ESL Speaking: Clarification and Repair Strategies, What Do You Mean?, Could You Repeat?

What It Is

Clarification and repair strategies are used to ask for more information or to clarify what someone has said. This is done when we don't understand something. For example, "What do you mean by 'early'?" or "Could you repeat that?" This topic causes difficulty for ESL learners because they may not know how to ask for clarification or may not understand the nuances of language.

Key Rules

• Clarification questions start with what, where, when, how, or why.
• Example: "What do you mean by 'early'?"
• Use Could you repeat that? to ask someone to say something again.
• Example: "Could you repeat that?"
• Let me get this straight is used to clarify information.
• Example: "Let me get this straight, you're saying..."
• Use I didn't understand to say you didn't understand something.
• Example: "I didn't understand what you said."
• Can you explain that? is used to ask for more information.
• Example: "Can you explain that?"
• I'm not sure I understand is used to show you're not sure you understand something.
• Example: "I'm not sure I understand what you mean."
• Could you say that again? is used to ask someone to say something again.
• Example: "Could you say that again?"
• I didn't catch that is used to say you didn't hear or understand something.
• Example: "I didn't catch that."
• Can you repeat the question? is used to ask someone to repeat a question.
• Example: "Can you repeat the question?"
• Let me clarify is used to clarify information.
• Example: "Let me clarify that."
• To make sure I understand is used to make sure you understand something.
• Example: "To make sure I understand, you're saying..."
• Can you explain it in simpler terms? is used to ask someone to explain something in simpler terms.
• Example: "Can you explain it in simpler terms?"
• I need more information is used to say you need more information.
• Example: "I need more information about that."
• Can you give me an example? is used to ask someone to give you an example.
• Example: "Can you give me an example?"
• I'm not sure I agree is used to show you're not sure you agree with something.
• Example: "I'm not sure I agree with that."
• Can you clarify that point? is used to ask someone to clarify a point.
• Example: "Can you clarify that point?"

Common ESL Errors

Error: "What you mean?" Why it happens: Interference from L1 ( learner's first language) Correction: "What do you mean?" (use do instead of you)

Error: "I no understand." Why it happens: Overgeneralization of verb forms Correction: "I don't understand." (use don't instead of no)

Error: "Can you say that again, please?" Why it happens: Overuse of polite language Correction: "Can you say that again?" (omit please)

Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank: "I need more information about ___." Answer: that Reason: We use that to refer to a specific thing or idea.

2. Fill in the blank: "Can you ___ that in simpler terms?" Answer: explain Reason: We use explain to make something clear or easy to understand.

3. Fill in the blank: "I'm not sure I ___ with that." Answer: agree Reason: We use agree to show we support or accept something.

Last-Minute Revision

Early vs. earlier (use earlier for before something)
To make sure I understand vs. To make sure I'm understanding (use understand instead of understanding)
I'm not sure I understand vs. I'm not sure I'm understanding (use understand instead of understanding)
Let me get this straight vs. Let me get this right (use straight instead of right)
Can you explain that? vs. Can you explain it? (use it instead of that)
I need more information vs. I need more informations (use information instead of informations)
To clarify vs. To clarify that (use that instead of to clarify)
Let me clarify vs. Let me clarify that (use that instead of to clarify)
I'm not sure I agree vs. I'm not sure I disagree (use disagree instead of agree)
Can you give me an example? vs. Can you give me an example of that? (use of that instead of an example)
I'm not sure I understand vs. I'm not sure I'm understanding (use understand instead of understanding)