Практическое занятие №2

Speaking Over the Phone.

Is there anything more difficult than to speak in a foreign language over the telephone? Even if you make yourself understood the chances are that you will not understand the person at the other end of the line. When you know what he is saying, the difficulty is to answer him immediately before he becomes impatient and hangs up.

Active vocabulary:

a call-box – телефон-автомат

to call smb up, to give a call, to make a call, to phone smb, to ring smb up – позвонить кому-либо

to dial a number – набрать номер

constant buzz – постоянные гудки

the line is busy (engaged) – номер (линия) занята

the line is clear – линия свободна

to dial the wrong number – набрать неправильный номер

to hang up – повесить трубку

to pick up the receiver – снять трубку

who is calling? – кто звонит?

toleavesmbamessage– передать что-то (сообщение, информацию)

to hold the wire – не вешать трубку

to hold the line – оставаться на линии

to book a trunk-call, a long-distance call – заказать междугородный разговор

to be on the line – быть на проводе

you are wanted on the phone – вас к телефону

toputsmbintouchwith– соединить кого-то с кем-то (по телефону)

to connect - соединить

to put a call through – звонить

goahead– говорите

localcall– местный звонок

to put a token into the slot – опустить жетон в таксофон

to ring off – повесить трубку

to disconnect – разъединить

Ex. 1 Read and translate the sentences. Pay attention to the words underlined.

1. If you have no telephone at home you can use a call-box in the street. All you have to do is put the necessary coin into the slot, pick up the receiver and dial the number wanted.

2. If you want to make a call to another city you must book a trunk-call.

3. We speak into the mouthpiece (микрофон) and listen to the earpiece of the receiver.

4. If the line is engaged you hear constant buzz.

5. You are wanted on the phone. Moscow is on the line.

6. Can you put me in touch with the Head of the department? – Sorry, he is out at the moment. – Hold on the line. I want to leave a message for him.

7. The line is clear, you may put your call through.

Ex. 2 Read and translate the dialogue.

Robert wanted to call Virginia, so when he didn’t find her number in his telephone book he dialed the Information.

Voice: Information.

Robert: Will you, please, give me the telephone number of C. E. Miller at 431 Clarl Street?

Voice: Just a moment, please… The number is 8974.

Robert: 8-9-7-4? Thank you very much.

Robert then dialed 8974, but a constant buzz indicated that the line was busy. He waited a few minutes and dialed again.

Voice: Hello.

Robert: Hello. Is this Mr Miller’s residence?

Voice: No, it isn’t.

Robert: Isn’t this 8974?

Voice: No, you have the wrong number. This is 8975.

Robert: I’m sorry, I made a mistake.

Robert hung up the receiver. After a minute he picked it up and tried again, being very careful to dial the right number this time.

Voice: Mr Miller’s residence.

Robert: I’d like to speak with Virginia White if she is there.

Voice: I’m sorry, but she isn’t here right now. Who is calling, please?

Robert: This is Robert Anderson speaking. Will Virginia be back soon?

Voice: Yes, probably about five o’clock. Do you want to leave her a message?

Robert: Well, just tell her that I called, please.

Voice: Wait a moment. I think she is coming in now. Hold the wire.

Robert: All right, I’ll wait.

Virginia: Hello!

Robert: Virginia?

Voice: Speaking!

Robert: This is Bob.

Voice: Oh, hello, Bob, how are you?

Robert: Just fine, thanks. And you?

Voice: Very well. It’s nice to hear your voice.

Robert: Virginia, are you going to be busy tomorrow night?

Voice: Well, I planned to study my English?

Robert: How about a date for a movie? There is a good picture at the Columbia this week. We’ll go early and then you can study afterwards.

Voice: All right, Bob, I’d love to go. Thanks a lot.

Robert: Then I’ll call for you a little before seven.

Voice: Ok. I’ll be ready.

Robert: Good-bye, Virginia, I’ll be seeing you.

Voice: So long, Bob, and thanks for calling.

Ex. 3 Answer the following questions:

1. Are you on the phone? What’s your telephone number?

2. What number will you dial if you want to send a telegram by phone? to know the exact time? to find out the telephone number of a cinema-house, a shop, an office? to call in an ambulance? a fire-brigade?

3. What do you do in case the party you are making a call to is out?

4. What do you usually do if you dial the wrong number?

5. What buzzing do we hear when the line is clear (busy)?

6. Have you ever spoken over the phone in a foreign language? Was it easy to understand your party?

Ex. 4 Read the dialogues

- Hello.	- Здравствуйте.
- Gould I speak to Mr Bokov?	- Могу я поговоритьс мистером Боковым?
- Who's calling, please?	- Кто звонит?
- This is Brown from the Foreign Office.	- Это мистер Браун из иностранного управления.
- Thank you. I'm putting you through.	- Хорошо, соединяю.
2
- Five - seven - three, one - nine - oh - four.	- Пять-семь-три-один-девять-ноль-четыре.
- Good evening. Can I speak to Mr Jones, please?	- Добрый вечер. Могу я поговорить с мистером Джонсом.
- Sorry. Mr Jones is on the other line. Will you wait, please?	- Простите, мистер Джонс говорит по другой линии. Не могли бы вы подождать?
- All right.	- Хорошо.
- Sorry to have kept you waiting, I'm putting Mr Jones on the line.	- Простите, что заставила вас ждать, соединяю вас с мистером Джонсом.
- Thank you.	- Спасибо.
3
- Foreign Office. Good afternoon. Can I help you?	- Иностранное управление. Добрый день. Могу я вам помочь?
- Good afternoon. I'd like to speak to Mr Blake.	- Добрый день. Я хотел бы говорить с мистером Блэйком.
- What extension, please?	- Какой добавочный номер.
- I think it's twenty-three.	- Кажеться двадцать три.
- Thank you.	- Спасибо.
(After a moment). You are through.	- (Спустя какое-то время.) Проключаю вас.
4
- Hello. I'd like to speak to Mr Smith.	- Здравствуйте. Я хотел бы говорить с мистером Смитом.
- I'm afraid you have the wrong number. What number were you calling?	- Я боюсь вы не туда попали. По какому номеру вы звоните?
- I was calling 340 - 1098.	- Я звонил на номер 340 - 1098.
- This is 340 - 1098. But there is no one by the name of Smith here. This is a private residence.	- Это номер 340 - 1098 но здесь нет никого по фамилии Смит.
- I'm sorry to have bothered you.	- Простите за беспокойство.
- That's quite all right.	- Ничего страшного.
5
- Hello. May I speak to Mr Smirnov, please?	- Здравствуйте. Могу я поговорить с мистером Смирновым?
- Smirnov speaking.	- Смирнов слушает.
- Mr Smirnov, this is Mr Blake's secretary. I'm calling to confirm your appointment with Mr Blake for next Tuesday at 5p.m.	- Мистер Смирнов, это секретарь мистера Блэка. Я звоню вам что бы подтвердить встречу с мистером Блэком в следующий вторник в 5 вечера.
- Thank you. I am looking forward to seeing Mr Blake next Tuesday. Will you give him my best regards, please.	- Спасибо. Жду встречи с нетерпением. Передайте ему мои наилучшие пожелания, пожалуйста.
- I will. Good-bye, Mr Smirnov.	- Хорошо. До свидания мистер Смирнов.
- Good-bye.	- До свидания.
6
- Train inquiries.	- Справочная вокзала.
- Can you give me the times of fast trains to Manchester, please, and arrival time? I'd like to get there about 6.00 p.m.	- Не могли бы вы сказать мне время убытия и прибытия скоростных поездов до Манчестера. Я хотел бы приехать в 6 вечера.
- Just a minute. Let's see. Week days 8.48 arrive 5.10, 9.30 arrive 5.30, 10.20 arrive 6.30. Do you want any more?	- Одну минуту. В будние дни 8.48 прибытие в 5.10, 9.30 прибытие 5.30, 10.20 прибытие 6.30. Нужна дополнительная информация.
- No. That's fine, thank you very much.	- Нет, этого достаточно, спасибо большое.

Ex. 5 Fill in the blanks with suitable sentences so as to complete the dialogue

• Hello! May I speak to Jane, please?

• ... … …

• This is Mary speaking.

• … … …

• So sorry. When will she be back?

• … … …

• Thank you. In this case I’ll call in a couple of hours again.

• … … …

• No, no message, thank you. I’d rather speak to her personally.

• … … …

• Thank you very much. Good-bye.

• … … ….

Ex. 6 Read, please

I’m calling to fix/arrange/agree another time.	Я звоню, чтобы перенести нашу встречу.
Michel and Ana are tied up/busy/unavailable this week.	Михаил и Анна не могут на этой неделе.
Do you mind if we postpone it/move it back/put it back to next week?	Как Вам следующая неделя?
Which day are you thinking of/do you have in mind/do you want?	Какой день Вы предлагаете?
Does Wednesday sound good/suit you/look ok?	Вам подходит среда?
How about/ Are you free on/Can you make Thursday?	Вас устроит четверг?
Which would be best/convenient/OK for you?	Какой день Вам удобен?
We can make it/’re free/’re available after lunch.	Мы свободны после обеда.
That sounds fine/great/good.	Отлично.
The appointment is/So that’s/We can confirm Thursday at two o’clock.	Итак, мы встречаемся в четверг в 14.00.

Ex. 7 Make up your own dialogues