The speaker started talking before you were ready.
"Can you slow down a little when you talk?"
"Wait, I'm not ready yet. Can you start again?"
"I didn't get the joke. Can you explain it to me?
The speaker is facing away from you.
"Can you speak louder?"
"You are being so rude!"
"Can you turn around so I can see your face when you talk?"
The room is too noisy.
"Can you speak a little louder please?"
"What does that word mean?"
"Hey, everyone be quiet right now!"
You're not sure you heard something clearly.
"Can you repeat that? I don't think I understood you."
"Can you turn around and face me please?"
Just smile and nod your head and pretend you heard them.
The speaker is talking too fast.
"Geez, slow down!"
"Can you slow down a little when you talk?"
"Can everyone take turns talking?"
The speaker's voice is too soft.
"I guess you don't want anyone to hear you."
"Wait, I'm not ready yet."
"Can you speak louder so I can hear you better?"
You missed part of the instructions.
"I missed that. Can you repeat what you just said?"
"I didn't hear you so I'm not going to do it."
"Can you slow down a little when you talk?"
More than one person is speaking at a time.
"Can everyone take turns talking so I can understand better?
"What are you saying?"
"I give up trying to hear everyone!"
The speaker is too far away.
"Just forget it, I can't hear you!"
"Can you talk slower please?"
"I can't hear you from there. Can you move closer?"
The speaker used a word you don't know.
"Do you really expect me to know that word?"
"What does that word mean? I don't understand."
Don't worry about it. Just keep listening.
The speaker mumbled their words.
"Stop mumbling. I can't understand you."
"I can't understand you. Can you say it again more clearly?"
Just pretend you understood what they said.
You got distracted and missed part of the conversation.
"This is so boring!"
"I missed part of what you said. Can you say it again?"
Pretend you heard them and move on.
You can't keep up with the conversation.
"I really don't know what you are talking about."
"You are not making any sense."
"I missed part of what you said. Can you say it again?"
The speaker changed topics, and you don't know what they are talking about.
"Wait, can you tell me what you are talking about again?"
"Can you move closer so I can hear you better?"
Act like you understand what the speaker is saying.
You did not understand a joke.
Laugh and act like you understand.
"You are just not funny."
"I didn't get the joke. Can you explain it to me?"
You missed an important word in the conversation.
Start talking about something else.
Keep listening and don't worry about it.
"I didn't hear that word. Can you repeat it?"
