The stars of this call are Miss Julie Marshall (Receptionist), Mike Barns (client), Dave Preston (an employee of the company). As you can see from the conversations, they all know each other very well, so they speak in quite a relaxed and informal manner.
Your starring role today is to rewrite the conversation in standard (not too formal !!!) business English. Good luck.
In the end, you’ll find some ideas, but as they say, all roads lead to Rome.
- Hi, Julie, it’s Mike, how are you doing? Is Dave about? I couldn’t get him on his mobile.
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- Hi, Mike, I’m fine, and how about you? I see he’s in his office talking to Sid and Sandra. I’ll pop you through, hang on a sec.
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- I’m fine too, cheers. No worries.
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- Err, Mike, he’s not answering, I guess it’s something urgent. I’ll get him to give you a bell back later.
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- Julie, not to worry, it’s nothing pressing. Thanx a million.
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- Okey dokey got you. Well, I’ll tell him you called, and I’m sure he’ll get back to you as soon as he can. Have a great day, Mike.
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- Will do, Julie, take care. Bye.
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All roads lead to Rome (Alle Wege führen nach Rom), Sec = second, “I’ll pop you through to sb” (Hier: durchstellen), to give sb a bell (anrufen), pressing (hier: dringend).
Possible answers:
1) Hi, this is Mike Barns, I’d like to speak to / Could you put me through to Mr Preston?
2) Hi, Mr Barns. I see he’s in a meeting at the moment, but I’ll try to put you through, one moment, please.
3) Thank you.
4) Err, Mr Barns, I’m afraid, he’s not answering the phone, I guess it must be something important. I’ll ask him to call you back later.
5) Don’t worry, Miss Marshall, there are only a few things I wanted to clear up with him, nothing urgent, though. Thanks very much.
6) I understand. I’ll tell him you called and I’m sure he’ll call you back as soon as he can. Thank you for calling Mr Barns. Bye.
7) Thank you, Miss Marshall, bye.