Ask HN: How can I get better at explaining things?
Similar to 3B1B, Karpathy etc
14 comments
For me the secret is better listening. Coupled with understanding well what the person already believes.
As an explainer my job is to take you from where you are at, to where I'm at. That's not one step, it's a number of steps.
In some cases we first have to undo something you already absolutely positively know to be true, that is no longer true. Because nothing stops you learning like a false premise that collides with the new information -especially- if the truth is so ingrained its subliminal.
For example; We have 5 senses. This is a truth we learn very early. Sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch. You absolutely positively know this to be true. If I say we have 6 senses then you jump to an implication of paranormal.
I need you first to acknowledge that you know that fact to be true. Once you do I can lead you further.
Senses are just "input to the brain". (All those 5 are). The brain receives input via specialised nerves. (Again check against the 5.) Now ask yourself, are there more specialised nerve types?
Turns out, there are. And once you know that it's easy to tell you we have more senses.
Pain. Balance. Temperature. Kinesthesis. And more.
Because I understand where you are, I can explain the new information -from your point of view- , not -my- point of view.
Explaining is a journey, not a destination, and it helps if we start from the same place.
Now, did I do a good job of explaining that? :)
[and as a bonus I've let you explore further on your own, I bet you're off to Google Kinesthesis]
As an explainer my job is to take you from where you are at, to where I'm at. That's not one step, it's a number of steps.
In some cases we first have to undo something you already absolutely positively know to be true, that is no longer true. Because nothing stops you learning like a false premise that collides with the new information -especially- if the truth is so ingrained its subliminal.
For example; We have 5 senses. This is a truth we learn very early. Sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch. You absolutely positively know this to be true. If I say we have 6 senses then you jump to an implication of paranormal.
I need you first to acknowledge that you know that fact to be true. Once you do I can lead you further.
Senses are just "input to the brain". (All those 5 are). The brain receives input via specialised nerves. (Again check against the 5.) Now ask yourself, are there more specialised nerve types?
Turns out, there are. And once you know that it's easy to tell you we have more senses.
Pain. Balance. Temperature. Kinesthesis. And more.
Because I understand where you are, I can explain the new information -from your point of view- , not -my- point of view.
Explaining is a journey, not a destination, and it helps if we start from the same place.
Now, did I do a good job of explaining that? :)
[and as a bonus I've let you explore further on your own, I bet you're off to Google Kinesthesis]
An easy way to see how well you are listening is to try and have conversations where you speak less than 50% of the total time.
You don't have to time yourself with a stopwatch (although that would be more accurate), but you can look back on conversations and easily see where you said far more than you heard.
You don't have to time yourself with a stopwatch (although that would be more accurate), but you can look back on conversations and easily see where you said far more than you heard.
Agree with you, active listening and observing people has improved my vocabulary and articulation.
I will point out that there's a -very- fine line between good explaining and patronising. Its hard to tread that line in written work, and easier to manage in a verbal context.
And I prefer to use the phrase "that is not completely accurate" over "you are wrong" as it gets less of a defensive reaction.
And I prefer to use the phrase "that is not completely accurate" over "you are wrong" as it gets less of a defensive reaction.
In terms of spoken explanations, YouTubers like those often write scripts beforehand. An alternative to following a script is to freely speak when recording audio but just edit out a lot - any vocalized pauses like "um" or any stumbling over words or irrelevant tangents - sometimes even attempting the statement multiple times until it sounds perfect.
What the approaches have in common is knowing what you want to say.
Beyond speech, those channels heavily use visual aids to convey what they mean. The use of visuals can amplify and focus your message so that the audience has a clear understanding of what you're talking about, and it's just a more entertaining way to digest a description if you can see images and animations and the video has an overall theme and flow.
What the approaches have in common is knowing what you want to say.
Beyond speech, those channels heavily use visual aids to convey what they mean. The use of visuals can amplify and focus your message so that the audience has a clear understanding of what you're talking about, and it's just a more entertaining way to digest a description if you can see images and animations and the video has an overall theme and flow.
Consider reading On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser
A free version on the Internet Archive:
https://dn790000.ca.archive.org/0/items/OnWritingWell/on-wri...
As a certified teacher with about a decade of experience who still struggles with explaining things, mainly with knowing my audience and not saying ALL THE THINGS all at once, if recommend volunteering in a classroom, practicing in a mirror, recording yourself, following advice from Make it Stick: the science of successful learning, and to continue listening to and especially emulating skilled explainers.
Teaching: EDGE method. Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, Evaluate.
Colleagues/leadership/etc, practice writing narrative. It really depends on the audience, but writing down your thoughts brings unparalleled clarity.
Colleagues/leadership/etc, practice writing narrative. It really depends on the audience, but writing down your thoughts brings unparalleled clarity.
Explaining to who?
The other person matters more than the person explaining. If they don't want an explanation, then you can't explain. If they don't want much detail, then an explanation with lots of details is a bad explanation. If they want a lot of detail, then that same explanation becomes good.
Why are you explaining?
Sometimes an explanation is a bullshit excuse with a fake mustache...If you are explaining yourself, that's often the case. Some explanations are the explainer geeking out over their interest. Few explanations are because someone asked.
How are you explaining?
Spoken explanations in a business context are different from explanations among spouses are different from written technical documents. The best technical explanations require practice. After twenty years, people know something. After five years we are but one-eyed kings (if you are young, you probably won't believe me).
But writing is a form of practice. Take the idea of explaining X seriously enough to practice your explanations of X in writing. And rewriting. Then you will know what you know better and probably more than you would otherwise. And maybe writing is all you need. Good luck.
The other person matters more than the person explaining. If they don't want an explanation, then you can't explain. If they don't want much detail, then an explanation with lots of details is a bad explanation. If they want a lot of detail, then that same explanation becomes good.
Why are you explaining?
Sometimes an explanation is a bullshit excuse with a fake mustache...If you are explaining yourself, that's often the case. Some explanations are the explainer geeking out over their interest. Few explanations are because someone asked.
How are you explaining?
Spoken explanations in a business context are different from explanations among spouses are different from written technical documents. The best technical explanations require practice. After twenty years, people know something. After five years we are but one-eyed kings (if you are young, you probably won't believe me).
But writing is a form of practice. Take the idea of explaining X seriously enough to practice your explanations of X in writing. And rewriting. Then you will know what you know better and probably more than you would otherwise. And maybe writing is all you need. Good luck.
I do not know how you explain things now, so it is hard to suggest improvements.
But I'll try anyway.
Do not explain with words. Sit your student down and walk them through it.
But I'll try anyway.
Do not explain with words. Sit your student down and walk them through it.
maybe learn shit you think is insanely hard - and chart your experience learning it - you may notice which books or videos help you more than others. Then translate that to your own explanations of things ?