Never pretend to understand
🤝 Interaction & ResponseYou're talking with a native speaker. They say something, but you didn't quite catch it. What do you do?
❌ The Nodding Trap
Smile, nod, say "yes"... and hope you understood correctly.
Result: Confusion later, or worse - you agree to something you didn't want!
✓ Professional Approach
Use a clarification phrase to get the information you need.
Result: Clear understanding + you look confident, not weak!
Situation: A colleague says quickly:
"So we need to liaise with the stakeholders before the EOD deadline on the KPI review, otherwise the SLT will push back on the Q3 projections."
Did you catch all of that? Probably not! Even native speakers would ask for clarification here.
Today you'll learn: 5 clarification strategies that make you sound confident, not confused.
Different situations need different approaches:
More options:
• "Would you mind saying that again?"
• "I didn't quite catch that."
Imagine someone spoke too fast. Practice saying: "Sorry, could you repeat that?"
Examples:
• "What do you mean by 'stakeholders' exactly?"
• "When you say 'push back', what does that mean?"
Someone says "We need to pivot our strategy." Ask: "What do you mean by 'pivot'?"
Variations:
• "So what you mean is...?"
• "If I understand correctly...?"
• "Just to make sure I've got this right..."
Someone explains a complex process. Confirm with: "So you're saying we need to... first?"
More options:
• "Could you illustrate that with an example?"
• "What's a real-world example of that?"
Someone talks about "synergy in teams." Ask: "Could you give me an example of what that looks like?"
Polite versions:
• "Would you mind slowing down just a little?"
• "Sorry, I'm still getting used to fast English - could you speak a bit slower?"
Practice saying: "Would you mind slowing down a bit? I want to make sure I catch everything."
For each situation, choose the BEST clarification strategy:
Which strategy? Say your clarification question out loud.
💡 Best: "What do you mean by 'touch base'?" (targets specific confusion)
Which strategy? Say your clarification question out loud.
💡 Best: "So you're saying I submit the form first, wait for approval, then start implementing?"
Which strategy? Say your clarification question out loud.
💡 Best: "Could you give me an example of what that looks like in practice?"
Practice responding to these confusing situations. For each one, say your clarification out loud, then imagine how the conversation continues.
Situation 1: Work Meeting
Situation 2: Giving Directions
Situation 3: Technical Explanation
Situation 4: Social Conversation
Goal: Use ALL 5 strategies at least once. Don't just repeat "Could you repeat that?"
Test your memory from the previous lessons!
1. Opening - State your main point
2. Development - Give details and examples
3. Closing - Summarize or conclude
"should" or "is likely to"
Example: "The economy should improve next year."
Details: "Where exactly?" / "Who was there?"
Reasons: "Why did you...?"
Feelings: "How did that make you feel?"
Someone gives you this complex explanation. Use CLARIFICATION + then give a STRUCTURED RESPONSE:
Them: "The thing about sustainable development is that it requires balancing economic growth with environmental protection while ensuring social equity across generations."
First, clarify something. Then give your view using the three-part structure!
I can ask for clarification in different ways when I don't understand
How confident do you feel?
1 = Need more practice | 5 = I've got this!
✓ "Sorry, could you repeat that?" - When you didn't hear
✓ "What do you mean by...?" - When you don't understand a word
✓ "So you're saying...?" - To confirm understanding
✓ "Could you give me an example?" - When it's too abstract
✓ "Could you slow down a bit?" - When they speak too fast
Next time you don't fully understand something in a conversation, don't nod! Use one of these strategies instead. Notice how the other person is happy to clarify.