Thursday, October 13, 2011

Ask For Repetition

Today I'd like to talk about ways you can 1) ask someone to repeat something in a different way, and 2) checking that you have understood someone.

So, if I said to you, 'I'd like you to take this important document and transfer it to this file and then delete it from this hard drive,' you probably would feel confused, right?
What are some ways of saying, "Huh?"





Good answers! You've got the idea. One way is to say: 'I'm sorry. I didn't catch that.'

Here are some phrases. I'd like you to decide if they are 'asking for repetition' or 'checking that you've understood'. Put 'R' if it's asking for repetition, and put 'C' if it's checking for understanding.
1. I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that. ____
2. Can you go over that again? ____
3. So what you mean is ... ____
4. Would you mind saying that again? ____
5. In other words, you think … ____
6. What you’re getting at is … ____
7. Sorry, I didn’t follow that. ____
8. So your point is … ____



Excellent! Here are the answers. How did you do?
1. I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that. = R [means: ‘Please repeat’]
2. Can you go over that again? = R [means: ‘Please repeat’]
3. So what you mean is ... = C [means: ‘Am I right?’]
4. Would you mind saying that again? = R [means: ‘Please repeat’]
5. In other words, you think … = C [means: ‘Am I right?’]
6. What you’re getting at is … = C [means: ‘Am I right?’]
7. Sorry, I didn’t follow that. = R [means: ‘Please repeat’]
8. So your point is … = C [means: ‘Am I right?’]



Here are some other great expressions that you came up with:
* Just so we’re on the same page …
* Let me summarize …
* Let me check to make sure ….
* Let me double check …
* Can you help me understand better ….

Human Rights



http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/