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、相手の外国人の説明で 'muggy' の意味も 'humid' の意味も
分かりました。
そこで、英語で "(Ah,) I see." と言っています。
ところで、このような英語表現を知らない場合、「ああ、わかりました。」 と
即、日本語で相手に向かってはっきりと言いましょう。
できれば、後に "Thank you." を付けて、「ああ、わかりました。 Thank you.」 と。
そうすれば、相手は話の流れ [文脈] や皆さんの表情や態度から、きっとその意味を理解し、
共に、「ああ、分かったんですね。」 という意味の、
"Ah, you mean, you understand." とか、
"Ah, you('ve) got it."
などと言いますから、
"Yes." とか、"I think so." [そう、思います。]
などと言えばよいだけです。
しかし、きちんと分かったと思う場合、できるだけ、
その相手の発言の 'Ah' を 'Yes' に、そして 'you' を 'I' に変えて、
"Yes, I mean, I understand." とか、
"Yes, I('ve) got it." （共に、「はい、分かりました。」 という意味）
などと言うようにするのです。
黙って考え込んでいたり、悩んでいたりしてはいけません。
お時間いただきありがとうございます。
下記の英語での解説も参考にくださいませ
Secret ５．To Express with One Japanese Word or Few
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。)
The native speaker's explanations had enabled the student to know the meanings
of 'muggy' and 'humid', which made her say "(Ah,) I see."
By the way, when students don't know this type of Englih expression,
they should instantly say clearly in their mother language, e.g. "Aa, wakarimashita."
facing toward their partner, adding "Thank you." from behind, if possible.
Then, their partner will probably understand its meaning from the context and the studens'
facial expressins, attitude etc, and say,
"Ah, you mean, you understand." or "Ah, you('ve) got it."
Now, the only thing they have to do is to say "Yes."
Or "I think so." when they were not sure.
When the students are pretty sure that they understand it,
what I recommend to them here is that they say,
"Yes, I mean, I understand." or "Yes, I('ve) got it."
changing 'Ah' in the partner's utterance into 'Yes,' and 'you' into 'I'
to learn the English.
The students should never be thinking about something silently,
nor should they be troubled by a lack of their English knowledge.