Talking on the Phone

By Melissa Noad

File

Print and laminate the phones (these are best in colour).

I started my class with a couple of rounds of phone number bingo to review numbers.
Next, I recorded four telephone conversations on my computer and played them for the class. If you have a JTE with you, you can demonstrate them in front of the class. Students listened and write in the correct answers. This activity reviews the phone conversation they will do next.
Distribute the phones to students (they each get one). Students will make pairs and go through the telephone conversation in the "Phone Script" file (put it on the board in large text). Students will choose a day on their phone that they are not busy to fill in the blank. The blue marks on the phones are days when they are busy, and white ones are not busy. The activity they use will be one written on their phones. If the student they ask is busy, they must try to make another suggestion that can be agreed on by both people. Students will ask for each other's phone numbers (even though they would obviously need it to make the original call - it is just for practice). They will try to collect as many numbers as they can after the phone conversations to prove that they did the activity.
To review the students' fluency, I keep a black and white copy of the phones on the podium. I choose one number and say it alound and make ringing noises until the student says "Hello." I go through the conversation to test them. Have fun and mix things up - offer to sell them magazines or just chat!

Note: Remind students to make ringing noises to make the activity more realistic. Also remind them to answer with "Hello."