Definition
An active listening technique in which the listener restates a speaker's message in their own words to confirm understanding and demonstrate attention. In instructional settings, paraphrasing is used by both instructors and students to verify that the intended meaning of a communication has been accurately received before responding.
Plain English
Saying back what someone just told you, but in your own words, to make sure you understood them correctly.
Context Anchor
Seen in instructor-student communication, especially when an instructor checks whether a student understood an explanation, correction, or safety instruction.
Derivation
From the Greek 'paraphrasis', meaning 'a telling alongside' — 'para' (alongside) plus 'phrasis' (speech, expression). The idea is to set your own version of the message alongside the original to check they match.
Why Pilots Care
Misheard or misunderstood instructions cause real safety problems — in the cockpit, on the ramp, and during training. Paraphrasing back what an instructor, examiner, or crewmember said catches misunderstandings before they turn into errors.
Intuition Check
Paraphrasing does not mean repeating the exact words back. It means keeping the same meaning while using your own words.
Example Sentence 1
After the preflight briefing, the student paraphrased the instructor's plan for the lesson to confirm he had the sequence of maneuvers right.
Example Sentence 2
After the weather briefing, the CFI asked the trainee to paraphrase the key turbulence areas along the route.