The Feynman Technique

Richard Feynman — Nobel laureate, beloved physics professor, and one of the greatest scientific communicators of the 20th century — had a deceptively simple approach to learning:

If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.

This principle became known as the Feynman Technique, and it's the foundation of how I approach both learning and teaching.

The Four Steps

1. Choose a concept — Pick the topic you want to understand
2. Teach it to a child — Explain it in plain language, as if you're teaching a 12-year-old
3. Identify gaps — When you get stuck or resort to jargon, you've found a gap in your understanding
4. Simplify and refine — Go back to the source material, fill the gaps, and simplify your explanation further

Why It Works

The technique works because it forces active recall and elaboration — two of the most effective learning strategies supported by cognitive science research. When you try to teach something, you quickly discover what you truly understand vs. what you've merely memorized.

How I Apply It in Tutoring

In every session, I don't just explain concepts to my students — I encourage them to explain concepts back to me. When a student can walk me through DNA replication using their own words and metaphors, I know they've truly understood it.

One of my favorite examples: I once helped a biology student at ETH Zurich understand genetics by framing DNA replication as a factory. Enzymes became workers, the DNA strand became the blueprint, and suddenly an abstract process became intuitive and memorable.

Try It Yourself

Next time you're studying for an exam or learning a new skill:

1. Close your textbook
2. Take a blank sheet of paper
3. Explain the concept as if you're teaching it to someone who knows nothing about it
4. Notice where you struggle — that's where your understanding needs work

It's simple, it's free, and it's one of the most powerful learning tools available to anyone.