Part One: Warm Up
Discuss these questions with your partner(s).
- What do you like to do with your friends or family? Why do you like doing those activities with your friends or family?
- How do you usually make arrangements to do something with your friends? Do you call, text, or send them a message through an online messaging service?
Part Two: Making Plans Over the Phone
When we call someone, it is polite to identify yourself at the beginning of phone calls. Always state your name and the person you are calling. We can use a variety of phrases.
Identifying yourself
- Hello, [name] here.
- Hi, this is... [name].
Stating the person you are calling
- May I please speak to...[name]?
- Could I please speak to...[name]?
- Is [name] there?
When we respond to a call, we also use a variety of phrases to confirm that we are the one the caller is looking for or if that person is unavailable.
Confirming who is speaking
- This is he/she.
- This is [name].
- Speaking.
When the caller is finally speaking to the person he or she is calling, it is polite to ask them how they are doing before talking about the caller’s intended conversation. Also, the receiver of the call should respond and ask the caller the same question.
Asking how the receiver of the call is going
- Hi, [name]. How are you?
- Hey, [name]. How’s it going?
- Hi, [name]. How are you doing?
- It’s been a while [name], how’s everything?
Responding
- I’m doing good.
- Good. Thanks!
- I’m doing great.
- I’m fine... And you?
Here are some common phrases we use to invite someone to hang out with us and some possible responses.
Making Arrangements
- Just calling to see if you would like to…[activity].
- I just wanted to invite you to… [activity]. Do you want to come?
- I wanted to see if you’re free to…[activity].
- I was wondering if you’d like to come.
- Let’s hang out.
- I’m going out to...[activity]...Would you like to come?
Accepting (YES)
- Sure!
- I’m down!
- Sounds good!
- I’m free right now. Let’s do it!
Refusing (NO)
- Sorry, I can’t.
- I would love to, but I can’t right now.
- Sorry, but I can’t... Maybe some other time?
- Really sorry, but I don’t think I can make it
- I’m afraid I’m a little busy.
Responding (Maybe)
- Let me get back to you in a few minutes.
- Let me check my schedule, and I’ll call you back.
- I think I’m free, but I’ll check.
- Let me check if I can come.
Here are some expressions to ask where and when to meet through a phone conversation.
Asking where to meet
- So, where do you want to meet?
- Where should I go?
- Where should we meet?
Asking when to meet
- What time do you want to meet up?
- When should I go meet you?
As we saw in Unit 5, when we are explaining something, it's useful to check if the listener understands what you are saying. As a listener, it’s useful to tell someone to clarify or confirm what they said. Here are some expressions to use:
Confirming understanding (Speaker)
- Got it?
- Did you get that?
- Did you catch that?
- Did that make sense?
- Did you understand what I said?
- Any questions?
Confirming Understanding (Listener)
- Let me see if I understood you correctly. Did you say...?
- Can I just check what I got from that? Did you say...?
- If I understand you correctly, you said...?
Clarifying
- Would you mind repeating that again?
- Sorry?
- Sorry, could I ask you to tell me that again?
- Could you say that one more time?
- Pardon?
- Pardon me?
- Sorry to interrupt, but I didn’t catch that. Could you repeat that one more time?
- Could you run it by me one more time?
Saying you understand
- Thanks.
- Thanks for repeating that. It makes more sense to me.
- Thanks. We’re on the same page now.
Closing the Call
- Sounds good! See you later!
- Later!
- Talk to you later!
- See you in a bit.
- Bye!
- See you soon.