ENGLISH FOR REAL LIFE
Talking About English for Receptionists
In my online English lessons, I help receptionists sound calm, polite and professional at the front desk. We practise greeting visitors, answering phones, taking messages, arranging appointments, and handling problems — all in clear, natural British English.
Find the words you needUseful Phrases and Idioms (Front Desk)
- Welcoming visitors: “Good morning, how can I help you today?” / “Do you have an appointment?”
- Phone skills: “Good afternoon, Acorn Office, Luke speaking — how can I help?” / “One moment please, I’ll put you through.”
- Taking messages: “Could I take your name and number?” / “I’ll pass your message on as soon as possible.”
- Bookings: “Are mornings or afternoons better for you?” / “I can offer Tuesday at 10:30.”
- Handling issues: “I’m sorry about the delay — I’ll get that sorted right away.”
- Idioms: “Bear with me” (please wait a moment) / “Up to speed” (fully informed).
Phrasal Verbs You’ll Use
- Put through: connect a caller. “I’ll put you through to accounts.”
- Ring back / call back: return a phone call. “She’ll ring you back after the meeting.”
- Fill in: complete a form. “Please fill in this visitor pass.”
- Follow up: contact later to continue something. “I’ll follow up with a confirmation email.”
- Sort out: solve a problem. “Leave it with me — I’ll sort it out.”
- Look up: find information. “Let me look up your booking.”
IN CONVERSATION
Example Conversation (Phone Call)
Caller: Hello, could I speak to Mr Thompson, please?
Receptionist: Good morning — he’s in a meeting until 11. Would you like to leave a message or shall he ring you back?
Caller: A call back would be great. My number is 07700 900123.
Receptionist: Thanks — I’ll pass that on and ask him to call you back after 11. Is there anything else I can help with today?
Caller: No, that’s everything. Thank you!
Receptionist: You’re welcome. Have a lovely day.
03 / YOUR TURN
Make it
your conversation.
Discussion Practice
- How do you answer the phone professionally?
- What phrases do you use to take and repeat key details?
- How do you apologise and reassure when there’s a delay?
Mini Writing Tasks
- Write a short confirmation email for a visitor appointment.
- Write a quick message to say someone is running 10 minutes late.
- Write a clear, polite voicemail script for the front desk.
Vocabulary You’ll Hear
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Natural Example |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | Internal phone number in an office. | “What’s her extension?” |
| Switchboard | System that connects calls to different lines. | “I’ll transfer you through the switchboard.” |
| Visitor pass | Temporary ID for guests. | “Please wear your visitor pass at all times.” |
| Appointment slot | Available time for a meeting/visit. | “We have a 2pm slot tomorrow.” |
| Reception log | Record of visitors/calls. | “Please sign the reception log when you arrive.” |
| Call queue | List of waiting calls. | “You’re number two in the call queue.” |
| Out of office | Not available due to leave/holiday. | “She’s out of office until Monday.” |
| Confidential | Private and not to be shared. | “We handle visitor data as confidential.” |
How I Teach This (and Why It Works)
In my lessons, I focus on simple, polite English that works at the front desk — clear greetings, professional phone skills, accurate messages, and calm problem‑solving. We practise short, realistic dialogues so you feel ready for busy days and unexpected questions.
If you’d like to improve your front‑desk English, join my online English lessons with a native speaker. My English speaking course builds real confidence for reception and office work. You can learn through English lessons online with a native speaker online — wherever you are.
Put these words into a real conversation.
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