On the Telephone‏

Does speaking on the telephone in English intimidate you? Fear not! Learning telephone skills is easy. Whether making or receiving the call, the first rule is to speak clearly in a friendly tone of voice. Also identify yourself right away. If you are the caller, say who you want to speak to. After reaching the person you want to talk with, be prompt in stating why you called.
用英文講電話會使你害怕嗎？不要怕！電話技巧並不難學。不論是打或接電話，第一條規
則是以友善的口氣清楚地表達，同時立刻表明身份。如果你是打電話的人，說你想要和誰
講話。找到你要談話的人後，立刻說明打電話的目的。
Try these beginnings and see which feels most comfortable to you:
* Hello. This is Lucy. May I speak to Margaret?
* Hi! This is John. Is Harry there?
* Hello. Alex Aims here. I’d like to talk with Joe.
* Hello. I’m Cindy. Can Sara come to the phone?
試試這些開場白，看看你覺得哪一種對你最合適：
* 喂，我是露西。我可以和瑪格麗特說話嗎﹖
* 嗨！我是約翰。哈瑞在嗎﹖
* 喂，我是艾利克斯． 阿姆斯。我想和喬說話。
* 喂，我是辛蒂。可以請莎拉來聽電話嗎﹖
Conversation 1
Claire: Hello. Wayne residence. Claire speaking.
Karen: Hi, Claire. This is Karen. May I speak with Marcy?
Claire: Sure, Karen. I’ll call her.
Marcy: Hello?
Karen: Hi, Marcy! This is Karen. Are you busy? I just wanted to talk a bit.
Marcy: Your timing is perfect! I was just going to sit down with a cup of coffee. What’s on your mind?
會話一
克蕾兒：喂，韋恩公館。我是克蕾兒。
凱　倫：嗨，克蕾兒。我是凱倫。我可以和瑪西說話嗎﹖
克蕾兒：當然，凱倫。我來叫她。
瑪　西：喂﹖
凱　倫：嗨，瑪西！我是凱倫。你在忙嗎﹖我只是想談一談。
瑪　西：你打來得正是時候！我正要坐下來喝杯咖啡。你有什麼事嗎﹖
In formal situations, such as placing orders or requesting service, give your first and last name. Verify that you’ve reached the right company and state the reason for your call. If you are put on hold, take that time to review what you want to say. Write down the name of the person you spoke with. This makes it easier to call back without having to explain everything again.
在正式的場合，例如下訂單或要求服務，要說出你的姓和名字。確定你找對了公司，
說明你打去的理由。如果他們要你稍等，就利用時間複習一下要說的話。寫下和你談
話的對方姓名，如此你再打去時便較輕鬆，不需要從頭解釋一遍。
Here are some ways to make these kinds of calls:
*Hello, Jake’s Plumbing? This is Sandra Smith. Send a plumber right away. There’s a broken pipe in the bathroom.
*Good morning, Uptown Bank? This is Marsha Woods. There seems to be a problem with my
bank statement. Oh, I should speak with Lynn? Thank you. Can you transfer my call?
*Hello, is this Mrs. Baker? This is Ted Brown from Ace Electric. The new lights you ordered just came in. Can we deliver them today?
打這類電話可以有以下方式：
* 喂，傑克水管工程行嗎﹖我是珊卓拉‧史密斯，請立刻派一位水管工人來。我浴室
裡有水管破了。
* 早安，上城銀行嗎﹖我是瑪莎‧伍德斯。我的銀行對帳單似乎有問題。噢，我應該
找琳恩﹖謝謝你，你能幫我轉接嗎﹖
* 喂，請問是貝克太太嗎﹖我是艾斯電器行的泰德．布朗。你訂的新電燈剛送到。我
們可以今天送去嗎﹖
Conversation 2
Receptionist: Good morning, Dr. Swanson’s office.
Mrs. Hill: Hello. This is Joyce Hill. I need to see the doctor right away. I broke a tooth last night and it really hurts!
Receptionist: Please hold while I see if he has any openings today.
(pause) Mrs.Hill? Dr. Swanson can see you at 10:30.
Mrs. Hill: Thank you so much. I’ll be there. Bye.
Receptionist: Good-bye.
會話二
接待總機： 早安，斯旺森醫師辦公室。
希爾太太： 喂，我是喬伊斯‧希爾。我需要立刻看醫生。我昨天晚上弄斷了一顆牙齒，痛得很厲害！
接待總機： 請稍等，我看一下他今天還有沒有空檔。
（暫停）
希爾太太，斯旺森醫師十點三十分可以見你。
希爾太太： 真謝謝你。我會到的，再見。
接待總機： 再見。

Sometimes your telephone conversation must be interrupted. If possible, give a reason before leaving the phone. Try to give the other person a choice by saying, “Would you hold on?”or “Can I call you right back?” Note the following for other ideas:
* Can you excuse me? The kids are fighting. I’ll call you back as soon as I can.
* There’s someone at the door. I have to go. Can you call me later?
* Oh, no! The soup’s boiling over! Can you hold on a minute?
有時你在電話上的交談會被迫打斷。如果可能的話，掛電話以前先說明原因。儘量給
對方一個選擇，可以說：「你可以稍等嗎？」或是「我可以儘快打給你嗎﹖」其他方
式請看以下對話：
* 請恕我失陪一下好嗎﹖孩子們在打架，我會儘快回電話給你。
* 有人按門鈴。我得去看看。你待會兒打給我好嗎﹖
* 噢，不好了！煮沸的湯滿出來了！你可以稍等一下嗎﹖
Conversation 3
Pam: So, you and Ray will be able to come to dinner next Saturday?
Jan: Yes. That will be just fine. Uhoh! The timer rang. I have to take my cake out of the oven.
I’ll call back in a few minutes.
Pam: Actually, I need to be on my way to the supermarket. Let’s visit again tomorrow. Call me about ten?
Jan: Sure! Till then. Bye.

Used effectively, the telephone can be a big help in everyday living. Make friends with yours today. And remember, you can practice your English and your telephone skills by calling us every month on “Call Your Teacher.”
會話三
潘：所以你和雷下星期六可以來我家吃晚飯囉？
珍：是啊，這樣真好。噢，計時器響了。我得去把蛋糕從烤箱裡拿出來。我過幾分鐘再打給你。
潘：其實，我需要去超市了，我們明天再聯絡吧。十點左右打給我嗎﹖
珍：當然！到時候聯絡，再見。
若有效地使用，電話對日常生活有很大的幫助。跟你的電話做個好朋友吧！而且記住，你可以
藉著每個月「打給你的老師」時間打給我們，練習你的英文和電話技巧！


⊙Word Bankintimidate (v) 使恐懼
prompt (adj) 立刻的；即時的
residence (n) 住處
timing (n) 時間的安排；時機
put someone on hold (v phr)（讓人在電話上）等候
plumbing (n) 水管工程
transfer (v) 轉接
opening (n) 空檔
interrupted (adj) 中斷的
effectively (adv) 有效地


@The Day's Phrase
Bringing cultures and people closer together
令人歎為觀止的橋
拉近文化與民眾間的距離
I bought this comic book hot off the press. It is so new that many people have not even heard of it.
我買了這本剛剛出版的漫畫書。這本書很新，以至於很多人都沒聽說過呢。
In this art form, actions speak louder than words
默劇的藝術
在這種藝術形式中，肢體動作勝於言語
You should start your homework--it's later than you think.
你該開始作功課了──現在時間比你想的還晚了。

You must have a lot of stress. You keep knitting your brows.
你的壓力一定很大。你一直皺著眉頭呢。

The habit of looking down at your smartphone or tablet could be hurting you
小心長簡訊脖！
低頭注視你的智慧手機或平板電腦的習慣可能對你有害

It's Saturday, so you can sleep in today!
今天是星期六，所以你可以睡晚一點！

Can you help me set the table?
你可以幫我把飯桌準備好嗎？

Inspirations from the sea for clothes that change colors
效法墨魚的變色服
從海洋獲得靈感的變色服
Remember to wash your hands before you come to the table.
吃飯前記得要洗手。

April showers bring May flowers
四月大解密
四月雨帶來五月花
Don't talk with your mouth full!
嘴巴有食物時不要講話！
Life is like baseball
人生的棒球場
人生如棒球

Finish your breakfast. Then you can go play.
吃完早餐，然後才可以去玩。