07/09/2026
How often do you respond to a student before fully understanding what they meant? It happens more than we realise.
Paraphrasing is the practice of repeating what someone said in your own words before responding. It serves three purposes: it confirms you understood correctly, it lets the speaker hear their own thoughts from a different perspective, and it shows them they have been truly listened to.
It sounds like: ""So what you're saying is..."" or ""If I understood correctly..."" or ""It sounds like you feel...""
The simplest version is just to summarise their main point back to them and ask: did I get that right?
Paraphrasing works with students, parents, and colleagues. It prevents misunderstandings, builds trust, and keeps you focused on the speaker instead of on your own reply.
Try it today. One conversation. Notice the difference.
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