日米会話学院 Podcasting

2006.04.06

013_Ending_a_Conversation

In this third of three episodes about telephone and internet chat, we look at phrases for ending a conversation.

Kevin:

Hello, and welcome back to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting. A great place to review English words and phrases. This episode is the last of three episodes dealing with telephone English and internet voice chat. This episode I spoke once again with Nichibei student Emi about ending a conversation. Hello Emi.

Emi:

Hello Kevin. How are you today?

Kevin:

Fine. Thank you Emi. So you have one more question concerning telephone and internet chatting?

Emi:

That's right. So, sometimes when I'm talking on the telephone I feel a little awkward or nervous about ending a conversation, so I'd like to hear some teachers opinions on how to smoothly and politely end a conversation.

Kevin:

OK Emi. that should be no problem. I'll just make some calls to some Nichibei teachers. You can stay here and listen in. First I'll call Nichibei instructor Arthur Stanley.

Arthur Stanley:

Hello.

Kevin:

Hello Arthur. This is Kevin Jones. How are you today?

Arthur Stanley:

Just great. I'm really enjoying this spring weather.

Kevin:

Me too. Say, the reason I'm calling is Emi is looking for some advice on how to smoothly and politely end a telephone or internet conversation. Do you have any ideas on this?

Arthur Stanley:

Yes I do. First I'd like to point out that it is the callers responsibility to end the conversation. That is to say, if you started the conversation, you should end it. Unfortunately, sometimes the person who answers the call has to end it. In this situation you should first say "excuse me" and then explain why you must end the conversation.

Kevin:

Could you give us an example?

Arthur Stanley:

Sure. You could say "Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm a little busy right now" and then you could offer to call the person again by saying "can I call you back?"

Kevin:

Let's give it a try. I'll play the caller. Blah, blah blah, Blah blah, blah blah blah.

Arthur Stanley:

Ah, excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm a little busy right now. Can I call you back?

Kevin:

Oh, OK. No problem. Talk to you later ..........That's great Arthur, Thanks for your advice.

Arthur Stanley:

Happy to help. See you later.

Kevin:

Bye.

Kevin:

How's that Emi?

Emi:

Sounds good. I'm ready for another call.

Kevin:

Next I'm going to give a call to Nichibei teacher Phil Stilwell.

Phil Stilwell:

Hello.

Kevin:

Hello Phil, this is Kevin Jones.

Phil Stilwell:

Oh hi Kevin. How are you doing?

Kevin:

Just great Phil. Do you have time to answer a quick question?

Phil Stilwell:

Sure, What can I do for you?

Kevin:

The question for the podcast this week is how can one end a telephone or internet conversation smoothly and politely.

Phil Stilwell:

Well if it's a casual conversation, I'll first signal the end of the conversation.

Kevin:

How do you usually signal the end of the conversation?

Phil Stilwell:

I'll say something like "Well, it's been good talking with you" A phrase like this will usually signal the other person that the end of the conversation is coming.

Kevin:

OK

Phil Stilwell:

Let's give it a try right now.

Phil Stilwell:

OK. Well Kevin, it's been good talking with you.

Kevin:

Same here Phil. Thanks for your help.

Phil Stilwell:

Don't mention it.

Kevin:

See you. Bye.

Phil Stilwell:

Bye.

Emi:

That sounded good. Do we have time for one more?

Kevin:

We sure do. Next I'll call Charles Tully.

Charles Tully:

Hello.

Kevin:

Hello Charles. I'm calling for your advice on a podcast question. Do you have a minute?

Charles Tully:

Sure I've got some time. What's up?

Kevin:

Well, Emi is looking for some phrases for ending a phone or internet conversation politely and with style.

Charles Tully:

Is she there?

Kevin:

Yes she is.

Charles Tully:

Hi Emi. How are you?

Emi:

I'm good thanks.

Charles Tully:

Well Emi, I'm going to tell you how to cut short a conversation when you really must stop a conversation and get off the phone.

Emi:

How do you do that?

Charles Tully:

With the word "listen" if you interrupt a conversation with the word "listen" it will really get the other persons attention. It's strong but not really impolite.

Kevin:

Give us an example sentence.

Charles Tully:

Sure, you could say, "Listen, I'm really sorry but I've got to go. Can I talk to you later?" Let's hear Emi say it.

Emi:

OK. "Listen, I'm really sorry but I've got to go. Can I talk to you later?"

Charles Tully:

That sounds great.

Kevin:

OK Charles. I'd like to thank you for your help.

Charles Tully:

I'm happy to help. It was fun. See you later.

Kevin & Emi:

Bye. See you.

Kevin:

Now, let's review the phrases for ending a conversation. Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I'm a little busy right now. Can I call you back. Well, it's been good talking with you. Listen, I'm really sorry but I've got to go. Can I talk to you later?... And that brings us to the end of another episode, but of course I would like to thank Emi and the teachers who helped out with this episode. To find out more about Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin, please visit www.nichibei.ac.jp , and follow the podcast link for information and transcripts of this podcast. This podcast is a production of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin and Live Mix Media.

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