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.