Telephone English is just like normal English with a few special phrases, but many learners find English calls stressful. Watch this funny English telephone conversation with Barack Obama and you’ll learn some practical expressions you can put to use in your conversations. You’ll have fun along the way.
Learn more useful expressions for everyday situations. Click here.
Obama telephone conversation tapescript
Two for you. Two for me. Two for you. Hi, this is Vicki.
This is Barack Obama.
Barack who? This is Barack Obama.
How are you?
Fine, how are you? Well, I’m doing great and er…
I know I’m interrupting but I figured you might take my call.
Well, we’re a bit busy. How’s er… How’s your Mom doing these days?
Mum’s fine. Was there something you wanted?
One of the things I think is… is terrific is baseball, you know.
Baseball. So you called to talk about baseball?
Right, you know, I’m a big baseball fan. Er… And I grew up in Hawaii. My earliest memories of baseball were actually the…
Look I’m sorry Barack but we’re a bit busy at the moment. Is that er… Is that correct?
Yeah, this isn’t a good time. Well then I understand that… I understand that…
Try calling next week, or next month. We’d love to hear from you then.
Well I appreciate that. Tell your Mom I said ‘Hi’. You take care of yourself.
You too. Thanks Barack. Bye.
So where were we? Er, two for you. Two for me. Two for you. Two for me…
Learn more useful expressions for everyday situations. Click here.
10 thoughts on “How to answer English calls when you’re busy – funny”
“bit a busy at the moment” I going to use to practice. Thanks
Great. Let us know how it goes!
Hi Vicki:
Here is abspeak (online tutoring ) company from China .very interested in you mathod to learn English .so really hope we can contact .
Hi Shoppin. Nice to meet you and so glad you like the videos.
Hi Vicki ! There are lots of humor and positive in your videos. They truly combine pleasant with useful. Thanks a lot for your job !
I wanted to ask you, if you had got a video about “Maybe and May be”. I couldn’t had found the one here.
P.S: I”m sorry for mistakes.
Hello Sergei! So glad you like the videos and thank you for writing. No, I’m afraid we haven’t made a video about ‘maybe’ and ‘may be’ but we can add it to our list. Thank you for this suggestion. We have made a video about how we use ‘may’ in requests, but I expect you know that. Here’s a link, just in case you haven’t seen it. https://www.simpleenglishvideos.com/use-can-may-ask-permission/
Hi, I’m a freelance teacher planning a lesson on using the telephone. Great video, I’ll be using it in class this week. Thanks.
This is video is short, simple, funny and educative.
Thanks a lot Vicki! You are a great teacher.
Thanks so much Ahmeth. So glad you liked it. 🙂