Phoning and Texting

Phoning someone is the most common way of staying in touch. Calling someone on the phone can be a lot of fun. It is nice to receive phone calls. If you use a cell phone you can also send text messages to other people who have cell phones.

1. Phoning

The telephone is a more personal way of keeping up with your friends. But sometimes it is hard to get in touch with someone on the phone. People are not always home. And they don’t always have time for a long phone conversation.

Tips before you call:

• Ask someone to help you dial if you need to

• If you find conversations difficult, practice some of what you want to say before you make the call. The conversation will not go exactly the way you practice. This is ok. Practice is just to help you feel more comfortable.

• If possible, set up a regular time to call. If your friend knows you are going to call, they will be able to set aside time for the conversation.

When you are on the phone:

• Say your name when you answer the phone.

• Identify yourself when you call someone else.

• If someone else answers, ask for your friend by name. (Here is a common opening: “Hello, this is Linda calling. Could I please speak to Sophie?”)

• Unless you and your friend have made plans to call early, don’t call before 9 in the morning. Do not call after 10 at night. These are times when people might be sleeping.

• Do not do anything else when you are talking on the phone. Focus on the conversation.

• Listen to what the other person is saying. Try not to get distracted.

Good manners for using cell phones: It is not polite to carry on a cell phone conversation in a public place like a restaurant or a bus. If you must answer, tell the person you will call them back. Do not take pictures of people with your cell phone unless they give permission. Do not send pictures of other people from your cell phone unless they give you permission. Follow the guidelines for Safety.

Leaving voice messages: When someone does not answer their phone, you may get a tape-recording asking you to leave a message. Speak clearly and not too fast. Say your name. Say the day and time you are calling. Tell them very briefly why you are calling. If you want the person to call you back, say your phone number. Or tell them you will call again.

2) Texting:

You need a cell phone to send text messages. Check your cell phone plan. Does it include text messaging? Texting can be very expensive if your plan doesn’t include it. To send texts you also need to be able to spell simple words.

Text messaging is good if you want to ask a quick question. It is good if you want to let someone know you are fine. It is good if you just want to let someone know that you are thinking about them.

If you want to learn how to text, ask for help. It is a lot easier to learn when someone is sitting with you.

Talking on the Phone

Carey is friendly and easy-going. He is good at staying in touch by using the phone. Carey has several close friends that he calls. They catch up on news. They talk about their interests. With Mark, he talks about bowling and hanging out together. With another friend he talks about their Mime group. He calls another friend who likes to go to hockey games with him. And he calls a friend that he sits with in church. This friend helps him with the prayers too. The phone can be a good tool for friendship.

Listen

Sharing and Planning Using Texting and the Phone

Seeta is good at staying in touch. She has three friends who call each other 2 or 3 times a week. This keeps their friendship strong. They catch up on news. They make plans to go watch baseball and hockey games together. They send text messages to check on details of their plans. For example, they may check what time they are meeting. Or they may ask what entrance they are meeing at.

Listen