What I’m trying to say is… (clarifying and explaining)

1. Think of reasons why people might fail or find it difficult to understand the information they are
being given in these situations. You can draw from your own experience.
• when reading a contract they need to sign • when listening to a report by a colleague
from another country
• when listening to a politician’s speech
• as a customer in a tax office
• during onboarding on their first day of
work

2. Choose the best words.

A. a: Please bring the documents tomorrow.
b: Could you be more specific/accurate/particular as to which documents?
B. a: Can you see the beech over there?
b: What do you mean by the beach? We’re in the forest.
a: Beech for/as/like in a tree.
C. a: Only/Just/Simply to be clear, do you want me to get up at five tomorrow?
b: I just think that if you get up at five you should have enough time to prepare for the trip.
D. a: We can’t apply for the grant this month.
b: I’m afraid I don’t follow/get/attend.
a: Well, the deadline for this month was yesterday, that/what/which is to say, we’ll need to apply
next month.
E. a: Just turn right at the lights and it’ll be on the left.
b: Sorry, I didn’t quite pick/grab/catch that. Did you say I should turn left?
F. a: If we don’t outsource some of the work, we won’t be able to meet the deadline.
b: Could you comment/elaborate/specify on that?

3. Complete the phrases in bold with one word each. Then, say which of the phrases can be used to
clarify, and which to ask for clarification. Some can be used in both situations.
A. a: See you all in the meeting tomorrow.
b: I really don’t think we all need to be there.
a: Let _________ rephrase that. Your absence might have severe consequences.
B. a: So what you’re saying _________ that I should stick to my old job.
b: No, I’m _________ to suggest that you take the job you’ve been offered.

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What I’m trying to say is… (clarifying and explaining)

C. a: Your colleague told me on the phone that I can just bring the documents here.
b: _________ I said, you’ll need to book an appointment first.
D. a: Is breakfast included in the room rate?
b: The website doesn’t mention it. In _________ words, we’ll need to find a place to eat.
E. a: I’m going to a concert tonight. Do you have any plans?
b: Why do you ask?
a: _________ I’m trying to say is that I would like you to come with me.
F. a: Didn’t you say the meeting was at two?
b: What I meant to say _________ , the meeting is at three but we need about an hour to prepare.

4. Think what might have made the people say the sentences (e.g. say what happened earlier or what
they might be talking about).
EXAMPLE: Like I said, I still have some questions for you.
A police officer was interrogating a suspect who
didn’t want to cooperate and was insisting on
leaving the police station.

A. Which is to say, the cake is better than it could have been.

B. I like Josh, as in my boss, not the waiter.
C. In other words, you finish it all or lose everything.
D. Just to be clear, regardless of your skill levels you’re welcome to join the team.
E. No, what I meant to say was, I wish we could go there together.
F. So what you’re saying is that you never believed she was innocent.
G. Could you be more specific as to who is going to lose their job?

5. Student A picks a situation and asks Student B for some information. Student B responds but
Student A is not always sure about what Student B means. In each situation Student A and Student B
should use at least two phrases in the boxes.
EXAMPLE: You are at a restaurant. Ask the waiter what Rocky Road is.
Student A: Could you tell me what Rocky Road is.
Student B: It’s chocolate flavoured ice cream with almonds or other nuts.

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What I’m trying to say is… (clarifying and explaining)

Student A: So what you’re saying is there are almonds in it.

Student B: What I meant to say was, that depends on what the chef adds.
Student A: Just to be clear, don’t your customers know what they’re getting? I don’t
think that’s safe.
Student B: Let me rephrase that. If you specify that you don’t want a certain type of
nut, you won’t get it.

CLARIFYING
ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION
…as in…
…as in…?
I’m trying to suggest that…
Could you be more specific as to…?
In other words,…
Could you elaborate on that?
Just to be clear,…
I didn’t quite catch that.
Let me rephrase that.
I’m afraid I don’t follow.
Like/As I said…
In other words,…?
What I meant to say was…
Just to be clear,…?
What I’m trying to say is…
So what you’re saying is…
…which is to say…

A. You are at a hotel. You want to stay two nights longer than planned. Talk to the receptionist.
B. Your flight has been delayed. Ask customer support for more information.
C. You’re not sure what the deadline is for the report you are writing. Ask your manager.
D. You're shopping for home improvement supplies and you're not sure which type of paintbrush to
use for a specific project. Ask a member of staff for clarification.
E. You're on a train and you're not sure if it's the correct one for your destination. Ask another
passenger for clarification.
F. In a job interview, the interviewer mentions a company policy that you'd like more information
about. Ask for clarification.

6. Discuss what you think the people mean and say whether you agree.

“If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”

Albert Einstein, Nobel laureate in Physics

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What I’m trying to say is… (clarifying and explaining)

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large
matter—it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”
Mark Twain, author

7. Look at some strategies to explain things well and discuss the questions below.

using analogies providing examples establishing clear definitions

addressing potential counter-arguments using visual aids using metaphors

• Which of the strategies do you use most often to explain your point of view? Which are the most
effective?
• Which of the strategies would you use in the following situations? Why?
− you are giving a lecture to a group of students
− you are discussing social issues with a friend
− you are trying to convince a potential customer to choose your company’s services
− you are at a job interview and want to explain what your previous job entailed
− you are trying to convince a friend not to move away
• What are some other strategies to explain yourself better?
• Would you agree that expressing your views clearly is a highly valuable skill? Why/Why not?

8. You are going to present your point of view on one of the issues below. Choose an issue, make notes
on three arguments that you want to elaborate on and think how you can use some of the strategies
in ex 7.
• a cultural trend, e.g. influencer marketing, eco-conscious consumerism
• an ethical dilemma, e.g. the use of facial recognition technology, assisted suicide
• the significance of a scientific breakthrough, e.g. the development of gene editing technology, the
development of AI
• the laws and regulations on a debatable subject, e.g. free university education, smoking

9. Have a conversation with your partner. Present your point of view and your arguments and let your
partner respond and ask for clarification when necessary. Then, swap roles.
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