کمک! ما کمک می خواهیم

Help! We need somebody

Tom

Has anyone seen the stapler?

Anna

I can’t find any pens.

Tom

Oh, here it is.

Paul

Will someone answer that phone?

Narrator

Hello again and welcome back to English at Work. The offices of Tip Top Trading have become chaotic since Denise left and just at a time when things are getting busy. How is everyone going to cope? Let’s find out.

Tom

Hello. Yes? It is. We’re very busy at the moment so call back later. Bye.

Anna

That was a bit rude Tom.

Tom

Well we’re too busy to be nice.

Narrator

Hmm. Not a good attitude Tom. Even when you are busy at work it’s important to be polite on the phone. It could be a potential customer. Anna, I think you’re going to have to remind Tom about this.

Anna

Yes, I think so.

Narrator

If things are busy in the office you could say to someone on the phone ‘we’re a bit busy at the moment, could I take your name and number and we’ll call you back’? And, ‘when would be a convenient time to call you?’ or if the caller wants to speak to someone specific you could say ‘could I take a message please and I’ll make sure he or she calls you back?’

Anna

That’s useful. Oh there goes the phone again.

Paul

Anna, could you get that please? I’ve got a mouthful of biscuit. Thanks.

Anna

Sure Paul. Hello? Tip Top Trading… yes, that’s right… but things are a bit busy at the moment. Could I take your name and number and I’ll call you back as soon as I can… oh hold on, has anyone got a pen?

Tom

I think we’ve run out. Denise usually orders them. Here, use my souvenir pen I bought in Italy, you see it changes colour if you hold it up to the light.

Anna

Thanks. Oh no! There’s no paper to write it on.

Tom

Here, write it on my hand.

Anna

OK. Hold still. 7-4-9-0-5-6-8. Thanks for your patience, when is a good time to call you back? … OK… 3 o’clock… I’ll call you then. Goodbye.

Tom

Sounds important.

Anna

Possibly. Oh not again! Hello, Tip Top Trading, Anna speaking… I see… Well he doesn’t seem to be here at the moment… can I take a message and I’ll get him to call you back? Tom, I need your other hand to write on… keep still. OK, what’s the message? … Yes, call Bob about the lemons on 8-0-9-5-2-4. OK, I’ll pass that on. Thanks. Bye.

Tom

Goodness. It’s been crazy here since Denise left. Look we’ve even run out of teabags. I’ll go and get some, shall I?

Paul

Hold on Tom. Has that invoice for Tutti Fruity been sent out yet?

Tom

I dunno. Denise usually sends out the paperwork.

Anna

I wish Denise was here!

Narrator

So do we all! It sounds like chaos in the office but however hectic things can get, remember to remain professional when answering the phone. Here’s a reminder of some of the phrases you could use… We’re a bit busy at the moment; could I take your name and number and we’ll call you back?

When would be a convenient time to call you?

Could I take a message please and I’ll make sure he or she calls you back?

Anna

Ah there you are, Tom, you’ve been a long time. I need to give Paul that important message I wrote on your hand.

Tom

Ah… yes… it’s a bit tricky. You see, I went to the toilet and then I… washed my hands.

Anna

Oh no, you’ve washed the messages off! What are we going to do now?

Tom

Erm… I’ll get that, shall I?

Anna

We can’t carry on like this.

Narrator

No you can’t! Has Anna lost the numbers of two potential clients? Can the company carry on like this? It certainly looks like it could do with another pair of hands. What will happen next? Join us again next time for English at Work. Bye!