This is an All Ears English podcast episode 1591.
A more confident way to check your understanding in English.
Welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times.
Are you feeling stuck with your English?
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With your American hosts Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl.
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Understanding is a two way street.
Today, get new and high level ways to make sure you understand what you're hearing and further the conversation in a smart way.
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Hey, Michelle, how's it going?
Hey Lindsay, I'm good, I'm good.
How are you?
Oh my gosh, I've been busy lately.
I've been traveling, lots of things going on, but life is good.
No complaints, no complaints.
Good, good.
Yes, me too.
I've been with some family, so that's been good.
But it's like interesting getting back into traveling, like getting used to that again.
Yes.
Yeah.
What's your favorite thing about getting back into it?
What are you experiencing when it comes to traveling?
Well, I'm really just driving, so I haven't been on a flight like you.
But just getting back into the swing of things,
I don't know.
How about you?
Yeah, the movement.
I don't know what it is.
Something about physical movement, moving around the country, around the world really invigorates me.
It makes me feel like...
I don't know.
It's just so refreshing.
It just made, I love it.
I love it.
So I know that you know we can't quite travel all over the world at this point, but we could travel within our own country a little bit.
And you know, I you know in May.
Well, in a couple of weeks I'm planning to take a trip to Arkansas and do a little workcation over there.
Oh, nice.
Well, that's good.
Yeah, I'm going to explore our country a little bit, which is one thing that's come out of this pandemic is a chance to explore our own country.
You know what I mean?
Right, right.
And I think, yeah, the two of us, well, no, you did a lot of exploring of the country before.
Yeah, for sure.
I'm mostly headed out.
Like, so now, yeah, it is kind of this.
Okay, well, let's see.
What can we do here?
There's a lot.
For sure.
There's a lot.
There's a lot.
So what are we getting into today, Michelle?
What are we talking about?
Okay, well, I'm really excited for this episode.
So this is a follow up on episode 1576, which was how to understand a fast technical explanation in English.
And guys, this was a conversation about our conversation and coffee program.
Yeah.
And we had a whole episode where we had a clip.
And in this episode, we were talking about recycling and composting.
And Lindsay, you came up with this great idea.
Yeah.
One of the things that came up was this idea of rephrasing and rewording to show that you understand.
So guys, listen to 1576 to definitely hear more.
Get the whole clip and hear more about what we're talking about.
So today we're going to get... really deep into this as far as speaking goes as well.
Definitely.
This is such a connection skill Michelle, because to be able to first of all show that you understood is huge.
People want to be understood, right?
And when you can show that and you can bring it back to them, they know that you're right there with them in that conversation.
Especially, I mean, to if somebody is putting time into explaining something, right?
So like, especially like we were talking about, you know, technical explanations.
Somebody is taking the time to do that.
You know, you want to really be on the other end and either if you don't understand, ask more.
Or show that you understand, right?
So it's very important to really also for you to double check that you have the right information right.
Yeah, especially if it is long-winded and technical, like you said.
That kind of situation we need to make sure we keep up.
Keep up.
Definitely, definitely.
I mean, you can say things like I get it or I see, but this doesn't necessarily help you out.
We want to give you the tools to help, you know, to also give you a little bit of an extra hand in showing.
Okay, I just want to make sure that I understand.
And instead of saying, oh, like...
Is it this or that?
Right now we have a lot of different ways to do it.
So this is just as much for you as for the other person, right?
As for the connection, it's for your own understanding to have a better conversation a few minutes later.
Right.
So this is like really a double whammy, guys.
This is important for everybody.
So huge connection scale.
So let's talk about it.
So you were explaining composting or recycling and how it links to how you want to have this healthy lifestyle.
And here is where I rephrased and reworded.
So I said, so were you just kind of encouraged?
Were you like if I have to compost more?
And then you were like I want to do it more and I'll be healthy.
Yes.
It sounds so funny just to read it like it's a play.
Definitely.
Guys go back to 1576 to listen to that episode to get more details on what we're talking about here.
But what you did here Michelle, is you chimed in to check to make sure that you are on the same mind track as I was when I was explaining that kind of right.
Exactly.
And it also, it showed that I was interested.
Yes.
Right?
Instead of just, oh, okay, like, that's what it is, right?
It showed that I was interested.
It showed that I understood.
Or you could have said and this could be a follow-up episode you could have said oh no actually no no no, it's really this right.
So maybe you know, we should do a follow-up on how to – if somebody is giving you one of the answers, how does a –?
No, I actually meant this.
Yes, that would be great.
That'd be another great episode.
Let's write that down as an idea.
I love it.
And it also showed that I wanted to hear more, right?
Because I was asking you, I said, yeah, right?
And it just kind of, I don't know, it showed that I was intrigued.
Yes, so good.
And so how did you do it, Michelle?
What exactly technically did you do here?
So I really, I asked a question.
I mean, it kind of seems like a worded in a little bit of a strange way, but it really was a question.
And I, in my question, I was applying daily life, right?
I put it into contexts.
So I was kind of trying to say, oh, so is this, so you felt this way.
So you gave the technical explanation.
And then I said, so this is how you felt.
And this is how it applied to your life.
Yes, I love that.
And again.
Maybe we should repeat again what you said Michelle, just so that they can kind of catch up.
Okay, it's embarrassing, I guess.
OK, so I said, all right, I'll try and put on my best Michelle invitation.
OK, so were you just kind of encouraged?
Were you like if I have to compost more?
And then you were like I want to do it more and I'll be healthy.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, you're kind of taking an extra step.
Like, I could tell because you were talking to me because I was trying to explain.
I could tell that you really cared about understanding.
So that's huge.
Right.
Right, right, right.
Exactly.
So, guys, today we're going to talk about more ways to do this.
How you can show someone that you understand.
And prove to yourself right, so that two-way street I guess I can call it that you understood correctly.
So all of this is generally about the idea of rephrasing what you understood in different ways.
Yes.
We're going to talk about how to do that.
Exciting.
Understanding is a two-way street.
I like that.
That's a good little soundbite.
That sounds like a good title.
Good soundbite.
I love it.
So good.
Okay, Michelle, so then what do we need to know to understand how to do this?
Okay, good.
So, right.
So I mean the general ones.
I mentioned a little bit saying things like I get it, I see or gotcha.
So you can put those first, and then you can add some more.
So, and sometimes we use a question intonation, but sometimes...
Because I guess I said, oh, mine was kind of a question, right?
Sometimes it's more of a statement to sound confident and show you understand, right?
For sure.
I mean, so what's one thing you can do, Lindsay?
Okay, so this expression, you know, this idea of kind of, so for example, giving an example.
So you're kind of throwing out an example to make sure you understand.
And you say, so for example, blah, blah, blah.
Right, right, right.
Should we do a little role play on that?
Yeah, let's show our listeners a role play.
Here we go.
Okay.
Okay.
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So go over to allearsenglishcom forward slash fluency score to start your quiz.
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All right, so that's why all around commute times are totally different depending on the city.
Gotcha.
So for example, New York trains, New York's trains are busier than the trains in DC.
And that leads to different commute times.
Definitely.
You got it.
Okay, so I'm like extending what you're saying.
And we're working together to build kind of an argument here.
Exactly.
I have I made that up.
I have no idea.
But all of these are made up technical explanations, guys.
But yeah, exactly.
So that's the kind of one strategy, this idea of giving an example.
So give an example to show you understand.
Yes, so good.
So that's the first one.
And then there's another thing we can say and do.
For giving examples.
So the second one is okay.
So it's basically well, I mean, it's kind of an example, but not necessarily.
I would call this like boiling it down.
Let's say boiling it down.
Okay, that's the boiling it down category.
I love that expression.
Yeah.
Okay, so it's basically, right?
All right, here we go, Michelle.
Let's show an example.
That lifestyle will help people function in such better ways.
Okay, so it's basically healthy lifestyle, good sleep, and me time.
That's right.
Okay, very nice.
So yeah, so boiling it down, just boiling it down to its essential parts of the argument, of what you're trying to say.
Exactly.
And then the next thing is asking questions or making statements in context.
So for example, so blank leads X to do Y.
So you're saying, so this thing leads, right?
So let's give an example.
Okay.
And that's why there's been such a fluctuation in the sales.
Okay, I see.
So the clients lead their friends to more information.
Right.
Okay, so blank leads X to do Y. That's very high level.
Feels like it would be useful in the business world.
Yeah.
So you're saying so what it basically how every this is kind of connecting things as well.
Yes, I would say so.
Yeah, so blank leads X to do Y. So you're showing the cause and effect in a way.
Exactly, exactly.
Okay, let's do another one.
Okay, compare or contrast.
Here's an example.
So this is the same as, or this is different from, or this is similar to X, okay?
Mm-hmm.
So this is another way that you can show, test your understanding, all right?
So let's put this into a role play.
Okay, so you would press the blue button after you've gone through the whole list twice.
I understand.
So this is the same as what we do in the JazzUp software.
Exactly.
Yeah.
So this could be useful, guys, in some kind of a training.
If you're being trained for your job and you see a connection and you want to make sure that that connection is true and correct, you can use this.
Okay.
Right.
Exactly.
Or if you are the one doing the explaining, you know always just saying okay, this is like this right.
This compare and contrast.
Yeah.
Well, wow, Michelle, we have a lot of these here.
A lot of listeners are getting a lot of great.
I know.
I didn't realize how many.
How many I have.
We could do a follow-up or should we keep it going?
Maybe let's do one more and then we'll wrap it up.
What do you think?
Let's do one more.
I agree.
So the last one we're going to do for today is to ask a new but connected question to lead to further conversation.
OK, so one expression you could use is I see.
So in the future.
Right.
So you're kind of using a connection.
You're projecting something into the view.
Here we go.
So so the consumption of meat has been completely different over the past 10 months.
I see.
So in the future, it will continue to fluctuate?
I think so.
Okay, good.
So you've learned something.
And now you're saying, what does this mean in your mind for the next step, for the future?
So good. wow, this is very high level.
Yeah, guys.
I mean, this is very, very important stuff, right?
So when someone is giving you some sort of explanation to make it that two-way street to because, instead of saying I'm not exactly sure, is this what it means?
This is kind of a confident way Way to secretly be checking, if you understand.
Yes, right.
We don't have to just say, you know, did you say this or did you mean this?
There's a lot of very articulate and confident ways, like you said Michelle, to check your understanding but also further the connection and intellectual discussion.
Right?
Exactly.
Yeah.
So instead of that just sounding, oh, I don't know, right?
This you know, just put.
If you think you have an idea, just put it out there.
Use one of these strategies, put it out there.
And then if you're wrong, the person will say it.
And that's fine.
So of course, it's also okay to do it the other way.
But this is kind of I don't know.
I feel like you're projecting a little bit more confidence.
It's smart.
I think I do this a lot actually in a way, because it's kind of a way.
It is a way of not looking like you don't know what you're talking about, making sure you don't.
If you're confused that you don't show that and you get that clear clarification and then you move on like you don't stop the whole conversation and say what I don't get it or you know what I mean.
Right right, right.
Exactly.
So it's just a different way, like a more confident way to check for understanding.
And the worst that happens is they tell you, oh, no, actually, it's this.
And then Okay, that's fine.
Like that's not a big deal.
Just if you think, if you think you have any idea what they're talking about, try one of these strategies, put it out there and let them tell you if that's correct or not.
Yeah, true.
Although sometimes, a lot of times, I notice that people just say yeah or they say exactly, when you're not right.
Nowadays, you know what I mean?
When they respond to you, yeah, exactly.
Yeah, totally.
Right.
But you're not necessarily correct.
That's the only problem.
But that's another episode for another day, Michelle, I think.
Yeah, that's an interesting point.
So Michelle, before we finish up today, where can our listeners go to find out their fluency score?
Guys, go to allearsenglish.com slash fluency score.
There you can take a short quiz and you will really get your base fluency. fluency level.
So you know, where are you right now?
And then you can get resources that are directly for you, perfect for you and your level.
Exactly.
You have to know where you're starting to know how to get to where you want to go.
That's the key.
So guys, today has been a really good way for you, a very high level.
Smart sounding way for you to clarify, make sure you understand what you're hearing, and continue that conversation.
Don't stop the conversation and draw a lot of attention to yourself if you're not quite sure.
This is a way to do it and keep it going.
Okay?
Very smart.
Exactly.
Well, this was fun.
Yeah.
Rephrase.
You don't have to necessarily summarize.
Use these different techniques.
Show you're interested.
Prove you understand.
So try these out in your next conversation where someone's giving you an explanation.
Excellent.
Sounds good, Michelle.
Thanks for hanging out today.
Thanks, Lindsay.
Have a good one.
Bye.
Bye.
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