IMPROVING YOUR EXPLANATION SKILLS

Mr. Jamlick Bosire

New Horizon Consultancy Services

P. O. Box 1675-80200, Malindi

ojamlick@yahoo.com

The ability to explain something clearly to a pupil is

very essential in a good teacher’s professional

practice.

The term “explaining” simply means to make plain.

One dictionary states:

• You explain something when you supply

information or details that make it clear or easy

to understand.

• When you tell people the reason for something

e.g. “I can explain why I came late.”

what is an explanation?

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Different situations

require different ways of

explaining. However, the

goal of explaining is to

give understanding to

others.3Comm. skills/10thAPR2013/DADJU

We think about the process of explaining in relation to:

• You as the explainer

• Your pupils as the explainees

• The concept that you are explaining

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As you give explanations, you shouldappreciate the impact of your explanations.Your listeners may find your explanations:

• Complex

• Full of incorrect or difficult language

• Not clear.

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Ways of explaining

• The interpretative

• The descriptive

• The reasoning giving.

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1.The interpretative:

Here your explanation will helppupils interpret what they know.For example, you can explain whatthe function is of the talons andbeaks of birds of prey.

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2. The descriptive:

A descriptive explanation usually describesa process or structure. Theseexplanations will be to the question“how”. An example is Mr. Maina isdescribing the process of how to make asponge cake in a home science activity.

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3. The reason giving:

Sometimes you give explanations inwhich you offer reasons or causesof the occurrence of something.Such explanations are answers tothe questions “why”. For example,why some mammals hibernate inwinter, or why rain falls.

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You use any of the above ways ofexplaining depending on thesubject aim in your lesson. Yourchoice may also depend on theage of your children.

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Chow you can bring your explanations to life.

1. Using analogies:

You might use analogies to make your explanations tomake your explanations clearer. When you use ananalogy, you talk of something which is likesomething else. For example Mrs. Mugambi wasexplaining what goose pimples are to her class. Thisis what she told them: “Goose pimples are not likethe ordinary pimples you get after a mosquito bite.Goose pimples come all over your body and are verysmall. They look like small grains of millet that havescattered on your body.”

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2. Using examples.

We also use examples to help us clarifyan explanation. . Examples can be fromboth the teacher and pupils. You can useexamples when ideas are ambiguous, orsimply not understood. You should drawexamples from the pupils’ experienceand, at their level of understanding.

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3. Use of practical work:

You can use practical work to

complement an explanation. If you

were explaining to your pupils how to

set up a science experiment you

would either demonstrate it, or get

them to them to do it themselves.

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4. use of teaching/learning aids:The use of teaching/learning aids,like practical work, will help tosimplify what you are explaining.They should be part and parcel ofyour explanation. A teacherteaching an agriculture lessonwhere they are handling the topic“Farm tools,” should have withthem the various farm tools. Theycan then explain what the tools arecalled, their uses, and so on. In thisway the teaching/learning aids willsupport the explanation.

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Making your explanation clear.

As well as making your explanationsclear through questions, analogies andexamples, you should look into theway you use language. Goodcommunication skills are veryimportant in explaining.

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For effective communication

you will need to make good

use of your voice.

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You should vary the tone of your voice to suit what youare explaining. You should use humor where necessary.Your voice should not be monotonous. The use ofgestures and facial expressions helps to complementyour voice.

You should also organize your explanations, if yourpupils are to understand the ideas you are explaining tothem. Your explanations should have logical sequence.The use of link words and phrases will help you toorganize your explanations in a logical order. Examplesof link words are “ because, since, as, in order to, as aresult, therefore, by, if … then”.

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THANK YOU

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