i am an ESL teacher. I am working through this worksheet with my student:

""Copyrights by ESL Brains. For use only with license.
What I’m trying to say is… (clarifying and explaining)
B2/C1
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 politician’s speech
• during onboarding on their first day of
work
• when listening to a report by a colleague
from another country
• as a customer in a tax office
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?
Once students have finished the task, ask them which of the phrases can be used to clarify and which
to ask for clarification (some can be used for both).
Phrases to clarify: …which is to say…, …as in…, Just to be clear…
Phrases to ask for clarification: Could you be more specific?, …as in…?, Just to be clear…?, I’m afraid I
don’t follow., I didn’t quite catch that., Could you elaborate 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.
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Copyrights by ESL Brains. For use only with license.
What I’m trying to say is… (clarifying and explaining)
B2/C1
Phrases to clarify: Let me rephrase that., I’m trying to suggest that…, Like/As I said…, What I’m trying
to say is…, What I meant to say was…
Phrase to ask for clarification: So what you’re saying is…
Phrase to clarify or ask for clarification: In other words…
A. a: See you all in the meeting tomorrow.
b: I really don’t think we all need to be there.
a: Let me rephrase that. Your absence might have severe consequences.
B. a: So what you’re saying is that I should stick to my old job.
b: No, I’m trying to suggest that you take the job you’ve been offered.
C. a: Your colleague told me on the phone that I can just bring the documents here.
b: Like/As 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 other 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: What 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 was, 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.
Copyrights by ESL Brains. For use only with license.
What I’m trying to say is… (clarifying and explaining)
B2/C1
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.
Ask students to take turns starting the dialogues.
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.
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.
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.
CLARIFYING
…as in…
I’m trying to suggest that…
In other words,…
Just to be clear,…
Let me rephrase that.
Like/As I said…
What I meant to say was…
What I’m trying to say is…
…which is to say…
ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION
…as in…?
Could you be more specific as to…?
Could you elaborate on that?
I didn’t quite catch that.
I’m afraid I don’t follow.
In other words,…?
Just to be clear,…?
So what you’re saying is…
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Copyrights by ESL Brains. For use only with license.
What I’m trying to say is… (clarifying and explaining)
B2/C1
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.
7. Look at some strategies to explain things well and discuss the questions below.
• 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?
using analogies providing examples establishing clear definitions
addressing potential counter-arguments using visual aids using metaphors
“If you can’t explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”
Albert Einstein, Nobel laureate in Physics
“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
Copyrights by ESL Brains. For use only with license.
What I’m trying to say is… (clarifying and explaining)
B2/C1
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.
This worksheet includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. It’s only
available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. The task with the answer key is below, while the
students’ version is on the last page. Print it, cut it up and hand it out to your students.
Use one of the phrases in brackets to react to the statement.
While checking the task, you can ask students to listen to their partner’s reactions to the statements
and add an extra statement to each using the phrase that was not used. For example:
Statement: Do you think I should call the customer now or when we finish? (like I said…, in other
words…)
Reaction: Like I said, in my experience it’s better to keep customers informed. So I would call her and
explain what the situation is.
Extra statement: I’ll do that. In other words, I’ll call her and say we won’t miss the deadline after all.
EXAMPLE: Do you think I should call the customer now or when we finish? (like I said…, in other
words…)
Like I said, in my experience it’s better to keep customers informed. So I would call
her and explain what the situation is.
Possible answers:
A. I’m afraid the warranty has expired. (just to be clear…, I’m trying to suggest…)
Just to be clear, you’re not going to fix my laptop?
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Copyrights by ESL Brains. For use only with license.
What I’m trying to say is… (clarifying and explaining)
B2/C1
B. I thought you said you would quit your job. (which is to say…, so what you’re saying…)
No, I said I was considering it, which is to say, I still haven’t made up my mind.
C. Could you bring the boxes inside? (as in…, as I said…)
As in into the house or into the garage?
D. Should we throw him a birthday party? (which is to say…, what I’m trying to say…)
He hates parties, which is to say, we shouldn’t.
E. Here is a list of tasks you need to address today. (more specific as to…, what I meant to say…)
Could you be more specific as to which tasks are a priority?
F. What exactly do you mean when you say no one is irreplaceable? (let me rephrase, as in…)
Let me rephrase that. I think that there are many smart people who are willing to learn new skills.
G. All I’m saying is you should quit smoking. (in other words…, which is to say…)
In other words, you want me to suffer the agony of quitting nicotine.
Copyrights by ESL Brains. For use only with license.
What I’m trying to say is… (clarifying and explaining)
Use one of the phrases in brackets to react to the statement.
EXAMPLE: Do you think I should call the customer now or when we finish? (like I said…, in other
words…)
Like I said, in my experience it’s better to keep customers informed. So I would call
her and explain what the situation is.
A. I’m afraid the warranty has expired. (just to be clear…, I’m trying to suggest…)
B. I thought you said you would quit your job. (which is to say…, so what you’re saying…)
C. Could you bring the boxes inside? (as in…, as I said…)
D. Should we throw him a birthday party? (which is to say…, what I’m trying to say…)
E. Here is a list of tasks you need to address today. (more specific as to…, what I meant to say…)
F. What exactly do you mean when you say no one is irreplaceable? (let me rephrase, as in…)
G. All I’m saying is you should quit smoking. (in other words…, which is to say…)
Use one of the phrases in brackets to react to the statement.
EXAMPLE: Do you think I should call the customer now or when we finish? (like I said…, in other
words…)
Like I said, in my experience it’s better to keep customers informed. So I would call
her and explain what the situation is.
A. I’m afraid the warranty has expired. (just to be clear…, I’m trying to suggest…)
B. I thought you said you would quit your job. (which is to say…, so what you’re saying…)
C. Could you bring the boxes inside? (as in…, as I said…)
D. Should we throw him a birthday party? (which is to say…, what I’m trying to say…)
E. Here is a list of tasks you need to address today. (more specific as to…, what I meant to say…)
F. What exactly do you mean when you say no one is irreplaceable? (let me rephrase, as in…)
G. All I’m saying is you should quit smoking. (in other words…, which is to say…)""

Please stay on standby for any questions please.