Phone Calls
B1 Business English · Workplace Communication
01 · Speaking · Warm-Up
Before You Start
Discuss these questions with your partner before starting the lesson.
How often do you make or receive phone calls in English at work?
Do you prefer calling someone or sending an email? Why?
Have you ever had a problem understanding someone on the phone? What happened?
What do you do when you can't get through to someone?
02 · Vocabulary · Core Phrases
Essential Phone Call Vocabulary
Click each phrase to see its meaning, Polish translation, and an example sentence.
Extended Vocabulary
voicemail
poczta głosowa
dial
wybrać numer
ringtone
dzwonek telefonu
drop the call
zerwać połączenie
switch off
wyłączyć telefon
answer the phone
odebrać telefon
call waiting
oczekiwanie na połączenie
landline
telefon stacjonarny
mobile phone / cell phone
telefon komórkowy
conference call
konferencja telefoniczna
headset
zestaw słuchawkowy
speakerphone
głośnomówiący
hold the line
czekać na linii
03 · Functional Language · Interactive Cards
What to Say on the Phone
Click a category to expand it. Then click any phrase card to flip it and reveal the Polish translation. Use these phrases in the dialogue exercises below.
Click a card to see the Polish translation
04 · Listening · Sample Dialogues
Read & Analyse These Phone Calls
Read each dialogue carefully. Identify the key phrases from Section 03 and discuss with your partner: what is the relationship between the speakers? What is the purpose of the call?
A: Hello? Josh's phone.
B: Hi. Is Josh there?
A: Who's this?
B: This is Tamara.
A: Hang on a minute, I'll get him. Josh? Josh? … Sorry, he can't come to the phone.
B: Oh. He hung up on me the last time we spoke – we had an argument. Can you tell him that I called to say I'm sorry? Have you got that?
A: Yes. I'll pass that on.
B: Thanks. Bye.
A: Bye.
05 · Exercise · Gap Fill
Fill in the Gaps
Word Bank
I tried to call the office but I couldn't — the line was busy all morning.
Could you a minute? I need to check something.
I'm sorry, could you please? I can hardly hear you.
Mr Davies is not available right now. Would you like to ?
The connection is terrible — you keep and I can't understand you.
I'll you to the sales department right away.
She was so angry that she just without saying goodbye.
There's in this area — I can barely make a call.
I wasn't at my desk, so my colleague offered to .
He said he'd me after the meeting.
06 · Speaking · Roleplay Scenarios
Phone Call Roleplay
Work in pairs. Choose a scenario, read your role card, and act out the phone call. Try to use the phrases from Section 03. Swap roles after each call.
07 · Speaking · Discussion
Talk About It
Discuss these questions with your partner or group. Try to use the vocabulary from this lesson in your answers.
How often do you make phone calls in English at work? Is it easy or difficult?
Do you prefer calling or sending emails? What are the advantages of each?
Have you ever had a problem understanding someone on the phone? What happened?
What do you do when you can't get through to someone?
Is it rude to hang up without saying goodbye? When might it be acceptable?
Do you ever leave voicemail messages? What do you usually say?
How do you politely tell someone you're busy and can't talk right now?
Tokizz · Vocabulary Expansion Through Conversation
Phone Calls · B1 Business English