Video: Making A Phone Call

Using Phone Call Dialogues to Practice Mandarin

Short dialogue videos are an excellent way to help students practice practical communication in Mandarin. The video “Learn Chinese: Making a Phone Call” introduces simple language used when speaking on the phone, helping learners hear natural pronunciation and common conversational patterns.

Teachers can begin by playing the video once so students simply listen and observe the conversation. During a second viewing, pause the video to highlight useful expressions for phone conversations. Students can notice how speakers greet each other, ask questions, and respond politely.

After watching, students can practice with role-play. One student can pretend to call a friend, a classmate, or a family member using the same expressions from the video. This type of activity helps learners move from listening to speaking while practicing real-life communication.

Key Phone Call Vocabulary

打电话 (dǎ diànhuà)
to make a phone call

喂 (wèi)
hello (used when answering the phone)

你好 (nǐ hǎo)
hello

请问 (qǐng wèn)
may I ask / excuse me

你是谁？(nǐ shì shéi?)
who is this?

我是… (wǒ shì …)
this is…

他在吗？(tā zài ma?)
is he/she there?

请等一下 (qǐng děng yíxià)
please wait a moment

我找… (wǒ zhǎo …)
I’m looking for…

Time: 1:15