Paraphrasing and checking you understood — Communication skills for students
Paraphrasing means saying the same meaning in your own words. It is the best way to check that you understood. When Ma’am says “Bring your art file and two pencils on Monday,” you can say “So, art file and two pencils on Monday?” If you got it right, she says yes; if you got it wrong, she can fix it before Monday. Nodding without understanding or guessing what someone meant leads to mix-ups.
Say it back to check — “your words, the same meaning, every detail”
Checks understanding: repeating the steps back, asking “Do you mean…?”, writing the task down, asking for an example, saying it in your words.
Skips checking: nodding without knowing, guessing what they meant, pretending you got it, staying quiet when lost, hoping for the best.
A correct paraphrase keeps every detail: “Practice is at 7 AM at the big ground.” → “7 AM, big ground — got it.” A wrong one changes them: “7 PM at the small ground?”
Use it for: Homework instructions, errands for parents, practice times, and when a friend shares a problem.
Worked example: 🔁 Correct or wrong paraphrase? Coach: “Practice is at 7 AM at the big ground.” You: “7 PM at the small ground?” → a wrong paraphrase
The coach said 7 AM and the big ground; the reply says 7 PM and the small ground.
So this is a wrong paraphrase.
Check: Try it: the next time you get an instruction, say it back in your own words and see if the speaker says “yes” ✓
Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.
Right: 0 · Tried: 0
🏁 Lesson 10 test
20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.
🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the
🔁 Paraphrase Pro badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 6 lessons of
Part 2 · Listening. You can still take the test without signing in.
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