Native Speaker: I said, "I couldn't sleep well last night.
(Because) It was so muggy."
Our student: Muggy??
Native Speaker: Yes, it means 'warm and very humid'.
Our student: Humid??
Native Speaker: Yes.
Our student: Sorry??...
Native Speaker: It means the air is very wet.
Our student: Ah, I see. (/ ああ、 わかりました。)
この生徒さんは
"I couldn't sleep well last night. (Because) It was so muggy." という英文も
Yes, it means 'warm and very humid'." という英文も
今度はきちんと聞き取れたのですが、muggy という単語も、humid という単語も
知りません。
ですから、その意味が分かりません。
がしかし、また間髪をいれずに "Muggy??" とか "Humid??" とか "Sorry??" などと、
相手に向かってその意味を尋ねる気持ちで言って、すぐに問題に対処しています。
このように、それが聞き取りの問題であれ、理解の問題であれ、困ったことが起これば、
即きちんと対処して相手の発言をよく聞けば良いだけです。
考え込んだり、悩んだりしていてはいけません。
絶対に。
下記の英語での解説もご参考にくださいませ。
Secret 4. To Ask The Meanings of New Words
Native Speaker: I said, "I couldn't sleep well last night. (Because)
It was so muggy."
Our student: Muggy??
Native Speaker: Yes, it means 'warm and very humid'.
Our student: Humid??
Native Speaker: Yes.
Our student: Sorry??...
Native Speaker: It means the air is very wet.
Our student: Ah, I see. (/ ああ、 わかりました。)
--------------------------------
This time, this student was able to catch all the words of the sentences
"I couldn't sleep well last night. (Because) It was so muggy." and
Yes, it means 'warm and very humid'."
But 'muggy' and 'humid' were new to her, and she wasn't able to understand
their meanings.
However, here again she uttered instantly the problem-solving expressions
"Muggy??", "Humid??" and "Sorry??" with an asking mind facing to her partner,
which solved the problems promptly.
Like this, when a problem occurs, what the students have to do is
only to cope with it simply and quickly, whether it is a problem of catching spoken
words or that of understanding.
They should not think about the problem words, nor should they be troubled by them.
No, definitely not.
---------------------------