Manuals > General English > Rosetta Stone Advantage > Elementary - Book 3 > Lesson 32
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By the end of the lesson, the student should be able to call a company and inquire about their services.
Communication strategies:
The student should be able to call a company and inquire about their service by following the 4 steps below:
1) state your name
2) state why you are calling
3) ask for information
4) decide to use or not use the service
A) Hello, my name is Ben white. I need to hire a moving company.
B) Sure. For when?
A) This weekend. Can you tell me a little about your service?
B) Yeah, we can rent you a moving truck, and we can provide people to help you too.
A) OK. How much is it?
B) The truck rental is $200 a day. If you want to hire some movers as well, that's an extra $100 per day.
A) OK great. Just the truck, please.
Words and rules:
- The student should be able to state the different actions required when moving house e.g. load the truck
- The student should be able to ask questions for information e.g. How much does it cost?
- The student should be able to use superlatives and comparatives? e.g. Which is the cheaper? / What's the soonest you can do it?
Appropriateness:
Non-verbal behaviour: NA
Register: When calling a company on the phone, a more polite register is usually used.
Social rules: On the phone, we usually say "My name is" when you don't know someone, you can say "It's" when you know the person, you can use "This is" in both situations.
Cultural references: In some countries e.g. America / Australia, it's common for people to rent a moving truck and move their items without the help of a mover.
Track #19
Hello Mr. Green, I am calling from Ace movers. Thank you for your
e-mail. We can come pick up your things anytime and our services
cost $200. Please call me back.
Track #20
This is Bill calling from Max Internet. I got your e-mail, thank you. We
can set up the internet at your new address on either Friday the 17th
or Sunday the 19th. The installation price is $120. Please call me back
and let me know which day works for you.
Track #21
Good evening Mr. Green. We received your e-mail asking about
our gas services. We charge $70 per month. This month we are really
busy and can only come at 7:00 am on Monday or Tuesday. We are
open 24 hours so please feel free to call us anytime if you would like
to schedule an appointment.
Because the lesson touches on the topic of moving house, you are welcome to introduce some of the following vocabulary if you like.
1) pack something (v)
2) unpack something (v)
3) hook up something (v)
4) wrap something (v)
5) throw out something (v)
6) label something (v)
7) load something onto something (v)
8) set up something (v)
9) stack something (v)
10) fragile (adj)
Option 1:
Difficulty ★
Type:
Let's start - Warm-up discussion
Purpose:
Steering the student into the goal of the lesson before opening the book.
Method: Before you open the book, talk to the student about how many times they have moved.
Option 2:
Difficulty ★★
Type:
Let's start - Vocabulary introduction
Purpose:
Introducing vocabulary related to moving house
Method: Have the student describe what action in being shown in each of the pictures in "Let's start". Introduce vocabulary when necessary.
Option 3:
Difficulty ★★
Type:
Let's try - Introduction of communication strategy
Purpose:
Showing the student what questions they should ask when calling about a service
Method: Discuss with the student what topics you should ask about if you are calling to set up a service.
e.g.
details - Can you tell me about your service?
price - How much is it?
availability - When is the soonest you can come?
difference - What's the difference between the two options?
Let’s start
Put the pictures below in the correct order (1 = first , 8 = last).
Unpack your stuff = 6
Find a quote = 1
Hook up electronics = 7
Wrap fragile items = 2
Throw out cardboard boxes / garbage = 8
Pack your stuff = 3
Label the boxes = 4
Load the truck = 5
What do people need to do before they move house?
- Have the new house professionally cleaned
- Paint all the walls and ceilings.
- Switch your utilities.
- Connect your internet
- Update friends and family with your new contact information
- Organize house and contents insurance
Let’s try
Track #19
Service: moving company
Price: $200
Available: anytime
Track #20
Service: internet
Price: $120
Available: Friday the 17th or Sunday the 19th
Track #21
Service: gas service
Price: $70
Available: 7:00 am on Mondays or Tuesday
Let’s practice
Moving company
truck rental + movers / $1000
truck rental + movers + packing / $1500
truck rental only / $400
- Available: Sunday
A) Hello, my name is Ben White. I’m calling to ask about your service.
B) Sure what would you like to know?
A) Can you tell me about your service?
B) Sure. We have three plans. Truck rental, truck rental with movers, and truck rental with movers and packing service.
A) OK. I’ll go with number two. The truck rental with movers. How much is that?
B) $1000.
A) OK. What’s the soonest you can do it ?
B) We are available this Sunday.
A) Great. Let me give you my address.
Let’s speak
A) Hello, my name is Ben white. I need to hire a moving company.
B) Sure. For when?
A) This weekend. Can you tell me a little about your service?
B) Yeah, we can rent you a moving truck, and we can provide people to help you too.
A) OK. How much is it?
B) The truck rental is $200 a day. If you want to hire some movers as well, that's an extra $100 per day.
A) OK great. Just the truck, please.
A) Hello, my name is Ben white. I need to hire a moving company.
B) Sure. For when?
A) This weekend. Can you tell me a little about your service?
B) Sure. We just rent trucks.
A) OK. How much is it for truck rental?
B) The truck rental is $150 a day.
A) OK great. Thank you.