I would be very interested in a few lessons on business/office phone conversations. This is something I've had trouble finding information on, and yet it's something I'm sure many of us struggle with.
For example, when I answer the phones and a Spanish-speaker calls, often our bilingual worker is not there. I need to inform the caller that the bilingual worker is not in today, but will be in tomorrow (for example). Then I need to take the caller's name, phone number, find out what the caller needs, when she will be available by phone, and if it is an emergency. Finally I need to inform the caller that the bilingual worker will return the call when she returns to the office.
I've finally gotten to where I can convey this information well enough that the callers understand. Understanding them is often a challenge, of course, but I can tell them my Spanish is limited and ask them to speak more slowly. If there is an emergency, I tell them to call a hotline with Spanish speakers.
I often think phone conversations are the hardest thing to do in Spanish, and my students find it eaually difficult in English! Beginner or lower intermediate levels would probably work.
Karenn
