Could you explain it?

Not to your colleagues or instructors. And especially not a scholar.

But to the kid down the street? A casual acquaintance? Or—dare I ask—a parent, spouse, or cousin?

Explaining something in simple language, without the abstractions and junctions of jargon, is a great way to both illustrate a concept and retain it.

Because you can't hide behind special language with a novice--it has no substance. You can only explain what you truly understand.