Transcript Confirmation - Lanternfish ESL

Confirmation
Strategies for Clear
Communication
Review
• Strategies we’ve learned so far for the final
group discussion:
(1) Checking Comprehension
(2) Asking For Clarification
(3) Rephrasing
• Remember: Every time you use a strategy we
learned or use language we studied in class
you will get points on the final group
discussion.
This Week
• We are going to look at another good strategy
for maintaining clear communication:
Confirming What You Heard
When you confirm, you check to make sure
you understood what was said. Here are some
basic steps for confirming what you heard:
Step 1: Indicate You Want Confirmation
Step 2: Summarize What You heard
Step 3: Ask for Confirmation
Step 1: Indicate You
Want Confirmation
You can use these phrases to begin confirming
what you heard:
(So) Let me get this straight.
(So)Let me see if I understand you.
(So)Let me see if I understand what you’re
saying.
Step 1: Indicate You
Want Confirmation
• You can also just simply use the word ‘so’ to
begin the process of confirmation.
So . . .
Step 2: Summarize/Rephrase
What You Heard/Understood
• You can begin the process of rephrasing what
you heard with one of the following phrases:
You mean that . . .
You're saying that . . .
You're telling me that . . .
So what you mean is . . .
So what you are saying is . . .
So what you are trying to say is . . .
• If you are unsure of what your partner has
said:
Are you saying that . . . ?
Do you mean that . . .?
Are you telling me that . . . ?
Step 2: Summarize
What You Heard
And then you should do exactly what the title
says! Summarize what you heard. Try not to
rephrase too much or you may only make
matters worse (more confusing).
Step 3: Ask for Confirmation
• Finally, you should give your partner a chance
to confirm that you really did understand:
Right?
Is that right?
Is that correct?
Did I get that right?
Did I understand you correctly?
Here’s an example confirmation:
Exercise
Complete the confirmation writing exercise on
the handout.
In the next hour we will practice confirming
what our partners have said in a
communication activity.
Question 1
A: In my view, we need harsher laws to prevent
the spread of drugs in our society.
B: Let me get this straight. You think drug use is
increasing because the laws are too lenient on
drug users and dealers. Is that right?
Question 2
A: I feel that people should have the right to do
whatever they want, including drugs, so long
as they don't hurt other people
B: Let me see if I understand you. What you are
saying is the government should allow people
to use drugs if they don’t harm other people.
Did I get that right?
Question 3
A:I think that there should be a zero-tolerance
policy for drugs in our schools.
B: So are you saying that if a student gets
caught with drugs even once, they should be
kicked out? Is that right?
Question 4
A:Some people want to install video cameras in
the school to catch drug dealers but I am
against that because I think it violates the
students' right to privacy.
B: Let me get this straight. You’re saying that a
student’s right to privacy is more important
than stopping the spread of drugs in our
schools. Did I get that right?
Activity: Juicy Bake
We are going to do a role-play about a new
drug that is spreading in North American
communities: Juicy Bake.
Should it be illegal?
Juicy Bake is a very new drug but its use is
spreading quite quickly. Because it is so new,
it is not illegal yet. There have been no laws
made about it. Today, you will work in groups
to decide if it should be illegal or not.
• But before we can decide we must get some
information about Juicy Bake.
• Each student will be given a role-card. You
must memorize the role-card because it will
be taken away.
• Depending on your role-card, you might be a
doctor, sociologist, police officer, a victim, or a
user of Juicy Bake.
• You must talk to the other students and share
your information with them. You must also
gather information from them.
• You also have to practice confirming. In other
words, you will hear some information from
the other students and then you must confirm
that you understand what they said.
A sample interaction:
• Student 1: Hi, I’m a sociologist. I think Juicy Bake is
destructive for our society because it has been linked
to an increase in violence in families.
• Student 2: Let me see if I understand you. You are
saying you are against Juicy Bake because it harms
families. Is that correct?
• Student 1: Yes, that’s correct.
• Once you have gathered information you have
to go back into your groups and discuss
whether you think Juicy Bake should be illegal
or not.
• Your group will give a presentation next class.
The person presenting cannot be the same
person from the previous presentation.
Activity Summary
• (1) Memorize your role-card.
• (2) Gather information from other students
and confirm what you hear.
• (3) Work in groups to decide if Juicy Bake
should be illegal.
• (4) Present your discussion next class.