Season 1 / Episode 1

This episode of One2one podcasts is about phone etiquette. If you are someone who wants to improve on small talk, communicate with your work colleagues, or improve your job prospects, this series of podcasts will be of interest. Situational learning can be very effective because it puts students in situations that require quick thinking, often reducing translation time.

This lesson will help you master professional phone skills at work.

In Task 1, your line manager asks you to call a client. You will first speak with a receptionist, who will ask you questions. Depending on your responses, the receptionist will connect you to the appropriate person.

Many students prefer to skip small talk and get straight to business. However, this approach does not suit every workplace culture and can sometimes be seen as extremely rude. Avoiding small talk may prevent professional relationships from developing, which can ultimately affect your reputation, bonus, and profit margins.

Task 1

You should introduce yourself, explain that you are calling on behalf of your line manager, and offer alternative dates and times for a conference call.

Task 2

Once you have agreed on a meeting time, return to the office. Provide feedback on your call and draft a formal email to confirm the meeting details.

Task 3

For the final task, you will host a conference call. Make sure to introduce your manager to the client, and vice versa, clearly stating each person’s background.You will learn how to troubleshoot common issues, such as poor audio or video quality or a weak internet connection.

At the end of the call, you will be asked to close the meeting.If you are curious about business English and want a deeper understanding to gain an advantage at work, contact us via the contact form on our website. Join us on Instagram.