Express Lack of Understanding — English Bac Lettres

Dans le programme du Bac Lettres

English is a major subject in the Bac Lettres stream, with a coefficient of 4 — second only to Arabic Language (coefficient 7) and ahead of History-Geography and Philosophy (coefficient 3). There is no Mathematics in the stream. The high coefficient raises the bar: richer vocabulary, more developed argumentative writing, and firmer control of register and style are expected, and the English mark genuinely shapes the average.

À l'épreuve

Three parts: Reading Comprehension, Language, and Writing. In the Lettres stream the Writing task is longer and more demanding — a structured essay with a clear thesis, developed arguments on both sides, illustrative examples and a personal conclusion — and language accuracy and range are scored throughout.

Objectifs d'apprentissage

Produce this function at the right register in a dialogue-completion task on the Bac Lettres English paper (coefficient 4)
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?”

Le cours, puis l'entraînement.

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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.

English is coefficient 4 in the Lettres stream — how do I revise it seriously?

Treat it as a core subject. For each of the 31 chapters, fix the rule or the word field with two solid examples, and write at least one full essay a fortnight under timed conditions. Read short English articles to build argumentative vocabulary and sentence variety, since range and accuracy are marked directly.

Why learn a spoken function for a written Bac Lettres 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.