Topic: On the Phone
Mode: Interpretive
Level: Intermediate
Students will listen to a college student telling a friend about the difficulties she has reaching her mom on the phone and then answer comprehension questions.
Components of this activity: Script, recording, worksheet
Instructions to the teacher
Either make a recording of the following passage in advance or read it aloud to the class at a relatively normal pace. Make a multiple choice worksheet like this one. Below, the correct answers appear in bold.
Script
Recently I’ve had trouble reaching my mom on the phone. Maybe the problem is the time when I call. There is a six-hour time difference which means my mom is often at work when I call. The secretary who answers the phone sometimes puts me on hold. But some of those calls get cut off. That’s really frustrating, so sometimes I select the menu option to leave a message. That saves me time and my mom calls me back when she has a break. One time the secretary told me to call back later, but when I did, I only got the answering machine. I wish my mom would call me more often, but she’s afraid she might misdial and get the wrong number. That’s why she prefers when I call her.
Instructions to students
Listen to the speaker talk about calling her mom and then answer the questions.
- Why is it difficult for the college student to reach her mom over the phone?
Her mom is busy. There is a time difference. The office got new phones.
- What does the secretary often do?
Puts her on hold Talks for a long time Tells her to call back
- The college student prefer to save time by leaving a message …
With the secretary On the answering machine After hours
- Why doesn’t the college student’s mom call her?
It’s too expensive. She might get a wrong number. Her daughter is too busy.
- Why does the college student prefer to leave a message?
It’s easier to understand. It’s quicker. Her mom prefers it.
- How does the college student feel when her calls get cut off?
Pleased Frustrated Relaxed