One Step Above Telemarketing

Our school has jumped on the band wagon with many other schools and has started "English Phone Calling." This is where we call our students and let them practice their English speaking and phone skills. We do this with all our students, regardless of age and level. It sounds dreadful, I know, but it can actually be pretty amusing. Sometimes the hardest part is getting past the parents because each conversation starts off, "Yobaseyo? (hello) Ummm...Diana teacher. YBM..Uhhh...Phone English....Umm, is (student name here) home?" We have sent letters home explaining all of this to them but most of the time I still have to yell for one of the Korean teachers to talk to the parents and explain it all again.

A few of my conversations have gone like this:

#1
Me: Hello Eric, it is Diana teacher.
Eric: Hello teacher. What are you doing?
Me: I am still at school. What are you doing?
Eric: Oh.
Me: When is your birthday Eric? (fully knowing it was on Monday)
Eric: It is Monday.
Me: Are you having a party?
Eric: Yes
Me: Can I come? (obviously joking)
Eric: Uh, hold on. (Korean conversation ensues to his mother) My mom says you can come!
Me: Uhhh...ummm...

#2
Me: Hello Nicole. This is Diana teacher.
Nicole: Hello teacher.
Me: What are you doing?
Nicole: I don't know.
Me: Have you had dinner?
Nicole: I don't know.
random questions follow, followed by phonics sound questions
Me: Okay Nicole, can I talk to your sister Casey now?
Nicole: Yes.
I wait
Me: Okay are you getting Casey for me?
Nicole: No
Me: Can I talk to Casey?
Nicole: Yes
a few more minutes pass
Me: Is this Casey
Nicole: No.
Me: Let me talk to Casey
Nicole: I don't know.

and so on...

Now imagine 60 of those conversations! My favourite ones are the ones where they hang up on me cause it still counts as their phone call.