2010 June | ALLENGLISH Blog

Better Ways to Understand English Speakers

Often, students’ first response to hearing a phrase or a sentence that they don’t understand is to ask the speaker, “Can you repeat that?” The English learner hopes that by hearing the phrase again, they will understand it. Not only is this technique ineffective (most of the time), it is also usually not the phrase that a native English speaker would use when they can’t understand another English speaker.

Usually the problem of understanding comes from speed, vocabulary knowledge, expressions and idioms knowledge, or missing a key grammar component (such as verb tense, subject, or quantity). This list of phrases identifies the origin of the error, so you can find a more appropriate phrase to use during your next conversation.

Is it a speed problem? If so, say,

“Can you speak a little slower please?”
“Would you mind speaking a little slower please?”
“A little slower, please.”
“Can you repeat that more slowly?”

Is it a loudness problem (a noisy room/party/social situation)? If so, say,

I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you. What did you say?
Can you say that again? I couldn’t hear.
I couldn’t hear what you said.

Is it a phrase problem? If so, say,

What does (___) mean?
Did you say (___)?
I’m not sure I know what (___) means.
Can you explain what a (___) is?

If it’s a key grammar component, consider using who, what, and how many in your request for more information. Put the stress on those question words when you use them: