Description
Active listening involves a set of behaviors that help you remember the speaker’s words (whether a lecture in class or a personal conversation). Practice these techniques and learn more effectively.
Focus: Pay attention to the speaker.
- Stop talking, stop looking at your cell phone, web sites, notes.
- Look at the speaker with an expression of interest and anticipation
- Give the speaker time to speak. Be patient.
- Take notes sparingly. Too much writing can prevent you from hearing the lecture.
Offer Non-Verbal Support
Show that you are interested in what the speaker is saying and that you are thinking about the content. Your physical attitude expresses a lot and influences your own listening effectiveness.
Examples of non-verbal support include:
- Eye contact
- Body language
- arms unfolded
- lean forward a bit
- Facial expressions
- interest
- curiosity
- contemplation
- Head nodding
Contrast this with someone whose arms are folded, who is looking at the floor (are floors really that interesting?), and whose facial expression makes other listeners sit a few seats away. Not only is that impolite to the speaker, but it means that little knowledge will be transferred into the listener.
Offer Verbal Support
A more interactive way to show support for the speaker is to provide appropriate verbal cues when the speaker pauses (don’t interrupt).
- “Mm hmm.”
- “Yes, yes.”
- “I see.”
- “Go on.”
- “That’s great!”
- “Got it.”
- “I understand.”
Verbal support is best in a one-on-one situation. It could also be effective in a very small group (three or four total) to keep the focus on the speaker (especially if another member is interrupting pointlessly).
As you listen, process what the speaker is saying. Hearing only, even if you take verbatim notes, will be less effective than if you mentally interact with what is said. As appropriate, you can apply these interactions to the learning environment by stating them aloud.
Show understanding of the speaker’s message
In the process of responding to a speaker, prefix your statement or objection by showing that you understand the point you are responding to:
- Paraphrase the point you want to reference. (Paraphrasing turns the speaker’s statement into about the same number of your own wored.)
- Summarize (Summarizing turns a longer passage or greater set of words into fewer words, without losing the meaning.)
- Identify key points
Demonstrate analysis of the speaker’s message
- Ask a follow up question. Asking a question shows that you have been paying attention, have thought about the material in a larger context, and now want some additional clarification.
- Invite a response to your comments or paraphrase (“Did I understand you correctly?” “By the term you use, do you mean to include….?”)
- Reframe an issue (“You seem to be saying that this is a case of big business versus the small proprietor. But isn’t it more accurately a case of startup costs and licenses?
- Clarify assumptions. As the speaker what “taken for granteds” are involved. (“So what you’re saying is….” or “Do I understand correctly that you oppose….”)
- If appropriate (small class or personal talk), ask questions to fill out what you are learning. If it’s not appropriate or feasible to ask questions of the speaker, write down whatever questions occur to you.
- how does the subject relate to something else?
- can the speaker clarify that last point?
- along with the What the speaker is giving, is there a How, When, Where, Who, Why?
Connect the dots.
- What is the overall message?
- What is it important for you to remember?
- How does the message fit in or challenge what you already know or believe?