Pratique du Shadowing: Business English - 925 English Lesson 24: Asking for Clarification | Clarifying in English - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec YouTube

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You're learning with 9to5English.
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Business English for the workplace.
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Hi, Tim here with another 9to5English lesson.
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In today's lesson, we're going to learn some ways of clarifying what someone means sure you can just smile
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and nod when you don't understand people do that all the time
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but they also feel foolish later especially when the speaker realizes what has happened
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or when you have to ask a question that clearly shows you didn't understand the first time
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sometimes it's just one word you don't know the meaning of in this case don't be afraid
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to stop someone and ask for clarification.
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You can always begin by saying,
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you're sorry, then just ask what the word means.
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Or you can say, you're not quite clear what you mean by a certain word.
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How about a bit of practice on clarifying an unknown word?
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Listen to each example, then repeat it yourself.
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Ready?
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Let's get started.
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Sorry, but what exactly is click-through rate?
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You mentioned logistics.
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What does that mean?
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I'm not quite clear what you mean by segment.
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I'm sorry, but I don't know what OS means.
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As you can see, clarifying a word can be done politely and directly.
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And if it is just one word,
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it's really best to ask about that word specifically,
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rather than saying you don't understand more generally.
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But it's not always one word that gets in the way of understanding.
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Sometimes, it's an entire idea that's unclear,
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especially if it's said indirectly.
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You might think you've understood, but you're not sure.
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To confirm you've understood in this case,
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just begin with something like,
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Are you saying, or Am I correct in understanding that?
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And then say what you think the idea is.
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Let's try these expressions for confirming understanding.
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Remember to repeat the examples after you hear them.
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Just to be clear, you don't want to do the presentation?
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Am I correct in understanding that you like the new designs?
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Are you saying we should not open a new office?
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So, you're telling us we need to cut costs, right?
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Notice that to confirm you've understood,
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you can also state the idea using question intonation.
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That basically says, please confirm this idea.
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Or you can state the idea and add a little question tag like,
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right on the end.
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The problem is, sometimes, it's not a single word you need to clarify.
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Sometimes you just don't understand what a person is talking about.
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And in this case, you can ask for more explanation.
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That means questions like, could you give me a bit more detail?
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Would you mind explaining that in more detail?
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Let's practice asking for more explanation.
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Once again, repeat the examples you hear.
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I'm sorry, but what do you mean exactly?
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Could you give me a bit more detail on that?
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I just need a bit of clarification on that.
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Would you mind explaining that in a bit more detail?
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As you heard, if you need clarification,
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you can just tell someone directly,
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or you can ask politely for more detail or explanation.
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Alright, we've practiced some useful expressions on their own.
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Now let's hear what they sound like in a conversation.
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Let's listen to a short dialogue between Ann and James.
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They're talking about building a new website.
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And James doesn't understand exactly what Ann is trying to say.
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Let's listen.
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It's crazy to think about a new website design.
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Are you saying we should not build a new site?
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Yes, it's a ridiculous way to improve our position.
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I'm sorry, but what do you mean exactly?
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pretty simple right James is trying to confirm his understanding
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and to get more explanation now it's your turn to practice we'll repeat the dialogue
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but this time we're going to beep out the second speakers
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words you will have to say those parts yourself remember to confirm
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that Ann is saying you should not build a new site and then ask exactly what she means
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it's crazy to think about a new website design Yes,
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it's a ridiculous way to improve our position.
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All right.
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That about does it for this lesson.
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We've learned some great ways of clarifying understanding.
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We'll be back soon with another 9 to 5 English lesson.
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Until then, so long and happy learning.

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Context & Background

In today's global workplace, effective communication is crucial. The ability to ask for clarification and confirm understanding is an essential skill, especially in business English. The speaker, Tim, guides learners through diverse scenarios where clarity is necessary when engaging in professional conversations. Misunderstanding can lead to confusion and mistakes, making it vital for English learners to focus on reinforcing their ability to ask questions and seek explanations. This lesson emphasizes the importance of direct communication and encourages learners to proactively address any uncertainties they may encounter.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Sorry, but what exactly is [insert term]?”
  • “I’m not quite clear what you mean by [insert term].”
  • “Just to be clear, you don’t want to do the presentation?”
  • “Could you give me a bit more detail?”
  • “Are you saying we should not open a new office?”

Using these phrases can help you effectively navigate conversations and ensure you grasp important ideas. Practicing these can also help you improve English pronunciation as you repeat them, making them easier to recall in real-life situations.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To master the art of clarification in business English, utilizing the shadowing technique can be an excellent way to practice. Here’s a step-by-step guide to enhance your learning experience:

  1. Select a video: Start by choosing this YouTube lesson on clarifying communication.
  2. Listen closely: Pay attention to the speaker's tone and pronunciation as you listen to the examples.
  3. Shadow speech: Use a shadowing app or simply repeat the phrases out loud after hearing them. Focus on imitating the intonation and rhythm.
  4. Break it down: If a phrase or concept isn't clear, pause the video and replay sections as needed to understand better.
  5. Practice with a partner: Pair up with someone who is also looking to improve their English. Practice using the phrases in a conversation to learn how to apply them fluidly.

This method will not only help you learn English with YouTube effectively but will also improve your English pronunciation as you articulate the phrases repeatedly. Engaging with the material actively ensures you fully grasp how to ask for clarification and seek further explanations, which are vital skills in any business environment.

Qu'est-ce que la technique du Shadowing ?

Le Shadowing est une technique d'apprentissage des langues fondée sur la science, développée à l'origine pour la formation des interprètes professionnels. Le principe est simple mais puissant : vous écoutez de l'anglais natif et le répétez immédiatement à voix haute — comme une ombre suivant le locuteur avec un décalage de 1 à 2 secondes. Les recherches montrent une amélioration significative de la précision de la prononciation, de l'intonation, du rythme, des liaisons, de la compréhension orale et de la fluidité.

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