Speaking: Interactive Communication B1 - Lesson 4: Clarifying & Confirming

Speaking: Interactive Communication B1

Function: Clarifying & Confirming

Listen to the dialogue example.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use phrases to clarify your own ideas and to confirm your understanding of what other people say.

Conversation Scenario: Avoiding Misunderstanding 💬

Good communicators use special phrases to clarify (make something clearer) and confirm (check if something is correct) to prevent problems.

Manager: We need to finish this project by next week. We should delegate the tasks.

You: Sorry, what does "delegate" mean? (Asking for clarification)

Manager: Oh, sorry. In other words, we should split the work between us. Does that make sense?

You: Ah, yes. Okay. So, if I understand correctly, you'll do the research and I'll make the presentation?

Manager: Exactly. That's the plan.

You: Great. I just wanted to be clear.

Your Interaction Toolkit 🛠️ (Click 🔊)

🗣️ Function: Clarifying What YOU Mean

• Let me rephrase that... ខ្ញុំសូមនិយាយម្ដងទៀត...
• In other words... និយាយម្យ៉ាងទៀត...
• What I mean is... អ្វីដែលខ្ញុំចង់មានន័យគឺ...
• To put it another way... និយាយបែបផ្សេង...

👂 Function: Confirming What THEY Mean

• If I understand correctly,... ប្រសិនបើខ្ញុំយល់ត្រូវ...
• So, you're saying that...? អញ្ចឹង, អ្នកកំពុងនិយាយថា...?
• Just to be clear,... គ្រាន់តែចង់បញ្ជាក់...
• Are you saying that...? តើអ្នកកំពុងនិយាយថា...?

Communication Strategy: The Paraphrase Loop 🔄

Paraphrasing (saying something in your own words) is a powerful skill. Use this three-step loop to confirm your understanding.

1. Listen Carefully

Friend: "We should meet at the cafe at 9, but not the one near the market, the other one."

2. Paraphrase Their Idea

You: "Okay, so just to be clear, we're meeting at the cafe near the university..."

3. Confirm with a Question

You: "...at 9 o'clock. Is that right?"

Pronunciation Tip

🗣️ Intonation of Clarifying & Confirming

• When you clarify your own point, your intonation is usually falling. You are stating a fact more simply.
  Example: "In other words, we need to work harder.↘"
• When you confirm your understanding, your intonation is usually rising. You are asking if you are correct.
  Example: "So, you're saying we need to work harder?↗"

Practice Your Skills 🎯

Activity 1: What's the Function? (Self-Check)

Match the phrase to its main function by choosing from the dropdown. Click "Check Answers" when done.

1. "So, what you're saying is..."

-- Select Function -- A. Clarifying (Yourself) B. Confirming (Them)

2. "What I mean is..."

-- Select Function -- A. Clarifying (Yourself) B. Confirming (Them)

3. "If I understand correctly..."

-- Select Function -- A. Clarifying (Yourself) B. Confirming (Them)

4. "Let me rephrase that..."

-- Select Function -- A. Clarifying (Yourself) B. Confirming (Them)

Activity 2: Paraphrase to Confirm

Work with a partner. Student A says a statement. Student B must paraphrase it to confirm they understand.

• Student A: "The meeting isn't cancelled; it's just been postponed until 3 PM tomorrow."
• Student B: "Okay, so just to be clear, the meeting is tomorrow at 3 PM?"
• Student A: "That's right."

Key Phrases Review

• to clarify | បញ្ជាក់ (ធ្វើអោយច្បាស់)
  To make something clearer or easier to understand.
• to confirm | ផ្ទៀងផ្ទាត់ (បញ្ជាក់ថាពិត)
  To check or state that something is true or correct.
• Let me rephrase that. | ខ្ញុំសូមនិយាយម្ដងទៀត
  Used to say something again in a different, clearer way.
• If I understand correctly... | ប្រសិនបើខ្ញុំយល់ត្រូវ...
  Used to check your understanding of what someone said.
• Exactly. / That's right. | ត្រឹមត្រូវ / ត្រូវហើយ
  Used to agree and confirm something is 100% correct.

Your Communication Mission ⭐

This week, your mission is to avoid all misunderstandings. In your next important English conversation (e.g., about a plan), use one confirming phrase.

After your friend gives you information, say "Okay, so if I understand correctly..." and repeat the information in your own words. This is a very powerful skill for a clear communicator.