Listening to a call for help: key details and words
When something happens and you need help, a short and calm call is best. Say four things in this order: who you are, where you are, what happened and who needs help. Then listen to the answer and do what the adult tells you. In a real emergency, tell an adult at once and use the emergency number of your own country; we do not give a number here. In a school, you can also call the office. To describe the situation now, use the present continuous: He is sitting on the grass. We are waiting near the gate. Use the present simple for facts: It hurts a little when he moves. When you listen, first read the questions. Listen for the names, the place and the time. Then decide which statements are true and which are false, and look for the words that change the meaning, such as not and but. Your book has a listening about a call for help on pages 16 and 17; practise these steps with it.
| Step | What to say |
|---|---|
| 1 Who | My name is Tarek, from Class 12C. |
| 2 Where | I am on the sports field near the white goalposts. |
| 3 What happened | My friend has twisted his ankle. |
| 4 Who needs help | He is sitting down and he can talk. |
School office: Good morning, school office. How can I help? Tarek: Hello, my name is Tarek, from Class 12C. I am on the sports field behind the gym. My friend Ziad has twisted his ankle in the relay race. School office: Can he talk to you? Tarek: Yes, he is sitting on the grass and he is talking. He says it hurts a little when he moves his foot. School office: Thank you, Tarek, you are doing well. I am sending Mr Adel, the sports teacher, now. Where exactly are you? Tarek: We are near the white goalposts. Two classmates are with us, and we are waiting for an adult. School office: Good. Mr Adel will be there in two minutes. Please stay with Ziad until he arrives.
Call practice. Work with a grown-up. Practise a short call to the school office about a lost bag in the corridor. Say the four steps in order and use two present continuous sentences. Do not use a real phone number.