Dictating URLs and meeting IDs without errors
CEFR: B2
Read/Listen first
“Meeting support, Omar here.” — “Hi, I can’t join the call. The link shows an error.” — “No problem. Could you read the URL slowly?” — “https colon slash slash meet dot northcoast dot io slash teams hyphen review.” — “Thanks. After ‘northcoast’, is there a hyphen?” — “No, just the dot. The meeting ID is seven five four dash eight A L.” — “Let me check: 754-8AL. Is that capital A and capital L?” — “Yes, both capitals.” — “Great. I’ll reset your invite and send a fresh link. If it fails, join by dial-in: plus four four, zero two zero, 7123 8000, then PIN 43 19.” — “Perfect. I’ll try the new link now.” — “If needed, I can stay on the line while you test.”⚡ Learning goals
- Spell, confirm, and correct information clearly over phone or email.
- Politely request repetition and clarify capital/lowercase, hyphens, and underscores.
- Check back important details like names, postcodes, and reference codes.
✨ Key language
- “Let me spell that for you…” “Let me spell that for you: capital A, then two es.”
- “Could you repeat the last part?” “Could you repeat the last three digits?”
- “Did you say hyphen or underscore?” “Is that a hyphen or an underscore?”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Reading URLs aloud
Rule: Say punctuation explicitly: colon, slash, dot, hyphen.Examples: https colon slash slash; dot between words; hyphen for separators
Common pitfall + fix: Skipping punctuation words — Name each symbol clearly.
Which phrase reads the start of a URL?
Tip: Use standard English terms.
Fill with the best answer: Say ‘dot’, not ‘_____’.
Tip: In URLs, ‘dot’ is preferred.
2️⃣ Stating capitals in IDs
Rule: Announce capital letters explicitly in codes.Examples: Capital A and capital L; Lowercase for others; Confirm back
Common pitfall + fix: Assuming case in mixed codes — Ask and repeat exact case.
Which sentence is best?
Tip: Use ‘capital’ or ‘uppercase’.
Fill with the best answer: Please confirm: capital A, capital _____.
Tip: Record exact case of each letter.
3️⃣ Offering alternatives
Rule: Give a fallback method such as dial-in or PIN.Examples: Provide country code; Read PIN slowly; Stay on the line to support
Common pitfall + fix: Ending the call when the link fails — Offer an immediate backup option.
Which is a strong fallback?
Tip: Provide a concrete, working option.
Fill with the best answer: The country code is plus _____ four.
Tip: Say country codes clearly.
4️⃣ Supportive closing
Rule: Offer to stay while the user tests the fix.Examples: I can stay on the line; Confirm success before leaving; Keep tone calm
Common pitfall + fix: Hanging up too early — Stay available for a minute.
Which closing is most supportive?
Tip: Offer real-time help.
Fill with the best answer: I’ll stay on the _____ while you test.
Tip: Common collocation: stay on the line.
✍️ Vocabulary
slash
Meaning: the symbol / in URLsSynonyms: forward slash, stroke
Chunk/Idiom: slash slash
Example: Say slash slash after colon.
Morphology: noun
Self-practice: Read three URLs using ‘slash’.
dot
Meaning: the symbol . in web addressesSynonyms: point, period
Chunk/Idiom: dot com
Example: Say dot between words.
Morphology: noun
Self-practice: Practice five sites with ‘dot’.
PIN
Meaning: numeric security codeSynonyms: access code, passcode
Chunk/Idiom: enter the PIN
Example: Type the six-digit PIN now.
Morphology: noun
Self-practice: Create two sample PIN prompts.
dial-in
Meaning: phone access to a meetingSynonyms: call-in, phone access
Chunk/Idiom: use the dial-in
Example: Use the dial-in if the link fails.
Morphology: noun/verb
Self-practice: Explain a dial-in option to a colleague.
uppercase
Meaning: capital letters A–ZSynonyms: capital, caps
Chunk/Idiom: uppercase A and L
Example: Write uppercase A and L.
Morphology: noun/adj.
Self-practice: Spell two IDs with uppercase.
URL
Meaning: web address for a resourceSynonyms: link, web address
Chunk/Idiom: read the URL
Example: Please read the full URL.
Morphology: noun
Self-practice: Dictate one full URL clearly.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
Read the URL slowly and clearly.
Is that a hyphen or a dot?
The ID includes uppercase letters.
Use the dial‑in if the link fails.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Which term belongs in URLs?
Tip: / is called a slash.
Best supportive closing?
Tip: Offer real-time help.
Fill with the best answer:
Say https colon _____ _____.Tip: Read it as two words.
Fill with the best answer:
Please confirm capital A and capital _____.Tip: State each letter’s case.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Which word names ‘.’ in a URL?
Tip: Prefer ‘dot’ for web addresses.
What lets you join by phone?
Tip: Dial-in replaces the link.
Fill with the best answer:
Enter the six-digit _____.Tip: Write the acronym in lowercase here.
Fill with the best answer:
Use the backup: the _____ option.Tip: Phone access is the fallback.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: Could you read the URL from the start?B: Yes: https colon slash slash meet dot northcoast dot io slash teams-hyphen-review.
A: Thanks. I’ll reset your invite now.
Why this matters:
Explicit symbols prevent typos. Case awareness reduces login issues. Backups keep meetings on schedule.Verb & Adjective Pack:
repeat — Repeat the last path after the slash.confirm — Confirm capitals in the meeting ID.
support — Offer to stay while they test.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: Type https colon _____ _____ before the domain.
Tip: Two words, said clearly.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: Use the url northcoast.io-teamsreview
Tip: Prefer a slash and a hyphen, not a dash of text.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
If the link fails, use the dial-in number and PIN.
Tip: State the backup calmly.