Per Strada = In the Street

In the street Vocabulary
Crossing = Striscie pedonali eg. Two children and a lady are waiting at the crossing.
Bridge = Ponte eg. We are driving under the bridge.
Shop = Negozio eg. This shop is closed on Sunday.
Petrol station = Benzinaio eg. There is a truck at the Petrol station.
Road = Strada eg. There are men at work on the road.
Church = Chiesa eg. The Church is at the end of this road.
Traffic Lights = Semaforo eg. We stop at the red traffic lights.
Parking= Parcheggio eg. There is an empty parking on the left.
Building = Palazzo eg. The red building on the right is the museum.
Railway Station = Stazione eg. The railway station is next to the church
Bench = Panchina eg. There is a bench at the bust stop.
Park = Parco eg. I go to the park on Saturday mornings.
Car = Macchina eg. My car is fast.
Bicycle = Bicicletta eg. I have a blue bicycle.
Pavement = Marciapiede eg. There are three people on the pavement.
Bus = Autobus eg. We are waiting for the bus.
Truck = Camion eg. The red truck carries vegetables.
Lamp Post = Lampione eg. We turn right at the lamp post.
Sign = Cartello stradale eg. There is a stop sign! We must stop.
Van = Furgone eg. The postman drives a yellow van.
Bus Stop = Fermata dell’Autobus eg. There are many people at the bus stop.
Lane = Corsia eg. We move to the right lane.
Pedestrian = Pedone eg. Pedestrians cross at the traffic lights.

Many Shops
Supermarket = Supermercato eg. You can buy frozen food at the supermarket.
Fruit shop (GreenGrocer) = Fruttivendolo eg. You can buy apples and bananas at the fruit shop.
Post Office = Ufficio Postale eg. You can send a letter at the post office.
Clothes shop = Boutique/Abbigliamento eg. You can buy a t-shirt at the clothes shop
Café = Bar eg. You can have a coffee at the café
Grocer = Alimentari eg. You can buy salami and ham at the grocer’s.
Chemist = Farmacia eg. You can buy medicines at the chemist’s.
Newsagent = Giornalaio eg. You can buy a magazine at the newsagent’s.
Tabacconist = Tabaccheria eg. You can buy cigarettes and stamps at the tabacconist’s
Hardware store (Ironmonger's) = Ferramenta eg. You can buy a tap at the hardware store.
Cake Shop (Confectionary) = Pasticceria eg. You can buy cakes at the cake shop
Stationary shop = Cartoleria eg. You can buy a notebook at the stationary shop.
Florist = Fioraio eg. You can buy roses at the florist.
Market = Mercato eg. You can buy vegetables and fruit at the market.
Butcher = Macellaio eg. You can buy meat or chicken at the butcher’s.
Bakery = Panetteria eg. You can buy bread at the baker’s.
Book shop = Libreria eg. You can buy books at the bookshop
Fishmonger's = Pescivendolo eg. You can buy fresh fish at the fishmonger's
Jeweller's = Gioielliere eg. You can buy a ring at the jeweller's.

SOLUZIONI:
Across:1. receiver 2. diary 3. line; 6. voicemail
Down:1. speakerphone; 4. receiver; 5. directory; 7. mobile

CROSSWORD

Conversation 1: Taking a message

Operator: Hello, JORDAN and Sons, How can I help you?
Bob: This is Bob Gilliard. Can I have extension 3421?
Operator: Certainly, hold on a minute, I'll put you through...
Liz: Lynn Malton's office, Liz speaking.
Bob: This is Bob Gilliard calling, is Lynn in?
Liz: I'm afraid she's out at the moment. Can I take a message?
Bob: Yes, Could you ask her to call me at 212 456-6657. I need to talk to her about the Jazz line, it's urgent.
Liz: Could you repeat the number please?
Bob: Yes, that's 212 456-6657, and this is Bob Gilliard.
Liz: Thank you Mr. Gilliard, I'll make sure Lynn gets this asap.
Bob: Thanks, bye. Liz: Bye.

Hold on = attenda prego
Put you through = glielo passo
To be in = essere a lavoro (dentro casa)
Return someone’s call = rispondere alla chiamata
Call somebody back = richiamare qualcuno

SAYING WHO YOU ARE: this is…from …; this is…speaking

THE REASON FOR YOUR CALL: I’d like to speak to Mr…, please. ; I’m calling about ….. ;
Could I have your HR department please?; The reason I’m calling is…; I’m returning his/her call…; May I speak to John Berry, please, I’m his sister.

THE INTERNATIONAL ALPHABET

Così come in Italiano usiamo B di Cologna o C di Como in inglese si usa lo “spelling” ma quando la comunicazione è disturbata si usa l’alfabeto internazionale.

A for ALPHA N for NOVEMBER
B for BRAVO O for OSCAR
C for CHARLIE P for PAPA
D for DELTA Q for QUEBEC
E for ECHO R for ROMEO
G for GOLF T for TANGO
H for HOTEL U for UNIFORM
I for INDIA V for VICTOR
J for JULIET W for WHISKY
K for KILO X for X-RAY
L for LIMA Y for YANKEE
M for MIKE Z for ZULU

VOCABOLARIO AL TELEFONO
Answering machine (UK answerphone) -Segreteria telefonica
Appointment - Appuntamento
Bad line -Linea disturbata
Call - Chiamare
Catch something - Capire qualcosa
Connect - Mettere in linea/contatto
Country code - Prefisso nazionale
Dial - Digitare, comporre
Dialling code (US area code) -Prefisso telefonico locale
Directory (or phone book) -Elenco abbonati
Disconnected - Cadere la linea o essere scollegata
Engaged (US busy) - Occupato
Engaged tone - Segnale di linea occupata
Extension -Interno
Give somebody a ring - Fare un colpo di telefono
Hang up - Riagganciare
Headset - Cuffia o ricevitore
Home number -Numero di casa
Landline -Linea di terra (telefono fisso)
Leave a message -Lasciare un messaggio
Mobile phone (US cell phone) -Telefono cellulare
Office number -Numero dell’ufficio
Payphone -Telefono pubblico
Put down the phone -Riattaccare
Put somebody on hold -Mettere qualcuno in attesa
Receiver-Cornetta, ricevitore
Return somebody’s call -Rispondere alla chiamata di qualcuno
Ring -Squillare
Screen calls -Filtrare le chiamate
Speak up -Parlare a voce più alta
Speakerphone -Apparecchio vivavoce
Spell something -Sillabare qualcosa
Switchboard -Centralino
Teleconference call -Chiamata in Teleconferenza
Tone -Suoneria

TELEPHONING IN ENGLISH
As the world is turning global we are using English as the medium to communicate with other countries. More often than not, in business culture we are asked to team up [1] with people abroad[2]! How do you handle[3] it?

Even the most fluent speakers of English may find telephoning a great source[4] of stress due to the unpredictability factor. But, there are situations where you cannot avoid it. For example when you need an immediate feedback, or when you need to consult someone before you take some action.

Let’s go over the basics of telephoning:
1) OPENING
2) INFORMATION TRANSFER
3) CLOSING
Opening
Politeness[5] is key in business culture! You should start a phone conversation by greeting[6] your interlocutor, then, after some questioning on his/her well-being (“how are you” or “how are things”), you should check that you are not disturbing or interrupting (“Are you free for a few minutes”). The next step will be to explain the reason for your call (“I’m just checking your availability for a meeting …”). If your interlocutor says that he/she is not available[7] ask them to call back or tell them that you’ll call back. Avoid the temptation to continue the conversation by saying “I just briefly[8] wanted…”, it is really annoying[9]!
Information transfer
Preparation of your speech[10] is fundamental here. Try to gather up[11] all information that you may need or could come up[12] during the conversation. So if you are asking for information, take notes of all the points that you need to discuss. The same applies, if you are giving information.
Due to [13] possible misunderstandings[14] arising[15] from poor knowledge[16] of English, make sure you confirm information or actions before you pass on[17] to the next point.

Be aware [18] of false friends such as:
v “conveniente” is not “convenient”. “Convenient” means “quando fa.. o con comodo”, therefore if you want to say “puoi mandarmi le informazioni con comodo” “you should say “send me your information when it’s convenient for you” and not “…when it is comfortable for you…”.
v “annoy” is not “annoiare”. “Annoy” means “irritare”.
v “occur” is not “occorrere”. “Occur” means “succedere, capitare ”.
v “eventually” is not “eventualmente”. “Eventually” means “infine; finalmente”.
v “so far” is not “così lontano”. “So far” means “fino ad oggi”.
v English say “I don’t mind!” instead of “It’s the same for me” .

To avoid these tricky[19] expressions, listen to and copy native speakers and then use the same words.

Finally, sometimes Italian speakers sound a little too direct in English. You should try to introduce some “would” and “could” here and there. For example “I’d like to speak to Richard Deans” and not “I want to speak to …”. “Could you say that again, please?” and not “Say that again”.
Closing
Make a final positive comment such as “if you could send it today, that would be fantastic.” And express your thanks “thank you for your help”. Finally say goodbye.


In the next few pages you’ll find some basic conversations. Try to practise them on your own [20] or with your colleagues and don’t forget to post us your feedback in the community!

Negli allegati trovi un’accurata lista di vocaboli relativi al “telefono e telefonare”; un elenco dei “Phrasal Verbs più usati in questo contesto” con relativo esempio e traduzione ed alcuni consigli su come costruire il tuo messaggio in “Strutturare il pensiero” ed in “Esprimere Opinioni”….
[1] Team up = far squadra con
[2] Abroad = all’estero
[3] Handle = gestire
[4] Source = fonte
[5] Politeness = cortesia, educazione
[6] Greeting = salutando
[7] Available = disponibile
[8] Briefly = brevemente
[9] Annoying = irritante
[10] Speech = discorso
[11] Gather up = raccogliere, mettere insieme
[12] Come up =venir fuori, presentarsi
[13] Due to = causa di
[14] Misunderstandings = equivoci
[15] Arising = (qui) provocati
[16] Poor knowledge = cattiva o mediocre (talvolta anche “insufficiente”) conoscenza
[17] Pass on = proseguire, passare a…
[18] Be aware of = fate attenzione
[19] Tricky = ingannevole
[20] On your own = per conto vostro, da soli