--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there’s someone who doesn’t understand…" description: "\"“If there’s someone who doesn’t understand what I’m teaching, I try to understand who they are. A”\" — Lisa Delpit" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/lisa-delpit-41168_education_if-there-s-someone-who-doesn-t-understan_1948495.png" --- # If there’s someone who doesn’t understand what I’m… ![“If there’s someone who doesn’t understand what I’m teaching, I try to understand who they are. A” quote by Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/lisa-delpit-41168_education_if-there-s-someone-who-doesn-t-understan_1948495.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/lisa-delpit-41168_education_if-there-s-someone-who-doesn-t-understan_1948495.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/lisa-delpit-41168_education_if-there-s-someone-who-doesn-t-understan_1948495.png) > ““If there’s someone who doesn’t understand what I’m teaching, I try to understand who they are.   A”” [Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding a learner’s background helps tailor teaching, fostering empathy and effective communication. **In simple terms:** Know students to teach better. Key Takeaway Adapt teaching to learner identity. Themes education empathy communication diversity Mood thoughtful instructive Type pedagogical reflective When to use this quote - classroom - mentoring - curriculum design Key Concepts cultural competence student-centered learning Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions do you make about learners? - How can you discover hidden barriers? A Different Perspective Assuming knowledge without context can alienate learners. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) ## Related quotes > [When all is said and done, teaching is what I try to do for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/when-all-is-said-and-done-teaching-is-what-i-try-to-do-for-a-living/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [When you learn about the teaching and the practice of another tradition, you always have a chance to understand your own teaching and practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/when-you-learn-about-the-teaching-and-the-practice-of-another/) [Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [You have to understand that teaching online is different, just like movies are different from the stage and TV is different from radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/you-have-to-understand-that-teaching-online-is-different-just-like/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Looking back, I understand that I was teaching myself to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wesley/looking-back-i-understand-that-i-was-teaching-myself-to-write/) [Mary Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wesley/) > [A teacher who cannot explain any abstract subject to a child does not himself thoroughly understand his subject; if he does not attempt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/a-teacher-who-cannot-explain-any-abstract-subject-to-a-child-does-not/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Maybe to try to understand not just that we are living in a certain building or in a certain location, but to become aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andreas-gursky/maybe-to-try-to-understand-not-just-that-we-are-living-in-a-certain/) [Andreas Gursky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andreas-gursky/) > [Maturity is when a person hurts you and you try to understand why they act that way towards you. As the result, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maturity-is-when-a-person-hurts-you-and-you-try-to-understand-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When so many people misunderstand you, you learn not to try and explain yourself and wait for the people who actually try to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-hanthorn/when-so-many-people-misunderstand-you-you-learn-not-to-try-and/) Morgan Hanthorn > [Historically, it is important to try to understand your adversary in order to figure out how they are thinking, what they will be doing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/historically-it-is-important-to-try-to-understand-your-adversary-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Maturity is when a person hurts you and you try to understand their stand, rather than hurting them back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/maturity-is-when-a-person-hurts-you-and-you-try-to-understand-their/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Try to be positive about every human being and try to understand their problems by being in their shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/try-to-be-positive-about-every-human-being-and-try-to-understand/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't try to understand me, it will just leave u more confused than what u assumed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabmello/don-t-try-to-understand-me-it-will-just-leave-u-more-confused-than/) Kabmello > [I try to understand people who aren't as smart as me and not be hateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-coleman/i-try-to-understand-people-who-aren-t-as-smart-as-me-and-not-be/) [Gary Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-coleman/) > [“The more greedily you try to understand people, the less you understand them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takahashi-takako/the-more-greedily-you-try-to-understand-people-the-less-you/) Takahashi Takako > [We are different. We are equal in every way but our voices are important to each other and our need to want to listen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-ullmann/we-are-different-we-are-equal-in-every-way-but-our-voices-are/) [Liv Ullmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-ullmann/) ## More by Lisa Delpit > [“There is no achievement gap at birth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/there-is-no-achievement-gap-at-birth/) [Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) > [“Currently, “minority” students represent a majority in all but two of our twenty-five largest cities, and by some estimates, the turn of the century…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/currently-minority-students-represent-a-majority-in-all-but-two-of/) [Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) > [When one 'we' gets to determine standards for all 'we's' then some 'we's' are in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/when-one-we-gets-to-determine-standards-for-all-we-s-then-some-we-s/) [Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) > [Progressive white teachers seem to say to their black students 'Let me help you find your voice. I promise not to criticize one note…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/progressive-white-teachers-seem-to-say-to-their-black-students-let-me/) [Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) > [If the curriculum we use to teach our children does not connect in positive ways to the culture young people bring to school, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/if-the-curriculum-we-use-to-teach-our-children-does-not-connect-in/) [Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) > [In order to teach you, I must know you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/in-order-to-teach-you-i-must-know-you/) [Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) > [We do not really see through our eyes or hear through our ears, but through our beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/we-do-not-really-see-through-our-eyes-or-hear-through-our-ears-but/) [Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) > [We do not really see through our eyes or hear through our ears, but through our beliefs. To put our beliefs on hold is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/we-do-not-really-see-through-our-eyes-or-hear-through-our-ears-but-2/) [Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) > [ Those with power are frequently least aware of -- or least willing to acknowledge -- its existence \[and\] those with less power are often… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/those-with-power-are-frequently-least-aware-of-or-least-willing-to/) [Lisa Delpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) [Explore all 10 Lisa Delpit quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-delpit/) ## More Education quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [“In school you are taught to obey and not to think straight for your own good. Otherwise the world would be full of millionaires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/in-school-you-are-taught-to-obey-and-not-to-think-straight-for-your/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“What's the best thing about being in college? Good teachers. They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“If one has not a head of steel it will burst; if he has not within it a brain of liquid quicksilver, he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ioannes-amos-commenius/if-one-has-not-a-head-of-steel-it-will-burst-if-he-has-not-within-it/) Ioannes Amos Commenius > [“let us not teach / what we have learned badly / and not profited by”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-d-hilda-doolittle/let-us-not-teach-what-we-have-learned-badly-and-not-profited-by/) H.D. (Hilda Doolittle > [“It took me years to learn to sit at my desk for more than two minutes at a time, to put up with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/it-took-me-years-to-learn-to-sit-at-my-desk-for-more-than-two-minutes/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [According to Plato, we don't learn anything. Our soul has lived so many lives that we know everything. Teachers and education can only remind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/according-to-plato-we-don-t-learn-anything-our-soul-has-lived-so-many/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“I only began to enjoy studying after I got through the educational system and became a so-called member of society. If something interested me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-only-began-to-enjoy-studying-after-i-got-through-the-educational/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you had made the acquiring of ignorance the study of your life, you could not have graduated with higher honor than you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/if-you-had-made-the-acquiring-of-ignorance-the-study-of-your-life-you/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [English teachers tend to put more thought in the books than the author did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/english-teachers-tend-to-put-more-thought-in-the-books-than-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When will society, like a mother, take care of all her children?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/when-will-society-like-a-mother-take-care-of-all-her-children/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) [Browse all 37,666 Education quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If there’s someone who doesn’t understand what I’m teaching, I try to understand who they are.   A”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lisa Delpit" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/if-there-s-someone-who-doesn-t-understand-what-i-m-teaching-i-try-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Education" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-delpit/if-there-s-someone-who-doesn-t-understand-what-i-m-teaching-i-try-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/lisa-delpit-41168_education_if-there-s-someone-who-doesn-t-understan_1948495.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/lisa-delpit-41168_education_if-there-s-someone-who-doesn-t-understan_1948495.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/lisa-delpit-41168_education_if-there-s-someone-who-doesn-t-understan_1948495.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If there’s someone who doesn’t understand what I’m teaching, I try to understand who they are. 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