Being able to explain a tricky concept to yourself in simple language is a skill. It demands a deep understanding: you can only condense an idea clearly if you grasp the reasoning behind it, not just the buzzwords. This habit moves students beyond memorisation which often feels like progress but can be a trap. Reciting a textbook can give the illusion of knowledge without true comprehension, and exam-focused memorisation is usually short-lived: you drill facts in, keep them for a few days, then they fade.
Explaining a topic without jargon increases the chance you’ll remember it, because you’re anchoring the idea to what you already know rather than storing an abstract string of complex terms. Simple explanations also make transfer easier: when the logic is broken down into plain steps, you can apply the same reasoning in new situations instead of relying on memorised procedures. Finally, simplifying exposes gaps in your thinking; if you can’t explain it, you know exactly where to study next.
I apply this process into my tutoring sessions be helping my students along this path. I ask them questions to help them develop their critical thinking and ask them to explain the concept to me simply is though I didn’t understand. I have found this to be a highly effective method of improving student understanding and memory.

Riva Burkett