Asking for clarification is a skill, not a weakness. A polite phrase, used once, gets you the question you need and lets you answer it well.
This lesson follows speaking clearly without memorised scripts in the speaking interview section.
Which phrases do I use?
| Situation | Phrases |
|---|---|
| You did not hear the question | Sorry, could you repeat that, please? / Could you say that again, please? |
| You do not know a word | Sorry, what does “commute” mean? / Could you explain that word, please? |
| You want to check you understood | Do you mean how I travel to school? / Are you asking about last year or this year? |
Keep the phrase short, say it calmly and then answer. A long apology wastes time and makes you more nervous.
Worked example: a short dialogue
Here is an original exchange.
Interviewer: How do you usually commute to school?
Student: Sorry, what does “commute” mean, please?
Interviewer: It means how you travel to school.
Student: I see, thank you. I go to school by bus because it is cheap. The bus stop is a short walk from my house.
The student asked once, got the meaning and gave a full answer with a reason and a detail. The exchange took a few seconds.
Clarifying your own answer
Sometimes the interviewer asks, “What do you mean?” Do not repeat the same sentence. Try one of these:
- Say it in simpler words: “I mean I like quiet places.”
- Give an example: “For example, the library or my grandmother’s garden.”
- Check: “Is that clearer?”
A common mistake
Some students stay silent, or answer a question they did not understand. The answer then wanders off the topic.
Fix it by asking early and asking briefly. One calm question costs a few seconds, while a wrong answer wastes the whole turn.
Check yourself
The interviewer says: “Do you have any siblings, and how do they influence you?” You are unsure about “influence”. What do you say, and how do you answer after the meaning is explained?
Answer
Say: “Sorry, what does ‘influence’ mean, please?” The interviewer explains that it means how your siblings change what you do or think.
Then answer: “I have one older sister. She influences me because she studies hard, so I try to follow her example. Last month she helped me plan my revision.”
What to study next
After clarifying, you still need to fill the thinking time. Continue with reducing long pauses with planning phrases, or test yourself on the speaking interview practice.
For a teacher to rehearse these moments with you, see online one-to-one English tuition.