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E9 G - Ask when you do not understand

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E9 G - Ask when you do not understand

Mini-Beschreibung: Use clarification requests, repetition and simple paraphrasing when you do not understand. You learn to keep a conversation going in an intercultural encounter. You do not need perfect English. You need a clear next step.

Level: English as a first foreign language, class 9, G-level, Baden-Württemberg.

Learning path: English first → understand → respond → ask → hint → improve → use again.

Einleitung

Sometimes you hear the words, but you do not understand the message. This can happen in English with people from many places. The best reaction is not to guess. Ask. Listen again. Check the meaning.

Key idea: Good communication is a team job. People can repeat, slow down, explain, give an example or use different words.

Do not connect one speaking style with a whole country or culture. People are different. Focus on the person and the situation.

E9-G setting: short connected input, common words and clear context; moderate, clear audio with one or two main speakers; replay is allowed; transcript or captions come after a first listening attempt; speaking is short and supported; writing uses a clear frame.

Medien-Einstieg

Look at the speech bubbles above.

Think: Where can a misunderstanding happen?
Say: Use one short English sentence: “Sorry, I don’t understand.”
Ask: Add one question: “Could you say that again, please?”

Now look at the picture. What can an active listener do?

Media task: Name two actions you can see. Then choose one action for your next pair talk.

I-can-Ziele

After this unit, you can say:

I can notice when I do not understand.
I can ask for repetition or clarification.
I can check meaning with a short paraphrase.
I can react politely and give a simple reason or example.
I can write a short message to clarify information.
I can use the same strategies with different English speakers.

Vorwissen: What do you already know?

Work with a partner. Do not translate a full conversation.

Say one phrase you already use when you miss a word.
Say one phrase for “please say it again”.
Show with your voice that your question is polite.

Quick support: Sorry … / Could you …? / Do you mean …?

Input: Keep the conversation going

A misunderstanding is normal. Your goal is to repair the conversation.

Step	What you do	Useful English
1 Understand	Listen for the main idea.	“I think this is about …”
2 Respond	Show that you are listening.	“Okay.” / “I see.”
3 Ask	Ask for the missing part.	“Could you say that again, please?”
4 Hint	Say what is unclear.	“What do you mean by ‘deadline’?”
5 Improve	Check the new meaning.	“So, you mean Friday, right?”
6 Use again	Continue the talk.	“Got it. Then I can …”

Communication first: A short, clear question is better than silence. Accuracy matters, but understanding comes first.

Three core strategies

Strategy	Use it when …	Phrase
Repetition	you did not hear a part.	“Could you say that again, please?”
Clarification	you heard the words but the meaning is unclear.	“What do you mean by …?”
Simple paraphrasing	you want to check your understanding.	“So, you mean …, right?”

You can also ask: “Could you speak a little more slowly, please?” or “Could you give me an example?”

Context vocabulary

Learn the words in a situation, not as a long list.

Word or chunk	Easy English clue	Small German hint
clarify	make something clear	klären
repeat	say it again	wiederholen
mean	the idea behind words	bedeuten
example	one clear case	Beispiel
check	make sure	prüfen
understand	know what the message means	verstehen
in other words	say the same idea differently	anders gesagt
right?	check if your idea is correct	richtig?

Mini-practice: Cover the German hints. Explain three words in easy English.

Functional grammar: small forms, big help

You only need a few strong patterns.

Function	Pattern	Example
polite request	Could + you + base verb …?	“Could you repeat that, please?”
ask about meaning	What do you mean by + word …?	“What do you mean by ‘shift’?”
check meaning	Do you mean + idea …?	“Do you mean we start at nine?”

Accuracy focus 1: After could, use the base verb: “Could you repeat …?”

Accuracy focus 2: Use What does … mean? or What do you mean by …?

Accuracy focus 3: Keep the word order in the question.

Pronunciation and fluency

Clear speech is more important than sounding like a native speaker.

Speak in chunks: “Could you / say that again / please?”
Stress the key word: “What do you MEAN by ‘shift’?”
Keep a calm question tone.
Do not rush. A short pause can help.

Private practice: You may record your own voice only if you want to. Keep the recording private unless you clearly agree to share it. No upload is needed.

Listening and Viewing

Watch the first video in a short part, not all at once.

Before viewing: Predict two phrases that may be useful.

First viewing — no transcript: Listen for the main idea. Which strategy do you hear: repetition, clarification or checking meaning?

Second viewing: Listen again. Write down one useful phrase.

After the second viewing: If you need more help, use the video captions or transcript. Compare only the part you need. Do not translate the whole video.

Use it: Change the phrase to fit a school situation.

Listening challenge: active listening

Use a short section. The video has several examples, so one viewing is enough for the first task.

First: listen for one sign of active listening.
Second: find one phrase that shows the speaker does not understand.
Third: pause and answer with your own short clarification question.

Help 1: Listen for “sorry”, “mean”, “again” or a question.

Help 2: Use the frame: “Sorry, could you …?”

Help 3: Turn on captions only after your first listening attempt.

Reading

Read this short fictional situation.

Exchange project

Maya and Leo are planning a digital poster with Jordan, a student from another school. Jordan says, “Please send your part by the end of the day.” Maya is not sure which day Jordan means because the group talked about two deadlines before. She does not guess.

Maya writes: “Sorry, could you clarify the deadline? Do you mean today at 6 p.m.?” Jordan replies: “Yes, today at 6. Thanks for checking.” Leo then says, “So we send one file, not three separate files, right?” Jordan answers: “Right. One file is easier.”

The group continues. No one talks about “how people from one country communicate”. They solve the real problem: the message was unclear.

Reading task:

Underline the first clarification request.
Find one example of checking meaning.
Explain why guessing could cause a problem.
Write one new question Maya could ask.

Reading strategy

Do not stop at every unknown word.

If …	Then …
the main idea is clear	keep reading
one word blocks the meaning	use context first
the message is still unclear	ask or look up the key word

Speaking

Work in pairs. Use fictional information only.

Role A: You are helping with a school event. Say: “Meet me near the main entrance after the second session. Bring the blue folder.”

Role B: You are not sure about one detail. Ask one clarification question and one check question.

Then change roles.

Target length: about 45–60 seconds.

Strong result: You react, ask, listen to the answer, check the meaning and continue.

Speaking support: three help levels

Help level	Support
1 Word bank	again / slowly / mean / example / right
2 Sentence frames	“Could you …?” / “What do you mean by …?” / “So, you mean …, right?”
3 Mini-model	A: “The task is due after lunch.” B: “Sorry, what do you mean by ‘after lunch’?” A: “At 2 p.m.” B: “So, 2 p.m., right?” A: “Yes.”

Try with less support the second time.

Respond and give a reason

Sometimes you understand after the clarification. Add a short reason.

Model: “Okay, I understand now. I asked because we had two times.”

Try:

“I think … because …”
“That works for me because …”
“I prefer … because …”

Mini-presentation: Speak for about 30 seconds. Present one useful clarification phrase, give one reason and one example.

Writing

Write a short clarification email. Use fictional names and fictional school data.

Situation: A project message says: “Please send the final version soon.” You need a clear time and file format.

Write 80–100 words.

Use this structure:

Part	Frame
Greeting	Hi Sam,
Reason	Thanks for your message. I have one question.
Clarification 1	What do you mean by “soon”?
Clarification 2	Do you want a PDF or a slide file?
Check	So, you need one final file, right?
Closing	Thanks for clarifying. Best, Alex

Keep your own text. If a digital tool gives feedback, compare it with your version. Check the feedback before you accept it.

Work-experience transfer: Use the same frame for a fictional workplace message about a time, task or file.

Writing: feedback and improve

Partner feedback uses three questions:

Is the question easy to understand?
Does the writer ask for the exact missing information?
Is the tone polite and clear?

Then improve one sentence. Do not rewrite the whole text for your partner.

Mediation

Mediation means: pass on the important meaning. Do not translate every word.

German school note: „Die AG trifft sich am Donnerstag um 14:10 Uhr in Raum B12. Bitte bring dein Tablet mit. Wer später kommt, meldet sich vorher bei der Lehrkraft.“

Task: Tell an English-speaking partner the three key points in simple English. Your partner asks one clarification question. Answer it.

Help: Thursday / 2:10 p.m. / room B12 / bring tablet / tell the teacher before

Intercultural encounters without stereotypes

Different people may use English in different ways. Speed, accent, word choice and body language can vary. This does not tell you what a whole culture is like.

Use questions instead of assumptions.

Not useful: “People from X always speak like this.”

Useful: “I’m not sure I understood. Could you say that again?”

Media task: Look at the chart. Choose one listening behaviour you want to improve in your next conversation. Explain your choice in one sentence.

Error analysis: fix the message

Find the problem. Then improve the sentence.

First try	Better	Why?
“What means deadline?”	“What does ‘deadline’ mean?”	correct question pattern
“Could you to repeat that?”	“Could you repeat that?”	base verb after could
“Explain me, please.”	“Could you explain that to me, please?”	clearer and more natural request
“You mean Friday?”	“Do you mean Friday?”	clear check question

Remember: One useful correction is enough. Communication comes first.

Feedback loop: ask → improve → use again

After a task, do this short loop:

Ask: What was unclear?
Improve: Change one phrase.
Use again: Try the same strategy in a new situation.

Example: First try: “Again?” → Improved: “Could you say that again, please?” → New situation: a sports club meeting.

Safe and responsible digital work

Use fictional names, profiles and application data in practice tasks. Do not post private social-media data.

Recordings are optional. Keep them private unless sharing is clearly agreed. Do not upload recordings or personal texts to external AI tools unless your school and the people involved have agreed.

If you use AI feedback, check facts, sources and suggestions. Keep your own original text so you can compare changes. AI feedback can be wrong.

Transfer

Use the strategy outside this lesson.

Choose one situation:

a school exchange video call
a work-experience meeting
a sports or gaming team
a train or travel question

Use this mini-chain:

Listen → react → ask → check → continue.

Can-do-Check

I can …	Yes	Not yet
ask someone to repeat	□	□
ask what a word or idea means	□	□
check meaning with “Do you mean …?”	□	□
paraphrase a simple message	□	□
continue after a misunderstanding	□	□
use these strategies without making culture clichés	□	□

If you tick “Not yet”, choose one sentence frame and use it in the next pair task.

Folgekurs

Next step: Keep the conversation going. There you react to opinions, give short reasons and keep a longer conversation active.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What can you say when you did not hear a sentence? (Could you say that again, please?) (!You must speak perfectly.) (!I will guess the answer.) (!Never mind the message.)

What can you ask when one word is unclear? (What do you mean by this word?) (!Where are you from?) (!Why is your accent different?) (!Can I ignore the word?)

Which sentence checks your understanding? (Do you mean we meet at three?) (!Speak English now.) (!I know everything.) (!Do not explain.)

What is simple paraphrasing? (Saying the same idea in different words) (!Translating every word) (!Learning a long text by heart) (!Speaking much faster)

What should come first in this unit? (Understanding the message) (!Sounding like a native speaker) (!Using difficult grammar) (!Speaking without pauses)

What is a useful first step when a message is unclear? (Ask a clear question) (!Pretend you understand) (!Change the topic) (!Blame the speaker)

Which form is correct after could? (Could you repeat that?) (!Could you to repeat that?) (!Could you repeated that?) (!Could you repeating that?)

When should you use captions in the listening task? (After a first listening attempt if you need help) (!Before you listen for the first time) (!Instead of listening) (!Only after translating every word)

What is a good intercultural communication habit? (Ask about the message instead of making assumptions) (!Explain a person by a culture cliché) (!Expect every speaker to sound the same) (!Avoid questions about unclear meaning)

What should you do after a useful correction? (Use the improved phrase in a new situation) (!Stop speaking English) (!Delete your own text) (!Memorise every possible dialogue)

Memory

repeat	say it again
clarify	make it clear
paraphrase	use different words
confirm	check an idea
example	one clear case
slow down	speak less fast

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Could you say that again?	Ask for repetition
What do you mean by project brief?	Ask for clarification
So we meet at three, right?	Confirm meaning
In other words, we need one poster.	Simple paraphrasing
Could you give me an example?	Ask for an example

...

Kreuzworträtsel

Repeat	Which verb means say something again?
Clarify	Which verb means make something clearer?
Paraphrase	Which verb means say an idea in different words?
Confirm	Which verb means check that something is correct?
Example	What can make an unclear idea easier to understand?
Listening	Which skill helps you notice that meaning is unclear?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Clarification card: Make a small card with four useful English questions and one simple symbol for each.
Mini dialogue: Write a six-line dialogue with one misunderstanding and one successful clarification.
Pronunciation practice: Practise three question chunks slowly and clearly. A private recording is optional.
Picture prompt: Use one image from this page and write three English speech bubbles for it.

Standard

Role play: Act out a 60-second school project talk. Include repetition, clarification and a check question.
Listening detective: Rewatch a short video section and collect three useful communication moves. Explain when each move helps.
Email repair: Improve a fictional unclear project email so that time, task and format are clear.
Mediation task: Explain a short German school notice in simple spoken English. Your partner asks one follow-up question.

Schwer

Strategy comparison: Create three different responses to the same misunderstanding. Explain which information each response asks for.
Intercultural scenario: Design a fictional encounter with two English speakers. Avoid culture clichés and show how they repair one misunderstanding.
Feedback study: Compare your first and second version of a short text. Mark only changes that make the message clearer and explain why.
Transfer project: Create a one-minute tutorial called “Ask when you do not understand”. Use examples from school, work experience and travel.

Lernkontrolle

Repair a misunderstanding: In a new role play, notice one unclear detail, ask a fitting question and continue after the answer.
Choose the strategy: Read three short situations. Decide whether repetition, clarification or paraphrasing fits best and explain your choice.
Improve an email: Rewrite a short fictional message so the reader can understand the deadline and task without guessing.
Mediation with questions: Pass on three key points from a German notice in English and respond to one clarification question.
Error analysis: Correct two central question-pattern errors and explain how the correction helps communication.
Transfer reflection: Describe a new situation where one repair strategy would help and write the exact phrase you would use.

Lernnachweis

For a learning record, show that you can:

understand the main idea of a short, clear conversation
notice when information is missing or unclear
ask for repetition or clarification
check meaning with a simple paraphrase
react and continue the conversation
write a short structured clarification message
mediate key information without translating everything
use clear, respectful language without culture clichés
reflect on one error and improve it
use media and digital tools safely with fictional or private data

OERs zum Thema

Freie Medien auf Wikimedia Commons:

Medium	Lernfunktion	Lizenz laut Commons
Speech bubbles.svg	Einstieg in Gesprächssituationen	CC BY-SA 3.0
Active listening.png	aktives Zuhören sichtbar machen	CC BY-SA 4.0
Communicative people.png	gemeinsames Verstehen visualisieren	CC BY 2.0
Talk page icon crystal.png	Fragen und Antworten symbolisieren	Public Domain
Question bubble thing.svg	Nachfragen visualisieren	Public Domain
Active-listening-chart.png	Zuhörverhalten reflektieren	CC BY-SA 3.0
Chat bubbles.svg	Transfer in neue Gespräche	Public Domain