1. Conversation Lesson 23: Leaving or Taking a Message

2. Richard: Hello? Lily: Hello, is Michael there? Richard: No, he won’t be back till after nine. Lily: Well, can I leave a message? Richard: Sure, let me get a pen… OK, go ahead. Lily: Tell him Lily called and I need to know if he still wants to go on the camping trip this coming weekend. Richard: Mmm… camping… is that it? Lily: Uh-huh. Richard: He has your phone number? Lily: Yes, but just in case, it’s 522-0777. Thanks. Richard: No problem. Good-bye. Lily: Bye.

3. Culture Note The person who answers the phone usually asks if the caller wishes to leave a message for the person he/she wants when that person is not there. When taking a message given over the phone, be sure to repeat the caller’s information to make sure that you have correctly. You might need to ask the caller to repeat something or to ask for the spelling. (See example, page 64.)

4. When the person asked for is not there you can say... I’m afraid he/she isn’t in (his/her office) at the moment. He/She is not here right now. Can I get him/her call you back? Sorry, he/she is just stepped out. Would you like to call back later? He/She is away for a few days. I’m sorry, he/she is not available at the moment.

5. To ask the caller to leave a message you can say... Would you like to leave a message? Do you want to leave a message?

6. To leave a message you can say... Can I leave a message? (Yes.) Could you tell him/her that … Thanks, please tell him/her that … Yes, please, let him/her know that …

7. To offer to take a message you can say... I’m sorry, he/she is in a meeting now: Can/May I take a message (for you)? Do you want me to take a message (for you)? If you like, I can take a message (for you). Is there any message?

8. To not leave a message you can say... No, I’d rather not leave a message. I have to talk to him myself. No, thanks. I’ll call back later. When is she likely to be back? I’ll call her then. Will he be at home this evening (weekend)? OK, I’ll call/try again in an hour (tomorrow).

9. To have the person asked for call you back you can say... Would you ask him to call Jim Smith before 5:30 this evening. Please tell her to call Cathy at 555-6735. Could you ask him to call me back? He has my number. Tell her Denny called and have her call me back please. I can be reached at 555-3571, extension 274.

10. Practice Leaving and Taking a Message Work in pairs. Read the following situation and practice leaving and taking a message.

11. Leaving and Taking a Message – Situation 1 You and your American friend One of your American friends is studying Chinese in you city. You want to invite him/her to see a Chinese movie together. You dial the number of the home where he/she is staying, but he/she is not in. A member of his Chinese “family” answers the phone, and you leave a message.

12. Leaving and Taking a Message – Situation 2 You and the receptionist Since you will graduate soon, you are sending your resumé to some companies. On Monday you got a call saying that the HR manager at Apple Computer will interview you on Friday. Today is Friday, but due to an emergency, you can not go to the interview. You phone the company and the receptionist answers. She tells you that the HR manager is not in the office, so you leave a message.

13. Leaving and Taking a Message – Situation 3 You and your boss’s secretary Your five-year-old child is sick and you decide to take him to the Children’s Hospital this morning. Before you go, you have to tell your boss that you can’t come to work today. Unfortunately, when you phone her, she is not in the office. Her secretary answers the phone. You leave your message with her.

14. Leaving and Taking a Message – Situation 4 You and an unknown caller You are in your office and you answer a phone call. The person the caller wants to speak to is your colleague. But your colleague is out of town on a business trip. You take the caller’s name, telephone number and message.