Checking understanding

In this video, Paul has problems understanding Bob. Listen to the language they use for checking understanding and practise saying the useful phrases.

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.

Transcript

Ana: Hi, I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say!

 

Do you know what to say when you want to check your understanding? Listen out for useful language for checking your understanding. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.

 

Bob: This isn't right. Hey! Excuse me, Paul, could you pass me the hammer?

Paul: Sorry, Bob, my ears are blocked. I can't hear you very well. Could you say that again, please?

Bob: The hammer. Please could you pass it to me?

Paul: The spanner?

Bob: No. The hammer! 

Paul: Sorry, Bob, I don't understand. This is the spanner! 

Bob: No, Paul, I need the hammer. It's in the toolbox, on the left, under the scissors.

Paul: Sorry, Bob. Could you repeat that more slowly, please? 

Bob: The hammer … in the toolbox … on the left … under the scissors.

Paul: On the left … under the scissors … Oh! Do you mean the hammer? Is this it?

Bob: Yes, that's right! 

Paul: Ah! Why didn't you say so?

Bob: I did! 

 

Ana: Hello again! Oh dear. I think Paul needs to go home and sleep. So, did you notice the useful phrases used for checking your understanding? Listen to me and then repeat.

 

I'm sorry?

I can't hear you very well.

Could you say that again, please?

I don't understand.

Can you repeat that more slowly, please?

Do you mean the hammer?

Is this it?

Yes, that's right! 

 

Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you want to check your understanding in English. Bye for now! 

Discussion

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Average: 4.5 (434 votes)
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Submitted by Bouziene_Nacef on Tue, 05/04/2022 - 13:11

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Thanks British Council !!!!!!!

Submitted by sinilidoch on Mon, 04/04/2022 - 08:21

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yeah, this video is so usefull, thanks for course.

Submitted by emohammid on Fri, 01/04/2022 - 20:55

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of course it is helpful and improve my level of English , thank you a lot

Submitted by a.seyeddokht on Thu, 10/02/2022 - 23:37

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Yes, it's really useful, it's good for my listening.
Thanks a lot.

Submitted by omarghareeb on Sat, 05/02/2022 - 14:26

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Yes, its a useful video. Thanks!

Submitted by jyoti Chaudhary on Mon, 24/01/2022 - 15:05

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Hello, I'm very happy to join this course. I would like to learn new things. I'm very weak in the English language that is the reason why I spent too much time in this course. Well, I use these phrases in my daily conversation. That would be a great help. Thank you so much.

Submitted by lemagefrancis on Fri, 21/01/2022 - 14:45

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It is a very useful video. I really like it. Nice job

Submitted by lobello291 on Fri, 21/01/2022 - 01:56

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Yes, its a useful video. Thanks!

Submitted by rivergirls on Wed, 19/01/2022 - 17:28

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Hello there,
Could you please answer what is wrong with playing this video?
When I try to enable it, this site write me connection error. What is the mistake?

Hello rivergirls,

I'm sorry to hear you're having problems with the video. I've checked to see it is working and I don't see any issue, so the problem must be a local one related to your system, device or local service provider. You could test these by checking to see if the video will play on a different device, for example, or by adjusting your multimedia settings in your browser. Beyond that, we can't help you with a local issue.

Please note that even if you can't play a video on our pages you can often find the video on YouTube by searching for the name of the video ('Checking understanding') and 'British Council'. For example, this video can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arqtXCswh_I

Peter
The LearnEnglish Team