Real Talk #062 – What to say when you’re misunderstood
Aug 9, 2024
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Discover essential tips for navigating misunderstandings in English conversations. The hosts discuss common pitfalls like unclear pronunciation and vague statements. Learn practical expressions to ask for clarification and politely correct yourself. With real-life conversation examples, you'll build better vocabulary and improve your listening skills. Embrace strategies that enhance your fluency and confidence, helping you communicate more effectively in both casual and professional settings.
Practicing clarification expressions like 'Did you say...?' enhances communication effectiveness when misunderstandings arise during conversations.
Politeness in communication, such as thanking or apologizing, significantly improves interactions and rapport between speakers during misunderstandings.
Deep dives
Understanding Miscommunication
Practical expressions for clarifying misunderstandings are essential in communication. These expressions help individuals communicate effectively when they face issues like mispronunciations or vague statements. For example, during a conversation about a work presentation, one coworker mistakenly interpreted '15 minutes' as '50 minutes,' leading to confusion. Using phrases like 'Did you say...?' or 'Actually, what I mean is...' can promote clearer communication and help avoid misinterpretations.
Clarifying Vague Statements
When addressing vague statements, it is important to seek clarification to ensure mutual understanding. In a conversation concerning project timelines, one coworker responded to a vague 'soon' by asking for specifics, which maintained clarity. Phrases like 'Sorry, just to make sure I understand' can prompt the speaker to provide clearer information. Rephrasing a statement, such as 'Let me rephrase that...' can also enhance the clarity of communication.
Polite Communication Strategies
Being polite during instances of miscommunication can greatly improve interactions. Using expressions like 'Thanks for clearing that up' acknowledges the effort taken to clarify misunderstandings and promotes a positive conversational tone. Additionally, apologizing for any confusion caused by vague statements or unclear pronunciations enhances rapport between speakers. Recognizing the importance of politeness in both casual and professional settings is crucial for effective communication.
In this episode of Real Talk, Andrew and Kassy teach you how to handle misunderstandings in English conversations. They focus on common situations where people might get confused, such as unclear pronunciation or vague statements. Through practical examples, you'll learn how to ask for clarification and how to correct yourself politely when you've been misunderstood.
What you will learn in this episode:
Clarification expressions: Learn useful expressions to help you handle misunderstandings easily.
Practical examples: Listen to two real-life conversations that show how to use these expressions in different situations.
Pronunciation tips: Understand the difference between similar-sounding numbers, like 15 and 50, to avoid confusion.
How you will improve your English with this episode:
Better vocabulary: Build your English vocabulary with new expressions for handling misunderstandings.
Improved understanding: Improve your listening skills so you can understand and solve unclear statements or pronunciation issues.
Fluency and confidence: Practice using these expressions in real-life situations to sound more fluent and confident in English.
English speaking practice: Join discussions with other listeners on the Culips Discord server for additional speaking practice.
Important links:
Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member.
Join the Culips Discord server
Small-group discussion class schedule (member only)
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