I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]

There are many types of phone services today to choose from, including cellular, satellite, and even voice over IP phone services. Whatever service you use, learning how to leave and understand phone messages is important. What questions or requests might you hear in a telephone message (e.g., "Please call me tomorrow.")

HELPFUL TIP: Having an answering machine with a clear message can help your caller know exactly what information they should record (e.g., their name, the time they called, and a short message).

II. Listen to the conversation again as you read the Quiz Script.

III. Vocabulary Activities [Top]

Review the key vocabulary from the conversation:

[ Why do these? ]

• Mixed-Up Sentence
• Multiple-Choice and Short-Answer Questions
• Sentence and Vocabulary Matching
• Text Completion Quiz

IV. Post-Listening Exercises [Top]

Pretend you are Lisa or Bill. Call Hank and leave a message on his answering machine. Use your own ideas to create the message. What other voice mail and answering machines services could you use to communicate with others and practice your phone skills? Describe it features and any advantages and disadvantages of practicing English only verses talking in person.