TRANSCRIPT OF THE ABOVE VIDEO: How to Answer the Phone in English - Communication Lesson - Improve Your English Speaking Skills

Hi everyone, it's Nicole here and I'm continuing our theme of telephone calls.

So, we've already learned how to leave a message on someone's message bank. But, another stressful area, I suppose, is actually answering the phone and knowing what to say, especially if you don't recognise the number, you know, nowadays, we're really lucky because we can see on the phone screen who is ringing, so that really relaxes us a lot more, I suppose. However, if it's a number you don't know, and maybe it's a business, or maybe it's someone ringing to offer you a job, well, we need to answer, and to obviously sound professional, and to sound quite positive and happy.

So, should we give it a go? I'd like to give you a few examples. Ok. So, answering the phone, here's my phone, let's do it with a telephone, it's a little bit easier.

Hi. Nicole speaking. How can I help you? Okay, so that's one obvious way. If you don't recognise the telephone number, another thing I could say is Hello. This is Nicole. Something like that. You could obviously also give your full name. This is Nicole Sammer. How can I help you? If you don't recognise the number, or you don't know who it is, another thing I could say is Yes. Hello. This is Nicole. Who am I speaking to?

If you want a little bit more information, you know, you don't know who's on the other end, you want them to tell you who they are before you give them any information, or answer any of their questions, you know, nowadays there's so many scams and pranks happening, and there's so many people wanting to sell things. So, it's probably good to find a little bit of information out about them first. Yes. Who am I speaking to please? I don't recognise this number. Something like that. That's a really good way of saying that, you could also say Hello. This is Nicole. How can I help you? So that's a really good way to answer or you might simply say Hello? and wait for them to see who they are. Who am I speaking to? Ok. Yes. No, I don't recognise that name. How can I help you? What would you like? Can you see how you're trying to get the information from them? That's a really important thing to.

Alternatively, if someone rings you and says Is that Nicole? or Can I speak to Nicole? you might say something like Yes, that's me. Or alternatively you could say something like Yes speaking. And that simply means Yes. This is Nicole speaking. Yes, this is Nicole. Who am I talking to? or How can I help you? What would you like? So really if they already know information about you and you don't know who they are, you really need to get that information from them first before you answer any of their questions.

So, an example of answering your phone, first of all for a friend. Hi! How are you? It's been so long! Alternatively, you might say something like Hey, how are things? Oh, I'm so happy that you rang! You could also say something like Mary is that you? Oh, it's been forever. Thank you so much for ringing! Or we could simply say something like Hi. How are you? Something like that if you know them, you know, you don't have to say their name.

Alternatively, a number you don't recognise. Let's try that one again. Yes. Hello. This is Nicole speaking. Who am I talking to? Or Hello? Who is this? Aha. Can you tell me which company you're ringing from please? There you go. So things like that, you know, the important thing is to sound genuine, to sound prepared.

Look, if someone is offering you maybe a job and you're expecting a phone call, wow, what can we do there? Well. Hello. This is Nicole speaking. How can I help you? Oh, wow! Thank you so much for getting back to me. Thank you very much. That's wonderful news! Can you see there how it’s sounding really excited and happy and genuine.

So, look, there's a few examples. If you'd like a few other examples of how to answer the phone, definitely ask me, definitely tell me. I'm more than happy to record a few more videos and to help you in this area.

I think answering the phone, or leaving messages, or ringing someone to get information, they’re amongst the hardest things to do because you can't see the person face-to-face, and talking on the phone, and just picturing that person is a lot harder than actually seeing them and interacting properly in person.

So, please practise those expressions, those answering methods, I suppose. If you'd like any more, just let me know and I'll record you some more. Have a great day. Thanks for listening. Bye!