Jim, I'm more at home using everyday terms instead of the correct technical jargon as well. Whatever gets the point across, but sometimes loosely phrased explanations can be misleading. Sounds like your instructor may have slipped some of his pet buzz words in. Normally I don't jump in but I wanted to make sure that everything was clear.

I'm sure we'd do just fine in person, and likely convey more with a few well-timed grunts and some pointing at engine parts than most others could in a ten page report! I are just a mekanic but I read a lot, and when the conversation takes a hard left turn into engineering-ese, I call in my good buddy Quenton as interpreter!