Dutch conversation skill · original speaking practice
Ask someone to repeat in Dutch
A precise repair request is easier to answer than only saying wat? Tell the speaker whether you need the whole sentence, one word, slower speech or a different explanation, then confirm what you understood.
Build the interaction, not a memorized speech
Start with a brief apology only when the setting calls for it, then identify the repair. In a noisy station you may need the platform number; in class you may need the meaning of one term.
After the repetition, say the information back. Confirmation closes the repair and reveals whether the difficulty was speed, vocabulary, sound or a mistaken assumption.
Six Dutch phrases with a clear function
Sorry, kunt u dat herhalen?
Sorry, could you repeat that?
Kunt u iets langzamer spreken?
Could you speak a little more slowly?
Welk woord zei u na 'afspraak'?
Which word did you say after 'appointment'?
Kunt u het op een andere manier uitleggen?
Could you explain it in another way?
Bedoelt u dat ik morgen moet bellen?
Do you mean that I should call tomorrow?
Dus de trein vertrekt van spoor acht, klopt dat?
So the train leaves from platform eight, is that correct?
Read each Dutch phrase once, cover the English meaning and adapt one detail. Then combine two phrases inside a complete turn so the listener hears both purpose and relevant information.
Original dialogue model
- Speaker A: Uw afspraak is verplaatst naar donderdag om half drie.
- Speaker B: Sorry, kunt u het tijdstip herhalen?
- Speaker A: Donderdag om half drie.
- Speaker B: Dus donderdag om veertien uur dertig, klopt dat?
- Speaker A: Ja, precies.
- Speaker B: Dank u, dan noteer ik dat.
Do not memorize the dialogue. Mark what each turn does—open, clarify, react, propose or confirm—then replace the setting and details while preserving those functions.
Adapt the same skill from A2 to B2
A2
request repetition and confirm one concrete detail.
B1
identify the missing part and ask for a rephrasing.
B2
diagnose an ambiguity and compare two possible interpretations.
Four mistakes that weaken this interaction
- Saying alleen nog een keer without identifying what was missed.
- Pretending to understand and discovering the error later.
- Repeating the same request louder when the issue is vocabulary.
- Apologizing so long that the original information disappears from memory.
Four recording drills
- Round 1: Create repair requests for a date, address, price and instruction.
- Round 2: Listen to a sentence and pretend only one word was unclear.
- Round 3: Confirm the repeated detail using different words or number format.
- Round 4: Record a dialogue with two different repair types and a clear closure.
Repair language is a core speaking skill, not evidence of failure. In real interaction, the successful outcome is shared information. In practice, vary what you request so kunt u dat herhalen does not become your only tool.
- The listener can identify my purpose within two sentences.
- I include the detail needed for a useful response.
- I react to the previous turn instead of delivering an unrelated script.
- My final turn requests, confirms or closes something clearly.
- I repeat once after naming one specific improvement.
Frequently asked questions
Should I memorize all six phrases?
No. Learn what each phrase does, then change the person, time, place, reason or requested action. Flexible retrieval matters more than reproducing this page.
Can I use this for an exam?
You can use the speaking method as supplementary practice. For current format, timing, scoring and official examples, use the responsible official exam organization.
Does the web page record my voice?
No. The public page displays material only. Use a local recorder, the iPhone app or a teacher workflow if you want to review audio.
Carry the skill into a complete recorded answer
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