英语听力精选进阶版 14798（在线收听）

English at Work 

Episode 15: Seb Lime 

More about telephone manner 

Anna:   (answering the phone) Yes? 

Denise:  Stop! That's all wrong. I'm going to call you again. This time… 

Narrator:  Hello. Here we are in the middle of a telephone training session with Denise 

and Anna. What fun! 

Denise:  …this time, you don't say 'yes' when you answer, it's rude. Call me and I'll 

show you how it's done.  

   (sound of 4-digit dialling, then phone rings) 

   Hello? Tip Top Trading. 

Anna:   Wow, that’s good. 

Denise:  And, you can say your name. Hello? Tip Top Trading. Denise speaking. Try 

it. 

   (dialling, then ring) 

Anna:   Hello? Tip Top Trading. Denise speaking. 

Denise:  No! 

Anna:   What? 

Denise:  Say: "Anna speaking!" 

Anna:   Oh, sorry, I'm so stressed by all this. Hello Anna speaking. 

Denise:  You sound like you're sitting on a pineapple. Listen to my voice: Hello? 

Denise speaking. 

Anna:   Hello? Anna speaking. 

Denise:  Good. Now, when the person has introduced themself – this is Mrs Smith or 

whatever, say: Hello Mrs Smith, how can I help you? Or, if you know them 

already, you might say: Hello Mrs Smith, how are you?  

Anna:   Okay, what if Mrs Smith wants to speak to Tom but he's not there? 

Denise:  You say: "I'm really sorry, he's not available at the moment. Can I take a 

message?" Or: "I'm afraid he's busy, shall I ask him to call you back?" 

Anna:   Okay.  

Denise:  And, to end a conversation, you can say: "Thank you for calling, goodbye." 

Let's do another practice! 

   (phone rings)  

Anna:   Hello? Tip Top Trading.  

Denise:   Hello, this is Mrs Smith. 

Anna:   Hello Mrs Smith, how can I help you?  

Denise:  I'd like to speak to Tom please. 

Anna:   I'm really sorry, he's not available at the moment. Can I take a message?  

Denise:  That's okay, I'll try again later. 

Anna:   Okay. Thank you for calling, goodbye.  

Denise:  Excellent! 

   (phone rings)  

   Oh! 

Anna:   How did you call me without dialling? 

Denise:  I didn't, that's a real call! 

Anna:   Oh no, I'm all nervous now. Hello? Tip Top Trading. This is Anna speaking. 

Mr Lime:  Hello Anna, this is Seb Lime. 

Anna:   Sublime? 

Mr Lime:  Mr Lime from Citrus Ventures. But I think we should be on first name terms 

now, so call me Seb. 

Anna:   Okay, er, Seb. How can I help you? 

Mr Lime:  I just wanted to say again that your Imperial Lemon is fantastic... and I 

was wondering if you'd like to do lunch with me sometime? 

Anna:   Lunch? Er...  

Narrator:  I knew it! Mr Lime is interested in more than just your lemons! 

Anna:   Would you like to discuss the Imperial Lemon? 

Mr Lime:  Forget the lemons Anna! The reason I want to see you is more of a 

personal nature.  

Anna:  Personnel?  Er...    Can I call you back? I'm afraid I'm a bit busy at the 

moment...  

Mr Lime:  …bbbut… 

Denise:  Well Anna! Mr Lime eh? 

Anna:  Oh dear Denise, I think I need a bit more help from you. He wants to talk 

about personnel…people, staffing… 

Denise:  Are you sure? I think he means a personal nature, not personnel! That Mr 

Lime! 

Anna:  Oh! 

Narrator:  Mr Lime indeed. Anyway, Anna had an excellent phone manner. Let's hear 

those phrases again:    

   Hello? Tip Top Trading. This is Anna speaking. 

   Hello? Anna speaking.  

    Hello Mrs Smith, how can I help you? 

   Hello Mrs Smith, how are you? 

   I'm really sorry, he's not available at the moment. Can I take a message?  

   I'm afraid he's busy – shall I ask him to call you back? 

   Thank you for calling, goodbye. 

   But how is Anna going to handle Mr Lime's request? I can't wait till next 

time! Bye! 

  Listening Challenge  

What does Seb Lime want Anna to do?      

(Answer: To go for lunch with him)