Speaking: Asking for Clarification and Checking Understanding
Asking for clarification is the central B1 functional-speaking skill that lets learners recover from any communication breakdown. The worksheet covers phrases for repeating (Sorry, could you repeat that?), confirming (Did you say…?), rephrasing (In other words…), and checking that the listener has understood (Does that make sense? Are you with me so far?). Learners build the metacommunication skill that distinguishes confident communicators from passive ones.
This worksheet builds B1 speaking fluency with clarification phrases.
Worksheet preview
What’s inside:
- A phrase bank organised by clarification function (repeat, confirm, rephrase, check)
- Dialogue completion: choose the appropriate clarification phrase
- Role-play scenarios: practice clarifying in workplace and everyday contexts
- Multiple-choice on register and politeness levels
- Teacher Notes with intonation guidance
Common challenges: Politeness in clarification at B1 — What? Eh? Huh? sound rude; Sorry, could you say that again? is polite. Confirming without sounding doubtful: Just to confirm, you said…. Cultural variation: explicit comprehension-checking is more common in English than in many L1s.
For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B1, in intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study with a partner. Maps onto Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) Speaking. Part of the Functional English collection — the natural next step is Expressing Opinions: Phrases.
