UNIT 3: TIME OUT

3.3 Can I take a message?

A. OBJECTIVES

After this part, students will be able to:

• Use some vocabularies to make a phone call and take a message

• Use expressions to practice way of making a phone call in both informal and formal
situations.
• Know how to manage problems they might experience during phone calls
• Study linking “can”.
B. OVERVIEW

2
1 3

VOCABULARY FUNCTION LEARN TO

Collocations Making a phone call Manage phone problems

4 5

PRONUNCIATION SPEAKING
Linking “can” How to make a phone call and
take a message

I. VOCABULARY
COLLOCATIONS
No Words Pronunciation Meanings and examples

1 book (v) /buk/ To arrange to have or do something at

a particular time.
He booked a table at the restaurant for
eight o’clock.
2 chat (v) /tʃæt/ To talk to someone in a friendly
informal way.
Have you ever had a chat with Miriam?
3 arrange (v) /ə‘reindʒ/ To plan, prepare for, or organize
something.
I always arrange to meet my friends on
Sunday afternoons.
4 cancel (v) /’kænsəl/ To decide that an organized event will
not happen, or to stop and order for
goods or services that you no longer
want.
We had to cancel the reservation
because I was ill.
5 repeat (v) /ri’pi:t/ To say or tell people something more
than once.
Would you mind repeating what you just
said?
6 separate (v) /’seprət/ To (cause to) divide into parts.
 The north and south of the country are
separated by a mountain range.
7 catch (v) /kætʃ/ To take hold of something, especially
something that is moving through the
air.
Our dog ran past me and out of the
house before I could catch it.
8 slow down (v) /slou/ To move slower, or to cause someone
or something to move slower.
The car slowed down, then suddenly
pulled away.
9 connect (v) /kə’nekt/ To joint or be joined with something
else.
Can I connect my printer to your
computer?
10 message (n) /‘mɛsɪdʒ/ A short piece of information that you
give to a person when you cannot
speak to them directly.
If I’m not there when you call, leave a
message.

PRACTICE

Ex 1. Match 1-7 with the endings a-g

1. The restaurant is very popular, so you should book
2. Let’s have
3. I’ve got to leave work early tonight because I’ve arranged
4. If I leave earlier, I’ll need to buy another
5. I’m not sure what time I need to go, I haven’t checked
6. Let’s not talk
7. I can’t go away next weekend, so I need to cancel
 a. my hotel reservation
b. to meet some friends
c. business all night
d. train ticket
e. a table
f. the train times yet
g. a chat about your plans
Ex 2: There is a verb missing in each sentence. Rewrite the sentences with the verbs
below
1. Did
arrange cancel change book check
you to
have talk
meet friends? If you didn’t, we can meet later
2. She called me because she wanted to a chat
3. Please a table for us at the Blue Fin Restaurant tonight
4. There’s been a problem and I can’t attend, so I’m calling to my reservation
5. Don’t forget to the train times before you leave for the station
6. I’d like to come to the 4.30 performance, not the 6.30 one, and I’m calling to my
ticket
7. The manager of Triad Books is on the phone. He wants to business.

II. FUNCTION

MAKING A PHONE CALL

Caller
Start the call Hello, this is Andy
Hello, it’s Wendy (NOT I am Wendy)
 Ask to speak to someone Can I speak to……?
When the person you want isn’t Can I leave a message?
there
Finish the call See you soon. Goodbye

Receiver
Start the call Hello, Paul speaking
Find out who is speaking Who’s calling (please)?
When the person the caller wants I’m afraid she’s not here at the
isn’t there moment.
Can I take a message?
I’ll ask her to call you back.
Finish the call Thanks for calling

PRACTICE
Ex 1: Put the words in the correct order to make a phone conversation
A: speaking / David
B: It’s / Johnson / hello / Mark
A: can / Mr / help / how / I / you / Johnson
B: to / like / Sara / please / I’d / to / speak / Torres
A: the / afraid / here / I’m / she’s / moment / not / at
B: a / leave / I / can / message?
A: course / of / yes
B: you / me / her / can / ask / call / to / back?
A: problem / no
B: number / 0276 765356 / is / my
A: repeat / you / that / can / please?
B: 0276 765356
 A: calling/ thanks / OK / for
B: Bye
Ex 2: Find the four mistakes in the conversation. Write each line of the conversation
again, correcting any mistakes.
A: Hello, I’m Jim. Is Trudy there?
B: I’m afraid but she’s not here at the moment
A: Oh, really. Can I leave the message?
B: Of course
A: Can you tell her that we need to discuss the party on Friday?
B: Yes, I will ask her for calling you
A: Thanks a lot
B: You are welcome. Bye
A: Bye

III. LEARN TO

MANAGE PHONE PROBLEMS

Problems Questions
We need to hear something again Sorry, I didn’t catch that
Can you repeat that, please?
The speaker is speaking too fast Sorry, can you slow down, please
The speaker is speaking too quietly Can you speak up, please?
We are not sure the information is Can I just check?
correct
The speaker isn’t sure the listener Can you hear me OK?
 heard anything

PRACTICE
Ex 1: Put the words in the correct order to complete the questions

1. That / catch / I / didn’t

A: Hello, this is Hillary Kenton, calling from Newark
B: Sorry, …………………….Did you say Hillary Clinton from New York?
2. You / that / can / repeat
A: Hello, my name is Aloysius Venoziak Frobisher Menkovsky
B: ………………………………..?
3. You / speak / please / can / up?
A: Hi, um….I’m….um….waiting for a …er….a package from Dublin.
B: Sorry, …………………….
4. You / slow / please /can / down
A: Hello, I’d like to order two Pentium Bidmark 6.40 large photocopiers, three
Ribdale Energy Star fax machines, five Rubicon Jump Drives, and….
B: Sorry,……………………………….?
5. The / please / name / what’s?
A: Hi, I’m waiting for a delivery of fifteen chocolate rabbits. Have you sent them
yet
B: One moment. ………………………..?
IV. PRONUNCIATION

LINKING: Can
WORD STRESS
1. Word Stress: Syllables and stress are two of the main areas of spoken language.
Pronouncing words with the stress on the correct syllables will help you improve your
spoken English, make your sentences easier to understand and help you sound more like
a native speaker
 Only vowel sounds are stressed (a, e, i, o, u)
 A general rule is that for two syllable words, nouns and adjectives haave the stress
on the first syllable, but verbs have the stress on the second syllable. For example:
table (noun), special (adjective), demand (verb)
 Words ending in “ic”, “tion” or “sion” always place their stress on the penultimate
(second to last) syllable. For example: supersonic, Atlantic, dedication, attention,
transformation…
 Words ending in “cy”, “ty”, “gy” and “al” always place their stress on the third
form last syllable. For example: accountancy, sincerity, chronology….
 Words ending in “sm” with 3 or fewer syllables have their stress on the first
syllable. For example: prism, autism, …..
 Words ending in “ism” tend to follow the stress rule for the stem word with the
“ism” tagged on the end. For example: opportunism, feminism…
 Words ending in “sm” with 4 or more syllables tend to have their stress on the
second syllable. For example: enthusiasm, metabolism…
 Words ending in “ous”
- Words ending in “ous” with 2 syllables have their stress on the first
syllable. For example: anxious, jealous, famous…
- Words ending in “ous” with 4 syllables usually have their stress on
the second syllable). For example: continuous, hilarious, anonymous…
- There are some exceptions. For example: fabulous, glamorous,
serious, dangerous …stress on the first syllable. Disastrous, ambitious,
courageous stress on the second syllable
PRACTICE
Ex 1: T.3.1. Choose only words with the stress on the first syllable. Listen and
check. Then listen and repeat
 Caller Arrange Repeat Dinner
Cancel Business Before Moment
Proposed Message Between Happened
Goodbye Rescue Towards Wednesday
Under Listened Over Married

V. SPEAKING

Student A: think about what you are going to say when you receive and make phone
calls in these situations. Role play the situations with Student B.
Answer the phone:
1. You work for Nova Restaurant. Take a message
2. You work for Amber Cinema. Answer the phone and tell a customer the times of
the film The Magic Hat: 2.30 p.m, 5 p.m, 7.30 p.m and 10.00 p.m, with a special
extra showing at 12 p.m at the weekend.
3. Answer the phone normally. Listen and respond to the invitation
Make a call
4. You are calling Ripping Yarns, a theatre company. You would like six tickets for
Hamlet for Friday.
5. You are calling Brandon’s Restaurant. You want to change your reservation
from 7.30 p.m on Tuesday to 8 p.m next Wednesday. There will now be ten
people, not five, so you need a bigger table.
6. Ask your partner if he/she wants to go for a snack after class.

C. UNIT PRACTICE

Ex 1: Choose the best answer and record your speech.

1. A: “Could I speak to Alex, please?” B: “………………..”

A. This is Joe speaking B. Can I take a message?
 C. Just a moment. I’m coming D. I’m sorry, Alex’s not in
2. A: Sorry, Brian is not here. B: “……………”
A. Would you like to leave a message? B. Can I take a message then?
C. Can I speak to Brian, please D. Can I leave a message then.
3. A: “Would you like another coffee?” B: “………………”
A. I’d love one B. Me, too
C. Very kind of your part D. It’s a pleasure
4. A: “Would you like me to get you a taxi?” B: “…………………..”
A. That would be delighted. Thanks B. Well, let’s see
C. Yes, please, if it’s no bother. D. Yes, I see
5. A: “Why don’t you come over and see the new film with me?” B: “……………”
A. I’m afraid not B. Great. I’d love to
C. Wow! I didn’t realize that D. Sure. Please do
6. A: “What a great haircut, Lucy!” B: “………………….”
A. You think so? I think it’s a bit too short
B. It’s my pleasure
C. Oh, yes. That’s right
D. Thanks. It’s very kind of you to do this
7. A: Tom, “Have you decided when you’ll leave?”
B. “Not exactly, but I think the sooner, ………….”
A. the better B. is better
C. is the better D. the best
8. A: ‘You won the first prize, Kathy!” B: “……………..”
A. You are kidding! B. You are very welcome
C. Congratulations! D. Well done
9. A: Could you wait until I come back? B: “…………..”
A. Thank you very much B. Yes, Please do
C. I’d rather not, sorry D. That would be great!
10. A: “Shall we eat out tonight?” B: “ ………….”
A. That’s a great idea B. That’s understandable
 C. It is very kind of you to invite me D. You are very welcome

Ex 2: Situations - Make a phone call and record your speech.

1. You will have a party on Sunday. You would like to book a table in a Sunshine
restaurant on that day because the restaurant is very popular and suitable for a
birthday party.
2. You are the hotel receptionist. One customer would like to change the date of
booking room because of his/her personal problem.

Ex3: Suggested link for practice. Listen and record your speech.
https://youtu.be/4N9Y47aVTHM

https://youtu.be/O2E71_sxgjE