Customer Service Skills?

The CSB is in need of a volunteer to serve as the Pantry Coordinator for the personal care and clothing pantry managed by the PATH (Program for Assistance in Transition from being Homeless) program. The dedicated staff of the PATH program provide outreach services to individuals who are homeless and unsheltered.

Each week PATH provides food and clothing to guests who are experiencing homelessness, through the personal care and clothing pantry, as well as, access to services provided by the CSB. Guests come twice a week to do take showers, do their laundry, collect their mail, enjoy a meal, and replenish their supplies from the pantry.

The volunteer in this role will be working with guests from all walks of life, the majority of whom are considered part of the vulnerable population of Fairfax County, many of whom are in need of support related to homelessness, mental illness, and/or addiction.

This position requires a person with strong customer service and organizational skills as they are responsible for managing a variety of tasks to support CSB staff.

The ideal candidate for this role:

• is proactive and able to take direction
• has very strong organizational skills
• has a flexible schedule and is able to commit to a minimum of 10 hours per week
• is hard-working and has experience in project or event management
• is able to work independently and/or with other volunteers
• has the ability to interact with clients courteously and pleasantly while applying the pantry rules firmly, consistently, and diplomatically
• has moderate physical stamina and strength: tasks may involve standing and walking about for periods of three to eight hours; lifting, moving, and sorting through boxes and bags filled with donated clothing and other items, etc.
• Bi-lingual (Spanish) speaker is a plus

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a personal care and clothing sorting system, ensuring that items are properly put in storage cabinets/bins in a timely manner and areas stay tidy and organized
• Create and update inventory spreadsheets, ensuring they remain current with what has been given out to guests after each service
• Prepare shopping lists and purchase food and supplies as needed for distribution
• Provide assistance to CSB team members through collaboration and mutual support

Fairfax County Park Authority- Invasive Management Area Program

Habitat Restoration at Lake Accotink Park!

Did you know that invasive plants are a huge threat to local wildlife, including migrating birds? Help out these creatures by volunteering to remove invasive plants at Lake Accotink Park!

IMA workday sign-ups must be received by noon the day prior for weekday workdays, and by noon on Friday for weekend workdays.

The minimum age to volunteer is 11, although there are occasional opportunities where younger children can participate. Please contact the IMA Coordinator to discuss. Volunteers 13 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

In working to ensure everyone's safety, we are following CDC guidelines including maintaining six-feet social distancing, wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain and limiting group size. If you are not feeling well, please stay home!

Welcome!

Welcome to the FCPS ACE ESOL Career Navigation blog!

We will use this blog to share ideas and information for getting jobs and education in Fairfax County.

About FCPS ACE ESOL Career Navigation:

Colleen Hess is the Career Navigator staff member for the FCPS ACE Adult ESOL program. She can assist students with finding jobs and continuing their education in Fairfax County. Colleen Hess has a background in school counseling and career counseling. This is FREE for our students! Colleen will:

·       Review resumes, cover letters, and job applications

·       Provide resources for finding jobs and more education in Fairfax County

·       Teach workshops

Contact Colleen Hess at chhess@fcps.edu or 703-658-2766.