Express Lack of Understanding — English Bac Éco

Dans le programme du Bac Éco

English has a coefficient of 2 in the Bac Sciences Économiques stream, the same weight as Philosophy and Law. It sits behind the professional subjects (General Economics and Accounting, coefficient 6; Business Organisation, coefficient 3; Applied Mathematics, coefficient 4). The stream's grounding in institutions and collective behaviour makes the English themes on citizenship, organisations and development familiar ground.

À l'épreuve

Three parts: Reading Comprehension, Language, and Writing (about 180 words). Economics candidates are used to analysing collective phenomena and institutions, which helps on essay prompts about international organisations, brain drain or sustainable development — provided the answer stays in plain English, not economics jargon.

Objectifs d'apprentissage

Produce this function at the right register in a dialogue-completion task on the Bac Éco English paper (coefficient 2)
Use polite phrases to signal you do not understand (I'm sorry, I don't follow / I'm not quite sure I understand)
Ask for a repetition or a clarification (Could you repeat that, please? / What do you mean by…?)
Ask for a simpler rephrasing (Could you put it differently? / In other words…?)
Match the register to the situation (formal with a teacher, informal with friends)

Notions clés

Signalling that you do not understand

I'm sorry, I don't (quite) follow / I don't (quite) understand / I'm lost / I'm not sure I get what you mean. The register varies: “I'm lost” is informal, “I'm afraid I don't quite follow” is more formal.

Asking for a repetition or clarification

Could you repeat that, please? / Could you say that again? / What do you mean by…? / Could you explain what you mean by…?

Asking for a rephrasing

Could you put it differently? / Could you rephrase that? / In other words…? (also used to check your own understanding by restating what you heard).

Erreurs fréquentes

Using only “What?” in a formal written dialogue: it is too casual for most tested contexts (student–teacher, an interview).

Confusing repeat (say the same thing again) and rephrase (say the same thing in other, simpler words) — the exam often distinguishes the two.

Dropping the politeness marker (I'm sorry, I'm afraid) in a formal register before signalling a lack of understanding.

Exemple corrigé

Énoncé

Complete the dialogue in a way suited to the formal register: Teacher: “The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.” Student: “___ Could you explain that in simpler terms?”

Correction

Identify the register. A student–teacher dialogue calls for a polite, formal register.

Choose a suitable phrase. An apology followed by a signal of not understanding fits: “I'm sorry, I don't quite understand.”

Assemble the full turn. “I'm sorry, I don't quite understand. Could you explain that in simpler terms?”

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3 exercices pour t'entraîner

Exercice 1

Easy

Choose the most polite way to ask for a repetition: (What? / Could you repeat that, please? / Huh?)

Voir la correction

Could you repeat that, please? — the only polite phrase suited to formal writing.

Exercice 2

Medium

Distinguish: “Could you repeat that?” and “Could you put it differently?” — what is the difference in meaning?

Voir la correction

“Could you repeat that?” asks for exactly the same words again (you did not hear or catch it). “Could you put it differently?” asks for a rephrasing in other, often simpler words (you heard but did not follow the meaning).

Exercice 3

Hard

Write a full, polite turn in which a student asks their teacher to rephrase an overly technical physics explanation.

Voir la correction

“I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't quite follow. Could you put it in simpler terms, please?” — it combines a polite apology, a clear signal of not understanding, and a request for rephrasing (not just a repetition, since the problem is complexity, not volume).

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Questions fréquentes

Is this chapter really useful, when the Bac is a written exam?

These phrases are mainly for the written dialogue-completion tasks, but they also stay useful in real life (lessons, oral exams in other subjects, talking with English speakers) — one of the few chapters that transfers directly beyond the exam.

Which phrase is safest for all registers?

“I'm sorry, I don't quite understand. Could you explain that again?” works in almost every tested context, formal and semi-formal — polite without being over-formal.

Can I use “Pardon?” as in French?

Yes, but “Pardon?” (or “Sorry?”) in English is used on its own to signal you did not hear, a more informal register — for a fuller dialogue in the exam, a complete phrase (I'm sorry, could you repeat that?) is better.

How do I fit English revision around the economics and accounting subjects?

A short weekly session: one chapter (rule or word list, two examples), then a short paragraph. Focus especially on the society themes — citizenship, international organisations, development — which are close to your other subjects, and keep a model introduction and conclusion ready. A mark above your average is within reach.

Why learn a spoken function for a written Bac Éco exam?

Because it is tested in writing: dialogue-completion tasks ask for exactly these phrases at the right level of politeness. Keeping two or three set expressions per function, sorted by register, covers the task reliably.