E9 G - Communicate when English is nobody’s first language

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E9 G - Communicate when English is nobody’s first language

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E9 G - Communicate when English is nobody’s first language

Mini-description: Use simple, clear English when you meet people with different first languages. Your goal is not to sound like a native speaker. Your goal is to understand, respond, ask, help and keep the conversation going.

Important: Clear communication is more important than a perfect accent.

Start: English first

Look at the picture. Imagine two people who do not share a first language. They use English to talk.

Try this simple communication cycle:

1. Understand: What is the main message?
2. Respond: Give a short answer.
3. Ask: Ask if something is not clear.
4. Hint: Use an example, gesture or easier word.
5. Improve: Say the message again more clearly.
6. Use again: Try the better sentence in a new situation.

Do not translate every word. First try to understand the key message.

I can ...

After this aiMOOC, you can say:

1. I can understand the main idea in clear international English.
2. I can respond with short, useful sentences.
3. I can ask for repetition, explanation or slower speech.
4. I can give a reason with because.
5. I can speak clearly without trying to copy one special accent.
6. I can write a short clear message or email.
7. I can mediate a simple message for another person.
8. I can improve a sentence when communication does not work.

What you already know

Try these questions before you start.

1. What can you say when you do not understand?
2. How can you ask someone to speak more slowly?
3. What is more important in an international conversation: a perfect accent or a clear message?
4. Which words help you give a reason?

Quick help: repeat – explain – slower – mean – example – because

Listening and Viewing

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First viewing: no transcript.

Listen once. Do not stop after every word.

1. What is the main topic?
2. Which phrase asks for repetition?
3. Which phrase asks for an explanation?
4. Which phrase could you use in class?

Second viewing: Pause after one useful phrase. Repeat it clearly.

Support after your first try:

1. Could you repeat that, please?
2. Could you say that more slowly, please?
3. What do you mean?
4. Can you give an example?
5. Did you say ...?

Viewing challenge

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Watch for communication strategies.

Choose two strategies and use them in a short role-play.

Remember: Asking again is not a failure. It is a communication skill.

Reading: Three speakers, one common language

Situation: Three fictional students are planning a school project online.

Mila: My first language is Croatian. I think we should meet on Thursday after school because Friday is difficult for me.

Kenji: My first language is Japanese. Sorry, did you say Thursday at three or Thursday at four?

Sara: My first language is Italian. She said Thursday. Mila, what time is good for you?

Mila: Four o’clock is good.

Kenji: Great. Could you send the room number again, please?

Sara: Yes. Room 204.

Kenji: Thanks. Now I understand.

Check the reading

1. Why does Kenji ask a question?
2. Which words show that Sara helps?
3. Does anybody need native-like English?
4. Which sentence makes the meeting time clear?

Key idea: The speakers repair small problems together.

Context vocabulary

Word or phrase	Simple meaning	Example
first language	the language you learned first	My first language is Polish.
clear	easy to understand	Please use a clear sentence.
repeat	say something again	Could you repeat that?
explain	make an idea easier to understand	Can you explain that?
mean	show the meaning	What does this word mean?
example	one case that helps explain an idea	Can you give an example?
check	make sure something is correct	Let me check the time.
message	information you send	I got your message.
reason	why something happens	Give one reason.
misunderstand	understand something in the wrong way	I misunderstood the time.

Pronunciation and fluency

You do not need an accent-free voice.

Focus on three things:

1. Key words: Stress the important words.
2. Short groups: Speak in small chunks.
3. Useful pauses: Pause between ideas.

Try:

Could you | repeat that | please?

I think Thursday is better | because Friday is difficult.

Did you say | room two-oh-four?

Speak at a moderate speed. Clear is better than fast.

Mini fluency drill

Say each line two times.

First: slowly and clearly.

Second: at a natural school-conversation speed.

1. Could you repeat that, please?
2. What do you mean?
3. Did you say Tuesday?
4. I agree because it is easier.
5. Let me check.

Speaking

Use fictional profiles only.

Profile A: Alex. First language: Greek. Wants to meet at 4 p.m.

Profile B: Noor. First language: Arabic. Thinks 4 p.m. is too late.

Profile C: Leo. First language: Portuguese. Is not sure about the meeting place.

Task: Speak for about one minute.

Use this pattern:

1. Start: Hello. Are we ready to plan?
2. Respond: I think ...
3. Give a reason: ... because ...
4. Ask: Could you repeat that?
5. Check: Did you say ...?
6. Finish: Great. So we meet at ...

Do not imitate accents. Speak in your normal voice.

Speaking help levels

Level 1 – strong help: I think ... because ... Could you repeat that? What do you mean? Did you say ...? So we agree on ...

Level 2 – medium help: Give your opinion + reason. Ask one clarification question. Check one fact.

Level 3 – little help: Plan a meeting without sentence starters.

Writing

Write a short message of 60–90 words.

Situation: Your international school team changed the time of a meeting.

Your message should include:

1. the new day and time
2. one short reason
3. one clear request
4. one sentence to check understanding

Useful frame:

Hello everyone,

The meeting is now on ...

We changed the time because ...

Please ...

Could you tell me if ...?

Best, ...

Short email model

Hello everyone,

Our project meeting is now on Wednesday at 3:30. We changed the time because two students have sports practice on Thursday. Please meet in room 18. Could you tell me if the new time is okay for you?

Best, Jamie

Notice: short sentences, clear time, clear reason, clear request.

Mediation

Situation: A German-speaking student says:

„Das Treffen beginnt nicht um 14 Uhr, sondern um 14:30 Uhr. Bitte bringt eure Tablets mit. Wenn jemand später kommt, soll die Person kurz Bescheid sagen.“

Do not translate word for word.

Give the important message in simple English.

Possible structure:

The meeting starts at ... Please bring ... If you are late, ...

Functional grammar

We focus on only a few useful forms.

Polite requests

Can you + verb ...?

Can you repeat that?

Could you + verb ...?

Could you explain that?

Use could when you want to sound a little more polite.

Checking information

Did you say + information?

Did you say room 12?

Did you say Friday?

Giving reasons

idea + because + reason

I prefer Tuesday because I finish school early.

I disagree because the time is too late.

Communication repair

Sometimes a message is not clear. Good speakers repair the conversation.

Problem: A: We meet after lunch.

B: Sorry, what time exactly?

A: At 1:30.

B: Great. Thanks.

The question makes the message more exact.

Error analysis

Which sentence works better?

A: What means this word?

B: What does this word mean?

For this course, sentence B is the useful accuracy target.

Now compare:

A: Repeat.

B: Could you repeat that, please?

Both may be understandable, but B is clearer and more polite.

Rule: Communication comes first. Then improve one important language point.

Feedback

Use this simple feedback order:

1. Message: I understood your main idea.
2. Success: Your question was clear.
3. One target: Try Could you repeat that? instead of Repeat.
4. Try again: Say the sentence one more time.

Do not correct every small mistake.

AI and digital safety

If you use an approved AI tool in class:

1. Check facts and sources.
2. Check whether feedback is useful.
3. Keep your own first version.
4. Do not enter private names, addresses, social-media data or real application data.
5. Use fictional profiles for role-plays and job tasks.
6. Do not upload voice recordings without permission.
7. Recordings should be voluntary and private.
8. Do not send class recordings to external AI tools unless your school has clearly approved this.

Transfer: Real-life communication

Imagine one of these situations:

1. You ask for directions while travelling.
2. You join an online school project.
3. You speak to a visitor at a school event.
4. You work in an international team during an internship.

For each situation, use:

understand → respond → ask → hint → improve → use again

Can-do check

Mark: Yes / Almost / Not yet

1. I can understand the main message.
2. I can ask for repetition.
3. I can ask for an explanation.
4. I can check a time, number or place.
5. I can give an opinion with a reason.
6. I can write a short clear message.
7. I can help another person understand.
8. I can improve one unclear sentence.

Follow-up course

Next step:

E9 G - Solve misunderstandings in everyday English

There you can practise longer conversations, small conflicts and clearer explanations.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What is most important in an international English conversation? (A clear message) (!A perfect native accent) (!Very fast speech) (!Long difficult words)

Which sentence asks for repetition politely? (Could you repeat that, please?) (!You repeat now) (!Say all words) (!I repeat you)

Which sentence checks information? (Did you say Thursday?) (!You say Thursday) (!Thursday says you) (!You did Thursday)

Which word gives a reason? (because) (!again) (!please) (!maybe)

What should you do first when listening? (Listen for the main message) (!Translate every word) (!Stop after every word) (!Copy every sentence)

Which sentence asks for an explanation? (What do you mean?) (!Where you mean?) (!Who mean this?) (!Why you word?)

What is a useful speaking strategy? (Use short clear chunks) (!Speak as fast as possible) (!Copy another person’s accent) (!Use difficult idioms)

Which sentence is a polite request? (Could you explain that?) (!Explain) (!You explanation) (!Explaining now)

What should feedback focus on first? (The message) (!Every small grammar error) (!The speaker’s accent) (!The speaker’s first language)

What is safe in a school role-play? (Use fictional personal data) (!Post private recordings online) (!Share real addresses) (!Use private social-media profiles)

Memory

repeat	say again
clarify	make clear
reason	why
message	information
check	make sure
pause	short stop

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Understand	Find the main message
Respond	Give a short answer
Ask	Request help
Improve	Make the message clearer
Reuse	Try the better sentence again

Kreuzworträtsel

repeat	What verb means to say something again?
clarify	What verb means to make something clearer?
message	What word means information sent to another person?
reason	What word means why something happens?
explain	What verb means to make an idea easier to understand?
listen	What verb means to pay attention to spoken language?

Lückentext

Vervollständige den Text.

When English is a shared language, the main goal is clear . If you do not understand, you can ask someone to the message. You can ask for more information with “What do you ?”. You can give a reason with . When you check a time or place, you can say “Did you ...?”. Good speakers do not need a perfect . They listen, respond and repair small . In school tasks, use fictional data and keep recordings .

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

1. Clarification phrases: Create a small card with five useful phrases for asking again.
2. Clear speaking: Record yourself privately saying three short clarification phrases. Listen once and improve only speed or pauses.
3. Dialogue repair: Write a four-line dialogue with one misunderstanding and one repair.
4. Vocabulary poster: Make a mini poster with six key words from this course.

Standard

1. International project meeting: Role-play a two-minute meeting with two fictional speakers who have different first languages.
2. Clear email: Write an 80-word email that changes a meeting time and gives one reason.
3. Listening strategy: Watch one embedded video again and collect three useful communication strategies.
4. Mediation task: Explain a short German school message in simple English without translating every word.

Schwer

1. Communication experiment: Explain the same idea once with difficult words and once with simple words. Compare which version is easier to understand.
2. Feedback coach: Give a partner feedback using message, success, one target and try again.
3. Mini presentation: Give a two-minute talk about why clear international English is useful. Give two reasons.
4. Transfer project: Create a fictional internship situation with a misunderstanding, a clarification question and a successful solution.

Lernkontrolle

1. Repair strategy: A partner says something unclear about a meeting time. Show two different ways to solve the problem and explain which information you need.
2. Clear message: Rewrite a long, difficult school message in shorter and clearer English without losing the important information.
3. Speaking transfer: Plan a one-minute conversation between three fictional people with different first languages. Include an opinion, a reason and a clarification question.
4. Mediation transfer: Pass on a short German message in English. Keep only information that the listener really needs.
5. Feedback decision: Read a short learner dialogue and choose one communication success and one useful accuracy target for feedback.
6. Digital safety: Explain why fictional data and private recordings are useful in language-learning tasks.

Lernnachweis

For a learning record, show that you can:

1. understand the main idea in clear spoken English
2. ask for repetition or explanation
3. check important details such as time, number and place
4. give an opinion with a reason
5. speak clearly at a moderate speed
6. write a short structured message or email
7. mediate a simple message
8. improve one important grammar or wording problem
9. give simple helpful feedback
10. use fictional data and safe recording rules

Possible evidence:

1. one short role-play
2. one short written message
3. one mediation task
4. one self-check with two personal next steps

Verknüpfte Lernbereiche

Englisch als Lingua franca Hörverstehen Sprechen Schreiben Sprachmittlung Interkulturelle kommunikative Kompetenz Aussprache Wortschatz Feedback Digitale Sicherheit