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Practice phone calls in English before the real one

You can read and write English. Then the phone rings and everything goes too fast. Rehearse the call out loud with a patient AI voice, as many times as you need.

Download murmur on the App Store
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Read this in your language

murmur

hey.wanna rehearse a phone call?
you call · the olive tree

book a table

book a table for two on friday.

easyup to 3:00

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or try another call

A real call, up to 3:00. Uses your microphone. Your voice is streamed live and never recorded.

Calls you will have to make in English

Each page shows who picks up, a line to open with and what to cover.

Book a doctor appointmentSay why you are calling and agree a time. Ask your landlord to fix somethingDescribe the problem and get a date. Call your bankGet through security and ask your question. A phone interviewIntroduce yourself and say why you want the job. Set up internet serviceOrder for a new address and ask about the price. Call in sickTell your manager you will not be in.

Why the phone is the hardest part of English

  • You cannot see the other person's face or hands.
  • They speak at normal speed, and the sound is worse than in person.
  • There is no time to think or to translate in your head.

None of that means your English is bad. It means phone calls need their own practice.

How practice works

  1. Pick a call: the doctor, the bank, the landlord, an interview.
  2. Speak English. The voice answers, asks questions, and repeats or slows down if you ask.
  3. If you get stuck, say it in your own language. The coach switches with you.
  4. Afterwards you read the transcript, see the words you missed and get a line to try next time.

Phrases that save a call

Opening"Hi, my name is ... I'm calling about ..."
You did not hear"Sorry, could you say that again?"
They speak too fast"Could you speak a little more slowly, please?"
You need a moment"One moment, please. Let me check."
Spelling"Could you spell that for me?"
Checking"Let me repeat that back to make sure I have it right."
Ending"Thank you for your help. Have a good day."

Say this instead

Short sentences that are correct can still sound abrupt on the phone. These versions get a friendlier answer.

  • "I want an appointment.""I'd like to book an appointment, please."
  • "What?""Sorry, could you repeat that?"
  • "Wait.""Could you hold on a moment, please?"
  • "I don't understand.""I'm not sure I follow. Could you explain that another way?"
  • "Give me the manager.""Could I speak to a manager, please?"
  • "Send me email.""Could you send that to me by email?"

Questions

How can I practice phone calls in English?

Learn a few phrases that work on any call, then say them out loud in a practice call. In murmur a realistic AI voice plays the other person, so you hear real replies and answer them.

What do I say when I do not understand someone on the phone?

Say: sorry, could you say that again? Or: could you speak a little more slowly, please? Both are polite and normal. Native speakers say them too.

What if I get stuck in the middle of a call?

Say it in your own language. The coach switches with you, and you can go back to English when you are ready.

Is the app in my language?

The app is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese and Arabic. The practice call can still be in English.

All calls   Build a script   Practice calls in another language

Rehearse the call before you dial

murmur is on the App Store, for iPhone.

Download murmur on the App Store
  • AppleApp of the Day
  • App StoreBest New Apps