Initial Greeting and Identification
The phone rings, and the assistant answers, stating the company name clearly and offering a standard, polite greeting to the caller.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
certainly
This word means 'of course' or 'yes, definitely.' It's a polite way to agree or respond positively in professional conversations, showing you're helpful.
nature
In this context, 'nature' means the type or kind of something. It's used to ask about the basic characteristics of a project or topic, like 'the nature of the project' meaning what kind it is.
related to
This phrase means 'connected with' or 'about.' It's useful for describing topics or subjects, e.g., 'It's related to manufacturing' means it's connected to that area.
custom
This means made-to-order or specially designed for a particular purpose. In business, it's common for products like 'custom lens' which are tailored to customer needs.
manufacturing
This is the process of making products on a large scale, often in factories. It's key vocabulary in business talks about production, like 'lens manufacturing.'
connect
In phone calls, 'connect' means to transfer the call to another person or department. It's a polite way to say you'll link the caller to someone else.
hold
As a verb in phone contexts, 'hold' means to wait briefly. 'Please hold' is a standard polite request for the caller to stay on the line while you do something.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Good morning, Optics Solutions. Sarah speaking. How may I help you?
This is a standard professional phone greeting. It includes a time-based hello ('Good morning'), the company name, the speaker's name, and an offer of help. Use it to answer work calls politely; 'How may I help you?' is more formal than 'How can I help?' and shows respect.
Certainly, Mr. Smith. Could you please tell me a bit more about the nature of the project?
This sentence politely agrees ('Certainly') and uses the caller's title ('Mr. Smith') for formality. 'Could you please' is a polite request form, and 'a bit more' means a little more information. It's useful for gathering details in business inquiries; note the question structure for asking about details.
It's related to custom lens manufacturing for industrial applications.
This explains a topic briefly and clearly. 'It's related to' introduces the subject, and the rest describes it specifically. Use this pattern to summarize ideas in professional talks; it's practical for describing projects or needs without too much detail.
Alright, I'll connect you with our Sales Department. Please hold for a moment.
This transfers the call smoothly. 'Alright' acknowledges, 'I'll connect you with' means transferring, and 'Please hold for a moment' politely asks to wait. It's a key phrase for receptionists; 'for a moment' softens the wait time, making it sound short and courteous.