How to check for understanding without being insulting?

[Bob]

I thought about the teacher board, but this is also a general question.

If you mention a concept to someone, how do you know they actually understood you or that you actually explained it in a way that's easy enough to understand?  And how do you check for sure without being condescending?  "Did you understand that?  Really?  Ok, then, explain it to me then."


I heard a recording of myself talking about something.  I botched the explanation.  Lots of talking, but I doubt much if anything registered with the people I was talking to.  So, what's the point of talking or explaining something?  Why not mention less but make sure they actually understood it?

[dogperson]

My approach: ‘ i’m Not sure I explained this well. John, would you do me a big favor and paraphrase it so I can check that I said what I meant?  I recognize I’m not always as clear as I would like to be ‘

[pianoplunker]

I thought about the teacher board, but this is also a general question.

If you mention a concept to someone, how do you know they actually understood you or that you actually explained it in a way that's easy enough to understand?  And how do you check for sure without being condescending?  "Did you understand that?  Really?  Ok, then, explain it to me then."


I heard a recording of myself talking about something.  I botched the explanation.  Lots of talking, but I doubt much if anything registered with the people I was talking to.  So, what's the point of talking or explaining something?  Why not mention less but make sure they actually understood it?

It is all about "playing too many notes" .  you have ten seconds to explain .