Welcome to Module 2! You’ve already learned how to turn your phone on, use gestures, and adjust it so it’s comfortable for you. Now we’re moving into one of the most important reasons people have a phone in the first place: making and receiving calls.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to confidently dial a number, save contacts, and answer incoming calls without stress. This is the first step to using your phone as a tool to stay connected with family, friends, and doctors.

Step 1: Opening the Phone App

On your home screen, look for the green phone icon. It usually looks like an old-fashioned telephone handset.

• Tap it once to open the Phone app.
• You’ll see several options: Keypad, Recents, and Contacts.

👉 Quick Tip: If you can’t find the phone icon, swipe up from the bottom of your home screen to open your app drawer, then scroll until you see it.

Step 2: Making a Call with the Keypad

Sometimes you just want to dial a number directly.

1. In the Phone app, tap Keypad.
2. Use your finger to tap the numbers, just like a calculator.
3. Once the number is entered, press the green call button at the bottom.
4. To end the call, press the red hang-up button.

👉 Quick Tip: If you make a mistake while dialing, tap the backspace key (a little arrow with an “X”) to erase numbers.

Step 3: Calling a Saved Contact

It’s much easier to call people when they’re saved in your contacts list.

1. In the Phone app, tap Contacts.
2. Scroll through your list, or use the search bar at the top.
3. Tap the name of the person you want to call.
4. Tap the green phone icon next to their name to start the call.

👉 Quick Tip: If your contacts list looks empty, don’t worry. We’ll cover how to add contacts later in this module.

Step 4: Receiving a Call

Now let’s talk about answering calls.

• When your phone rings, you’ll see the caller’s name or number appear on the screen.
• To answer, swipe the green phone icon up (or to the right, depending on your phone).
• To decline, swipe the red phone icon down (or to the left).

👉 Quick Tip: If you don’t recognize the number, it’s okay to decline. They can always leave a voicemail.

Step 5: Using the Call Screen

Once you’re on a call, you’ll see several buttons:

• Speaker: Makes the call louder so you can hear without holding the phone to your ear.
• Mute: Turns off your microphone so the other person can’t hear you.
• Keypad: Lets you type numbers during the call (like when entering a doctor’s office menu).
• Contacts: Opens your contacts list while still on the call.

👉 Quick Tip: The speakerphone button is especially useful if you wear hearing aids or don’t like holding the phone to your ear.

Step 6: Practice Together

Here’s a simple practice routine:

1. Open your Phone app.
2. Dial your own number using the keypad. Your phone may not connect, but this is just for practice.
3. Next, open your contacts list and try tapping a name.
4. Finally, ask a friend or family member to call you so you can practice answering.

Real-Life Example

One of my students, Mary, avoided using her smartphone for months. She was terrified she’d “miss the call” or press the wrong button. Once we practiced together, she realized answering was as simple as swiping up. After that, she began calling her grandchildren regularly, and she said it changed her life — she no longer felt cut off from her family.

That’s the power of mastering phone calls.

Troubleshooting Tips

• The call won’t go through: Double-check that you have cell service (look for bars at the top of the screen).
• I answered by mistake and panicked: Just press the red hang-up button — no harm done.
• I can’t hear the other person: Check your volume buttons during the call, or tap “Speaker.”
• My phone doesn’t ring: Make sure your ringtone volume is turned up in Settings (we covered this in Module 1, Lesson 3).

Wrap-Up & Next Steps

Let’s review what you learned today:

• How to open the Phone app and use the keypad
• How to call someone from your contacts list
• How to answer or decline incoming calls
• How to use speakerphone and other call options

Your take-action tool for today:

• Call one family member or friend using the keypad.
• Call the same person again from your contacts list.
• Ask someone to call you, and practice answering and ending the call.

With this practice, you’ll feel more confident every time your phone rings.

In the next lesson, we’ll learn how to send and read text messages. This will open up another powerful way to stay connected without needing to make a call.

Great job today — I’ll see you in Module 2, Lesson 2: Sending and Reading Text Messages.