Language of Telephoning

This is a downloadable ESL matching activity to practise the language of telephoning.

Keith Taylor

Activity to practise phrases used on the telephone

Download this activity for free!

Here’s some more info about the activity:

Aim To present/practise common phrases used on the telephone.
Activity Students match phrases/words.
Organisation Pairs or groups
Preparation Make anough copies of the activity for the number of students in your class.
What do I do?
  1. Cut up and mix phrases/words before your lesson.
  2. Ask students to match phrases/words with similar meaning.
  3. Turn all of the cards face down and play a memory game: The first student turns over 2 cards. If they match, the student keeps the pair and tries again. If not, play passes to the next student. The student with the most pairs is the winner.

The line’s busy | The line’s engaged
I’ll put you through | I’ll connect you
Hold on | One moment
Go ahead | I’m ready
Could I have your name? | Who’s calling please?
Is that all? | Anything else?
A country or area number | A code
Can you wait? | Will you hold?
The reason I’m phoning is… | I’m calling to…

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