Learn Anything Faster Using This Simple Technique
In this article, I’m going to introduce you to a powerful learning tool: “The Feynman Technique.”
Introduced by Richard Feynman, a legendary physicist known for making complex ideas easy to understand, this technique is a game-changer when it comes to mastering new concepts.
At its core, It’s all about breaking down difficult ideas into bite-sized, simple pieces, making learning faster and more effective.
Curious to know how?
Let’s dive into the four easy steps that can help you unlock any topic—faster and better.
Step 1: Choose a topic
The first step is very simple: choose a topic or concept you want to learn. It doesn’t necessarily need to be related to academics. It could be anything, like understanding human anatomy, studying programming, or even learning camera photography.
The key is to pick something that genuinely interests you, as this will make the learning process more engaging and effective.
Step 2: Teach it to a kid
Explain the concept you learned to a kid or someone with no prior knowledge. If you don’t have this option available, pretend you’re explaining it to someone in your mind.
Use plain language and avoid jargon, keeping it as simple as possible. Try using everyday analogies to make the topic easier to grasp.
The better you’ve understood the topic, the simpler your explanation will be. This step helps clarify your own understanding and ensures you’ve truly mastered the concept.
Step 3: Identify gaps
While explaining, you’ll likely uncover areas where your understanding is lacking. Identify these gaps and revisit the source material to study those topics more thoroughly.
As you review your weak points, your mind will start connecting them with the analogies you used in your explanation.
This process not only helps you understand the material more easily but also allows the concepts to sink into your subconscious, making them harder to forget.
Step 4: Simplify and Repeat
Now, explain the topic once again, but this time, refine your explanation using even simpler terms. By now, you’ll have learned easier words and analogies, making it clearer and more concise.
If you still encounter gaps or struggle to explain certain parts, go back to the source material and repeat the process.
Keep refining and improving. The more you practice this technique, the more effective it becomes, helping you understand and retain information better over time.
I also use this technique when learning a new concept. It’s simple and highly effective.
However, there are times when I can grasp a topic without needing to use it, and in those cases, I stick to my usual learning methods.
If you have your own method that works well for you, there’s no need to change it. Stick with what you’re comfortable with.
But when you encounter a particularly difficult concept, give this technique a try—it can be a great tool for deepening your understanding.
Here’s an example of how you could use this technique:
When I was learning Python, a programming language, I would study for two hours using videos and books.
Afterward, I’d explain what I learned to my kid brother in the simplest terms possible. I also kept a notebook handy to draw visuals and use analogies, making the concepts easier to understand.
If I found any gaps in my understanding, I would revisit the material an hour before bed and explain it to myself as if I were teaching someone else.
I repeated this process until everything became crystal clear. This approach ensured I fully understood everything I was learning.
A completely unexpected outcome:
My brother also learnt a lot about Python (or programming in general) while he was listening to me (maybe half-heartedly).
Now, whenever anything related to computers or programming comes up, the whole classroom turns to him for answers.
Which also made him pursue this in more depth (because he wants to get more praised by the teach and mates).
It was a great side benefit that I hadn’t anticipated!
If you’ve read it this far and found this article helpful, feel free to show your love by giving it a “❤️”.
Share it with your friends who might find it helpful, and yeah, one more thing:
If you’re on your self-development journey and want to connect with others who are just as serious as you, consider joining my Discord server. There, you can meet other disciplined individuals.
We’ll meet again next week. Until then, SIGNING OFF!
Thank you for sharing.