Confirm to Understand.
By Georgina Palencia.
At Spanish Perfecto, every article I write comes directly from what I observe in class. This time, it was a conversation with Breanna, one of our most dedicated and curious students, that sparked the idea.
We were chatting about her weekend, and I noticed that she avoided asking questions when she didn’t fully understand something. Instead, she just nodded and went along with the conversation. When I asked her why, she said: “I don’t want to interrupt. I feel a bit embarrassed not understanding.” That moment made me realize how many students probably feel the same way. So today, I want to share 4 practical and powerful strategies for confirming comprehension when speaking Spanish.
Asking for clarification isn’t just helpful—it’s essential if you want to learn Spanish through conversation. Here are the four strategies we encourage all our students to internalize:
- The classic “¿Puedes repetir, por favor?”
Simple and polite. Asking someone to repeat shows you’re actively listening and want to understand better. - Paraphrasing what you understood:
Phrases like “Lo que quieres decir es…” followed by your own version of what you think the other person meant. This is incredibly useful—it helps both speakers make sure the message is clear. - Repeating what you got and highlighting what you didn’t:
For example: “¿Que fuiste ayer a… dónde?” or “¿Viste la película… cuál?” This keeps the flow of the conversation while focusing only on the missing part. - Asking directly about a confusing word:
Sometimes, one unknown word blocks your understanding. Try asking: “¿Qué significa ‘charla’?” Identifying and clearing up that one term can unlock the whole sentence.
These comprehension-checking strategies are much more than just tricks—they’re tools for linguistic autonomy. They help create smoother, more confident, and more authentic communication. They also empower the learner by giving them control over their learning process. At Spanish Perfecto, we believe learning Spanish isn’t just about memorizing rules, but about interacting with confidence.
If you’ve ever felt like Breanna, remember that asking questions and checking what you hear doesn’t make you “less” of a speaker—it makes you more aware, more active, and
more effective. Practice these strategies in your daily conversations, and you’ll see how your Spanish listening and understanding improve significantly.
Would you like more examples or exercises to practice these strategies?
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