Answer the Telephone the Right Way in English
Panic. Fear. Stress. Those are the words I felt when I had to answer the telephone in my second language.
I never knew if I was using the right expression. I felt stressed about my pronunciation. Would the other person understand me?
Many times I tried to translate common expressions for the phone from English to French. But I didn’t know if they were correct.
So when a student of mine recently asked me about how English-speakers answer the phone, I realized that maybe she had the same feelings. And I knew I could help.
Together in our small group, we discussed the common words, expressions, and intonation that native-speakers use that first moment when they answer the telephone.
What about you? Do you feel the same – panic, fear, stress – every time you answer the phone in English? If yes, then today you’ll learn exactly what my small group learned.
Today’s focus is on everyday life in English for the telephone. Not business English. I want you to know what to say when your English-speaking co-worker calls, when the doctor’s office calls, when your new yoga teacher calls, or when the principal at your child’s school calls.
Note: Here are links to additional lessons for speaking on the telephone in English:
Voicemails in English – Everything You Need to Know
Be ready for any phone call in English.
Lesson by Annemarie
After you’ve watched the video, I’d love to hear from you.
- What is your greatest challenge or fear when talking on the telephone in English? What do you need the most to help you be more confident on the telephone?
- Or do you have a success story? If you do, please share with us so others can learn from you! Do you have a useful tip for communicating clearly on the phone? What helped you to be more successful?
I love to read and respond to your comments. And your feedback is wonderful for the whole Confident English Community, so don’t be afraid to share below.
Thank you for joining me this week. If you have a friend who might love this lesson or need help with English on the telephone, please feel free to share the Confident English love.
See you next week,
Annemarie
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I love your site really and I want to improve my communication and fluency in English.
Thanks a lot…..
My biggest fear was to start speaking in professional calls and I felt like a fish in an ozean. But as I realized that this it is exactly what it is, I started speaking, picked up the phone by myself, called and understood that all my conversation partners have their own struggles. This gave me the push I needed feeling more confident.
Excellent, Wilma! I’m glad you found the inspiration you needed to take that big step in using English on the phone.
Great lesson Anne Marie. This is crucial for listening too because some people don’t know what the other one is going to say over the phone. Once you know there are certain formulas you can expect to hear, it makes life easier. “This is she” always makes me laugh as an expression.
Is it just me or does it seem rude that you can answer the phone by saying “oui” in French? That would sound rude to me in English, but I do respond that way in French when my partner or a friend call.
Thanks, Cara! And I totally agree regarding, “Oui?” I would never answer the phone in English by simply saying “yes.” Thus the importance of knowing the formulas, as you said. 🙂
My problem is with professional calls… Or for example when I answer a call in my work and this call is for another person… At that moment I get nervous and I can´t manage the situation. Could you help me?
thanks
Hello Bárbara,
Thank you for your comment. I completely understand that professional calls can be more challenging. There is more pressure to be correct.
You might find my lesson for Speaking on the Telephone at Work helpful to you, especially the key phrases we use when the call is for another person. The best phrase to use – whether you just need a moment to calm down and think clearly in English or you’re going to transfer a call – is, “Could I put you on hold for just a moment?”
Here’s a link to that lesson: http://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/telephone-calls-in-english/
Thank you very much. The intonation one should say Hello was a new piece of information for me. In general I’m not afraid of speak on the phone; however the test I’m getting ready for will be over the phone. The test is called OPI in English.
Hi Milla,
I’m very happy to know this was helpful to you and you learned something new. And good luck on the OPI! I’m very familiar with this exam. When will you have your OPI?
This was the first lesson I learned from your post. It was helpful and I keep following you on pintrest!😊🍀
Wonderful! I’m glad to have you here, Sahba!
great, useful, and interesting lesson , well explaned.
thnks Anne
Wonderful! I’m glad it was helpful.
Hello, I really appreciate the way you explain things in your lessons they are very useful and understandable, more greese to your elbow.
I’m very glad to know my lessons are helpful to you. Thank you.
Hello, Anne Marie thanks a bunch for this useful lesson.
You’re very welcome, Musa.
This video is going to be really useful for my students. I loved your clear explanations and examples.
Hello Carola,
Wonderful! I’m so glad to hear that. I hope your students find it useful.
Thanks Annemarie, Your amicable way of explaining and sprinkle of expression makes it absolutely easy for us to follow…Thumbs up !
Thank you very much, Bisma. I’m glad it was helpful to you.
It’s easy.
Thank’s
Wonderful. Thanks, Evelyn.
It is easy to understand..thanks anne