Part III  I’d like to speak to…

  Here is a phone call in which a caller tries to arrange an appointment. On the phone there can be a lot of misunderstandings.

A. First listen to some sentences taken from the phone call. Supply the missing words.

Tapescripts:

1. Just one moment, I’ll put you through.

2.You’ve got the wrong extension.

3.Can you connect me back through the switchboard please?

4.You expressed an interest in our laboratory measuring equipment.

5.I’m going to be in your area next month and I thought I might like to call in and see you.

6.Didn’t you get the literature I sent you?

7.I’ll just see if I can find my diary.

8.Is that convenient for you?

9.I’ll write to you to confirm the arrangements just to make sure we’ve got everything right.

B. Now listen to the whole phone call. While listening for the first time, add more key words if you can in the left-hand column. After the sencond listening, answer the questions about the call in the righ-hand column with the help of the notes.

Notes

Questions

Dr. Henderson Wrong extension Perez, France trade Fair, Berlin, last month Lab measuring Equipment Call in, next month Tues. 10 Apr., 11:00 Apr. 11, 10:00 Next day, after lunch Wed., 2:15 2:50 Mrs. Not Miss

1. How many speakers ar there in the conversation?  b. 4 2. Who are they?   Bill Henderson   Telephonist   Sylvia Perez   Peter Anderson 3. The telephonist mistook Dr. Henderson for Mr. Anderson, thus put the caller through the wrong extensin. 4. When arranging the appointment, the time suggested by Perez was Tuesday, 10th, April, at 11 o’clock, but Dr. Henderson thought it was Wednesday, 11th, April, at 10 o’clock. The time suggested by Dr. Henderson later was Thursday, 12th, April, but Perez thought it was Wednesday, 11th, April. The exact hour suggested by Perez was 2:15, but Dr. Henderson thought it was 2:50.

 

Tapescript:

Telephonist: Can I help you?

Perez: Can I speak to Dr. Henderson?

Telephonist: Mr. Anderson. Just one moment, I’ll put you through.

Anderson:Yes, Anderson, Accounts.

Perez: Hello, is that Dr. Bill Henderson?

Anderson: No, this is Peter Anderson. You’ve got the wrong extension.

Perez: Can you connect me back through the switchboard please?

Anderson: Well, I’ll try.

Perez: Hello?

Telephonist: Can I help you?

Perez: I’d like to speak to Dr. Bill Henderson, please.

Telephonist: Dr. Henderson, putting you through.

Henderson: Henderson.

Perez: Good afternnon. This is Sylvia Perez calling from France.

Henderson: Sylvia who?

Perez: Perez. P-E-R-E-Z. We met last month in Berlin at the trade fair. You expressed an interest in our laboratory measuring equipment.

Henderson: Oh yes!

Perez: I’m going to be in your area next month and I thought I might like to call in and see you.

Henderson: What’s this about again?

Perez: Your enquiry about our laboratory measuring equipment. Didn’t you get the literature I sent you?

Henderson: Yes, yes, that was very interesting.

Perez: Is it OK if I come in and see you during my visit next month?

Henderson: Yes, all right.

Perez: What about the morning of Tuesday 10^th April at about 11?

Henderson: I’ll just see if I can find my diary. April 11^th at 10 o’clock you said.

Perez: That’s right. Is that convenient for you?

Henderson: The next day might be better. Just after lunch for preference.

Perez: So that’s Wednesday. That’s great. Shall we say 2:15?

Henderson: Yes, 2:50, that’s fine. See you in April then. Goodbye, Miss Perez.

Perez: Goodbye, Dr. Henderson, actually it’s Mrs. I’ll write to you to confirm the arrangements just to make sure we’ve got everything right.

 

C. Now try this: listen to a more authentic version of the phone call.

Tapescript:

(First Attempt)

Telephonist: … and Company. Can I help you?

Perez: Er…can I speak to Dr. Henderson, please?

Telephonist: Mr. Anderson. Just one moment, I’ll put you through.

Anderson:Yes, Anderson, Accounts.

Perez: Oh, er…hello, is…is that Dr. Bill Henderson?

Anderson: What?No, no, this is Peter Anderson. You’ve got the wrong extension. You probably want Dr. Henderson in R&D that’s…um…er…657. All right, 657.

Perez: Oh, um…well, c…can you connect me back through the switchboard please?

Anderson: Huh! Well, I’ll try.

Perez: Hello?

(Second attempt)

Telephonist: … and Company. Can I help you?

Perez: Yes, I’d like to speak to Dr. Bill Henderson, please.

Telephonist: Dr. Henderson, putting you through.

Voice: 657.

Perez: Hello.

Voice: Oh, hello.

Caller: Um…is…is that Dr. Henderson?

Voice: Er…no.

Caller: Oh, er…I’m trying to get hold of Dr. Bill Henderson.

Voice: Oh, you want Bill. I…I’ll just see if I can find him. Um…ju…just a moment.

Perez: Thank you.

Henderson: Henderson.

Perez: Oh, good. Um…good afternnon. This is Sylvia Perez. Er…I’m calling you from France.

Henderson: Sylvia who?

Perez: Perez. P-E-R-E-Z. Um…we met last month in…in Berlin at the trade fair. You expressed an interest in our laboratory measuring equipment.

Henderson: Oh yes?

Perez: Well, the thing is I’m…I’m going to be in your area next month and I thought I might like to…um… call in and see you. I’d like to discuss the applications you might have for your equipment.

Henderson: Ah, I see. What’s this about again?

Perez: Your enquiry about our laboratory measuring equipment. Didn’t you get the literature that I sent you?

Henderson: Yes, yes. Um… that was very interesting. Um…

Perez: Well, the thing is: is it OK if I come in and see you during my visit next month?

Henderson: I see. Yeah, all right.

Perez: Now, what about the morning of Tuesday 10^th April, is that OK? Say at about…er…11?

Henderson: I’ll just see if I can find my diary…Umm, yes, here we are. Er… April 11^th at 10 o’clock you said.

Perez: That’s right. Now, um…is that OK? Is that convenient for you?

Henderson: The next day might be better. Just after lunch for preference.

Perez: Right, so that’s…er…the Wednesday. In fact, that’ll suit me fine, that’s great. Now, shall we say…um… 2:15?

Henderson: Er…certainly, yes, 2:50, that’s…that’s fine.

Perez: Oh and by the way, I’ll be bringing our agent Don Rees with me i…if that’s OK with you.

Henderson: Oh, certainly. Er…what was your name again?

Perez: Sylbia Perez, P-E-R-E-Z.

Henderson: Fine. I’ll see you in April then. You know how to get to our lab, don’t you? Goodbye, then, Miss Perex.

Perez: Goodbye, Dr. Henderson and…er… actually it’s Mrs. Oh, and I’ll…um…I’ll write to you to confirm the arrangements just to make quite sure we’ve got everything…absolutely right.