English speaking lesson · Services & Admin
Making an insurance claim
Something of yours has been damaged, and you're calling your insurer to make a claim. You practise it as a real conversation, at whichever of the four levels fits you — the room and the steps stay the same, only the words get harder.
A call to your insurer · you talk to the claims handler
Free plan: 10 messages a day. No card needed.
What you have to do
Report what happened, describe the damage, provide evidence, and find out what happens next. You finish the lesson by getting there in conversation — not by answering questions about it. Nothing is corrected while you talk; the corrections are collected and handed to you at the end.
How it opens
Hello, claims department — how can I help you today?
Spoken aloud by the tutor playing the claims handler.
The 5 steps that finish it
A step clears when you say the thing that clears it. The steps are identical at all four levels — only the example line fades, and at Natural there is none at all.
- 01
Say what happened
Say you'd like to make a claim, and what happened.
“Hello! I'd like to make a claim.”
- 02
Describe the damage
Say what was damaged and what it's worth.
“My laptop is broken — there was water on it. It cost about $800.”
- 03
Provide evidence
Say what evidence you have.
“I have photos, and I have the receipt.”
- 04
Check the claim
Check the claim details are correct.
“Yes, that's correct.”
- 05
Find out what happens next
Say how you'd like to be updated, and finish.
“By email, please. Thanks for your help!”
The words, at all four levels
The same room and the same steps, four vocabularies. These are the words the lesson listens for and scores you on — with what each one means and how it sounds when you are talking to the claims handler.
Starter
A1 – A2Simple, everyday words with a full hint on every step.
- claim
- a request for payment from an insurer
- “I'd like to make a claim.”
- broken
- damaged and not working
- “My laptop is broken.”
- laptop
- a small computer you can carry
- “My laptop is broken.”
- water
- the clear liquid from the tap
- “There was water on it.”
- cost
- how much something is worth
- “It cost about $800.”
- photos
- pictures showing something
- “I have photos.”
- receipt
- the paper proving you bought it
- “I have the receipt.”
- correct
- right, with no mistakes
- “Yes, that's correct.”
- a message sent over the internet
- “By email, please.”
- thanks
- a short way to say thank you
- “Thanks for your help.”
Conversational
A2 – B1Common words at a natural pace, with hints to lean on.
- damaged
- harmed or broken
- “My laptop was damaged.”
- accident
- something bad that happens unintentionally
- “It was an accident.”
- replacement
- another one given in its place
- “What's the replacement value?”
- worth
- the value of something
- “It's worth around $800.”
- evidence
- proof supporting what you say
- “What evidence do you need?”
- purchase
- something you bought
- “Here's proof of purchase.”
- policy
- an insurance agreement
- “It's under my contents policy.”
- correct
- right, with no mistakes
- “Yes, that's correct.”
- assessed
- officially judged or valued
- “When will it be assessed?”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for something
- “I appreciate your help.”
Confident
B1 – B2Richer, more specific words, with only light hints.
- incident
- an event that caused damage or loss
- “The incident happened on Tuesday.”
- liability
- responsibility for damage or harm
- “Is liability in question here?”
- excess
- the amount you pay first on a claim
- “What's the excess on this?”
- valuation
- an official estimate of value
- “Would you need a valuation?”
- documentation
- the set of official papers required
- “I have the documentation ready.”
- assessor
- the person who inspects a claim
- “Would an assessor visit?”
- settlement
- the final payment agreed on a claim
- “How is settlement calculated?”
- reimbursed
- paid back for what you spent
- “When would I be reimbursed?”
- sorted
- arranged and settled
- “That's sorted, thanks.”
- appreciate
- to be grateful for
- “I'd appreciate that.”
Natural
B2 – C1Advanced, idiomatic words — no hints at all.
- write-off
- damaged beyond economical repair
- “It's likely a write-off.”
- smallprint
- the detailed terms of an agreement
- “I've checked the smallprint.”
- hassle
- annoying trouble or difficulty
- “I'd like to avoid the hassle.”
- ballpark
- a rough figure or estimate
- “A ballpark on the payout?”
- payout
- the money an insurer pays you
- “What's the likely payout?”
- chase
- to follow up on something (informal)
- “When should I chase it?”
- ping
- to send quickly (informal)
- “Could you ping me updates?”
- obliged
- grateful for a favour
- “Much obliged, thank you.”
- sorted
- dealt with and settled
- “Great, that's sorted.”
- cheers
- informal thanks
- “Cheers, appreciated.”
More Services & Admin lessons
- Opening a bank account
- Customer service call
- Courier claim
- Registering at the town hall
- Renewing your ID
- At the tax office
- Visa appointment