Sorry, teaching, phone you later.

[Silverobama]

I was teaching my student when I got a phone call. I didn't ignore it — I answered, since it was my friend calling. I said to my friend:

Sorry, teaching, phone you later.

Is my sentence natural?

 

[emsr2d2]

I was teaching one of my students when I got a phone call. I didn't ignore it — I answered, since I could see it was my friend calling but I said: to my friend:

Sorry, teaching, phone you later.

Is my sentence natural?

It's fine in abrupt, casual English. Using such shortened phrases, as long as you get the intended message across, is fine and gives the listener even more of an idea that you're busy and can't talk.

I'm sure we've told you before that saying "my student" means you have just one student in total. I'm sure that's not the case so you were teaching either "one of my students" or "a student".

You didn't need to say "I didn't ignore it" because you clearly said you answered it and explained why you interrupted a class to answer your phone. I find that very bad form, by the way. Your phone should be switched off during classes, as should your student's phone.

 

[Skrej]

AmE would require 'call' instead of 'phone'.

 

[Silverobama]

It's fine in abrupt, casual English. Using such shortened phrases, as long as you get the intended message across, is fine and gives the listener even more of an idea that you're busy and can't talk.

I'm sure we've told you before that saying "my student" means you have just one student in total. I'm sure that's not the case so you were teaching either "one of my students" or "a student".

You didn't need to say "I didn't ignore it" because you clearly said you answered it and explained why you interrupted a class to answer your phone. I find that very bad form, by the way. Your phone should be switched off during classes, as should your student's phone.

Much appreciated. What can I naturally express here? Could you please suggest an alternative?

 

[emsr2d2]

Much appreciated. What can I naturally express here? Could you please suggest an alternative?

An alternative to what? I told you your suggested words were OK.

 

[Silverobama]

An alternative to what? I told you your suggested words were OK.

To the original. Thanks a lot and yes, I read your message carefully. I wasn't sure because I thought it might sound rude to my friend who's a bit overthinking himself.

Is this new version better?

Sorry, I’m in the middle of teaching—I’ll call you back later.

 

[emsr2d2]

To the original. Thanks a lot and yes, I read your message carefully. I wasn't sure because I thought it might sound rude to my friend who's a bit overthinking himself who tends to overthink things a bit.

Is this new version better?

Sorry, I’m in the middle of teaching. I’ll call you back later.

Yes, that's more formal and it constitutes two complete, grammatical sentences. If your friend is likely to think the shorter version is rude, you probably should use the complete version.

Note my changes in your opening paragraph. People don't "overthink themselves". They overthink things.

 

[BobK]

I was teaching my student when I got a phone call. I didn't ignore it — I answered, since it was my friend calling. I said to my friend:

Sorry, teaching, phone you later.

Is my sentence natural?

I agree with @emsr2d2, but being less forgiving I'd've observed that it wasn't a sentence, which your latest version is.