The following useful language may come handy. Asking for Clarification

Asking for Clarification

ü I don’t quite follow you. Do you mean…?

ü I’m not quite with you. Are you saying …?

ü What do you mean by that exactly?

ü I don’t get it. Can you run me through it once again?

ü You’ve lost me. Can we go back a little?

ü Care to explain?

ü What are you driving at?

ü Would you like to elaborate?

Offering Clarification

ü OK, there’s the thinking behind it…

ü What I’m actually saying is…

ü Here’s what I mean: …

ü My point is…

Acknowledging Clarification

ü I see (what you mean).

ü Ah. Right.

ü Fair enough.

ü I see what you are getting at.

ü I see where you are coming from.

v Creative Writing

Read the rubric below and do the assignment.

You recently passed examination after a great deal of hard work and were unpleasantly surprised to read in the national newspaper that learning standards are failing. Passing an exam has become an easy thing: students need neither the hard work nor the luck – they just have to turn up and they will pass.

You have now decided to write to the editor of the newspaper expressing your views detailing what you have to do in order to achieve your success. (Use the Thematic Vocabulary).

v Test Your Knowledge of Vocabulary