Listening: A1

A voicemail message
Listen to a voicemail message and answer the questions to practise your listening skills.

Before listening
Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–h) with the words or symbols (1–8).

Words/Symbols Definitions
1. …… a colleague a. things a company makes and sells
2. …… - b. someone you work with
3. …… _ c. a place where people work at desks
4. …… an office d. underscore
5. …… a brochure e. the amount of money you pay for something
6. …… products f. at
7. …… the price g. hyphen (or ‘dash’)
8. …… @ h. a small book with information about a product

Tasks

Task 1
Choose the best answer.

1. John works at Old Time Toys.

a. Yes
b. No
2. Marina wants …
a. product information, a brochure and prices.
b. to call John again later.
3. Marina’s number is …
a. 0208 6557621
b. 0208 6656721
4. Marina’s email address is …
a. marina.silva@oldtime_toys.com
b. marina.silva@oldtime-toys.com

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Task 2
Write a number (1–6) to put the actions in the order they are mentioned.

Marina says that she needs some product information.

Marina introduces herself.

Marina leaves her email address.

Marina says how she got John’s phone number.

Marina asks for a brochure and prices.

Marina asks John to call her back.

Discussion
Do you ever make phone calls or leave voicemail messages in English?

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Transcript
John: Hi, this is John. Thanks for calling. I’m not here at the moment, so please leave a
message and I’ll call you back.
Marina: Hi, John, this is Marina Silva calling from Old Time Toys. Your colleague Alex gave me
your phone number. She said you can help me.
I need some information on your new products. Could you please call me when you are back
in the office? My phone number is 0-2-0-8, 6-5-5-7-6-2-1.
Also, can you please email me your new brochure and information about your prices? My
email address is Marina, that’s M-A-R-I-N-A, dot Silva, that’s S-I-L-V-A, at O-L-D-T-I-M-E hyphen
toys dot com.
Thanks a lot. I look forward to hearing from you.

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Answers

Preparation task
1. b
2. g
3. d
4. c
5. h
6. a
7. e
8. f

Task 1
1. b
2. a
3. a
4. b

Task 2
1. Marina introduces herself.
2. Marina says how she got John’s phone number.
3. Marina says that she needs some product information.
4. Marina asks John to call her back.
5. Marina asks for a brochure and prices.
6. Marina leaves her email address.

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

 Listening: A2
Changing a meeting time
Listen to two colleagues arranging a meeting to practise and improve your listening skills.

Before listening
Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–f) with the phrases (1–6).

Phrases Definitions
1. …… to cancel a meeting a. to change the time or date of a meeting
2. …… to confirm a meeting b. to have a meeting at a later time or date
3. …… to bring a meeting forward c. to have a meeting at an earlier time or date
4. …… to postpone a meeting d. to say that a meeting will happen
5. …… to move a meeting e. to say that you will go to a meeting
6. …… to accept an invitation to a f. to decide that a meeting will not take place
meeting

Tasks

Task 1
Circle the sentence that is correct.

1. The meeting time

a. The meeting was first planned for 9 a.m.
b. The meeting was first planned for 11 a.m.
c. The meeting was first planned for 1 p.m.

2. Moving the meeting

a. Lucy wants to cancel the meeting.
b. Lucy wants to bring the meeting forward.
c. Lucy wants to postpone the meeting.

3. The new meeting time

a. The new meeting time is 9 a.m.
b. The new meeting time is 11 a.m.
c. The new meeting time is 1 p.m.

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

4. The agenda
a. Anna has already sent the agenda.
b. Anna is sending the agenda now.
c. Anna will send the agenda later.

5. Lucy’s presentation
a. Lucy is nervous about her presentation.
b. Lucy is looking forward to her presentation.
c. Lucy isn’t ready to give her presentation.

6. Telling the other people

a. Lucy will tell the others about the time change.
b. Sven will tell the others about the time change.
c. Anna will tell the others about the time change.

Task 2
Complete the sentences with words from the box.

accept bring agenda

forward postpone invitation cancel

1. I sent an ……………………………… with the topics for the meeting.

2. Could we ……………………………… the meeting to a later date?
3. Could we ……………………………… the meeting ……………………………… to an earlier time?
4. The project has been stopped. So we need to ……………………………… the meeting.
5. I’ll send a meeting ……………………………… with the time and place.
6. I’ll ……………………………… the invitation when I get it.

Discussion
What meetings do you have to go to? How do you arrange them?

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Transcript
Lucy: Hi, Anna. Do you have a minute to talk about the meeting next Tuesday?
Anna: Sure. We said 11, didn’t we?
Lucy: Yeah, we did. But I have a bit of a problem with the time. Would it be possible to move
it?
Anna: Oh, I see. We could postpone it to the afternoon, to 1 p.m., for example. Or bring it
forward to earlier in the morning. What would suit you?
Lucy: Could we make it 9 o’clock? That would really help me. I have another important
meeting in the central office at 12.
Anna: No problem. It’s important you’re there.
Lucy: Thanks a lot, Anna.
Anna: Do you need help with any preparation? Did you get the agenda I sent out?
Lucy: Yes, I did. And no, that’s all fine, thanks. My report is ready and I’m looking forward to
presenting it.
Anna: Great.
Lucy: I can tell Sven about the time change. I’ll see him later.
Anna: Don’t worry about telling Sven. I’ll send an email to everyone to confirm the time has
changed and with an updated meeting invite.
Lucy: Great. Thanks, Anna.
Anna: OK. I’m happy that works for you. We really need you there and it’s good we don’t have
to cancel it.
Lucy: See you then. Have a good weekend in the meantime.
Anna: You too.

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish

Answers

Preparation task
1. f
2. d
3. c
4. b
5. a
6. e

Task 1
1. b
2. b
3. a
4. a
5. b
6. c

Task 2
1. agenda
2. postpone
3. bring | forward
4. cancel
5. invitation
6. accept

© 2019 British Council www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish