There's something weird that happens when you try to explain a concept to someone else: you suddenly realize what you actually understand and what you've been faking.
Psychologists call this the "protégé effect," and decades of research backs it up. Students who teach material to others consistently outperform students who just study it for themselves. It's not even close.
Why does explaining things help?
When you're reading a textbook or watching a lecture, your brain is in receive mode. Information flows in, and it feels like you're learning. You nod along. You highlight things. You think, "Yeah, I get this."
But when you try to explain that same material? Your brain has to switch to transmit mode. And that's where the magic happens. You have to:
- Organize the information logically
- Fill in gaps you didn't notice before
- Find simpler words for complex ideas
- Anticipate questions and confusion points
All of that processing forces your brain to build stronger, more connected memories. It's the difference between recognizing something and truly understanding it.
The Feynman Technique
The physicist Richard Feynman was famous for this. His study method was simple: learn something, then try to explain it in plain language as if you're teaching a child. Wherever you get stuck or start using jargon you can't simplify — that's exactly where your understanding is weak.
It sounds almost too simple to work. But try it with whatever you're studying right now. Take a concept and explain it out loud, in simple words, without looking at your notes. You'll find the gaps fast.
You don't need a human audience
Here's the practical problem: most students don't have someone sitting around waiting to be taught organic chemistry at 11 PM on a Tuesday. Your roommate has their own problems.
This is actually one of the underrated uses of AI tutors. You can explain a concept to the AI and ask it to point out where your explanation is wrong or incomplete. It's like having an infinitely patient study partner who's always available and never judges you for getting things wrong.
Some students even use a rubber duck on their desk (seriously — it's a debugging technique from programming). The point isn't who you're explaining to. The point is that the act of explaining forces your brain to process information at a deeper level.
How to actually do this
Next time you finish a chapter or lecture, close your notes and try to explain the three most important concepts — either to a friend, to an AI, or to your houseplant. Then go back to the material and see what you missed.
It takes maybe ten extra minutes. The improvement in retention and understanding is enormous. And honestly? It makes studying a lot less boring.