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Have you ever wanted to ask your teacher something, but you didn't know how to say it?
Or maybe you asked:
“I don't understand.”
…and your teacher replied:
“What don't you understand?”
Now you have to explain what you don't understand. And suddenly, that feels even harder!
Learning how to ask better questions is an important part of learning English—and it can help you become a more confident student.
Instead of saying:
❌ “I don't understand.”
Try:
✅ “Could you explain that again, please?”
or
✅ “Could you give me another example?”
Instead of:
❌ “What is this?”
Try:
✅ “What does this word mean?”
or
✅ “How do I use this word in a sentence?”
Instead of:
❌ “Is this right?”
Try:
✅ “Could you check if my answer is correct?”
or, even better:
✅ “Could you explain why my answer is incorrect?”
Instead of:
❌ “How do you say this?”
Try:
✅ “How do you pronounce this word?”
or
✅ “What is this called in English?”
And don't be afraid to ask for clarification.
If your teacher asks you a question and you don't understand it, you can say:
“Could you repeat the question, please?”
“Could you say that more slowly?”
“What does that question mean?”
“Could you explain what you mean?”
These are not signs that you are a weak English learner.
They are signs that you are actively participating in your learning.
Remember:
There are no silly questions when you are learning.
A good question can help you understand a difficult idea, learn a new word, correct a mistake, or start an interesting conversation.
So next time you are in class, don't just say:
“I don't know.”
Try asking:
“Could you help me understand?”
That is a much better place to start.
— Faith
TEFL & TEYL Certified English Tutor
Hari
Aug 27, 2026
very insightfull, thank you