10 Ways to Teach Your Learners Effective Listening Skills
“A wise old owl sat in an oak,
The more he saw, the less he spoke;
The less he spoke, the more he heard;
Why aren't we all like that wise old bird?"
If you were to ask any number of people if they were good listeners, the majority of them would probably answer "yes". But how many of us understand what it means to be an effective listener, or understand why such a skill is essential to meaningful communication?
Effective listening is a crucial skill for learners to develop as it helps them to comprehend and retain information more efficiently (Fielding, 2016). These skills are not only important for academic success but also for personal and professional growth. As a teacher, it is important to incorporate activities that help learners to improve their listening skills. In this blog post, we will discuss some practical ways teachers can teach learners effective listening skills.
When it comes to teaching effective listening skills, it’s not so much about the ears as it is about being observant. “Listen” is a single word with such big implications. A good listener receives information, processes it, gives feedback for clarity, and decides how they will act on it—and all this happens in a flash. Effective listeners are said to be not passive but are actually able to construct ideas as they listen (Jalongo, 1995).
So, how can we teach and model effective listening skills for our learners? Before we delve into the how, let's first examine the why.
Why Are Listening Skills Important?
Effective listening skills are important for learners as it enables them to understand and retain new information, which is essential for academic success. Moreover, listening skills are also critical for communication and interpersonal relationships, both in personal and professional contexts. Listening well helps us make sense of the world around us.
Here are some barriers to watch out for which hinder the development and honing of effective listening skills, from skillsyouneed.com. They fall under two categories: distractions and biases.
Distractions
Many noises or conversations that grab your attention at one time, or any other close-by dominant noise such as television or music.
Physical appearances can certainly be distracting if they evoke extreme emotions of pleasure or displeasure.
Disinterest causes boredom.
Personal habits such as fiddling with your hair, fingers, or a pen. It also includes daydreaming.
Unmet needs such as illness, tiredness, hunger, thirst, or needing to use the toilet.
Personal issues keep us preoccupied.
Biases
Facts take precedence over empathy.
Feeling sorry for someone, rather than empathizing.
Personal prejudices such as race, gender, age, religion, accent, or any aspect of personal appearance; and/or past experiences, preconceived ideas or biases that make you perceive the other as unintelligent or uncredible.
Having a closed mind and being unable to get past your own beliefs to see the other’s viewpoint.
So how does one go about teaching effective listening skills? We start with the ability to model them and go from there.
“When it comes to teaching effective listening skills, it’s not so much about the ears as it is about being observant.”
5 Ways to Teach and Model Effective Listening Skills
1. Active Listening Exercises
Active listening exercises are an excellent way to help learners improve their listening skills. These exercises require learners to be fully engaged in the listening process and provide feedback to show their understanding (Goh, 2015). Teachers can use activities such as pair work, group discussions, or role plays to encourage learners to listen actively. These exercises can also be tailored to suit the level and needs of learners.
2. Visual Aids
Visual aids such as videos, pictures, and diagrams can help learners to better understand the content being taught. Teachers should use visual aids that are relevant to the topic and are easy to understand. Visual aids can also be used to stimulate discussion and encourage learners to ask questions (Fielding, 2016). Moreover, visual aids can also help learners with different learning styles to comprehend the information.
3. Encourage Note-Taking
Note-taking is an effective way for learners to retain information and help them to stay focused during the listening process (Brown, 2017). Teachers should encourage learners to take notes as they listen to lectures or participate in class discussions. Additionally, teachers can provide guidelines on note-taking techniques to help learners organize their notes more effectively. Note-taking can also help learners to review the material later and consolidate their learning.
4. Active Listening Strategies
Teachers can also teach learners active listening strategies such as paraphrasing, summarizing, and asking questions. These strategies help learners to stay engaged in the listening process and encourage them to seek clarification when they do not understand something (Goh, 2015). Teachers can model these strategies during class discussions and encourage learners to use them in their own listening and communication. These strategies can also help learners with critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
5. Provide Feedback
Feedback is an essential part of the learning process. Teachers should provide learners with constructive feedback on their listening skills, highlighting areas where they can improve (Brown, 2017). Additionally, teachers can provide learners with opportunities to self-assess their listening skills and set goals for improvement. Feedback can also help learners to identify their strengths and weaknesses and take appropriate actions to improve.
“How many of us understand what it means to be an effective listener, or understand why such a skill is essential to meaningful communication? ”
10 Tips for Being the Best Listener in the Room
Now it’s time to look at 10 practical conversation-specific tips for practicing effective listening skills during discussions, conversations, debates, or one-on-one assessments. Practice them together often with your learners so that they gradually become a habit for everyone.
Stop talking: If you’re talking, you’re not listening. Quiet yourself, your responses, and your interjections. Be open and available to what is being sought by the other person through your listening.
Get into your listening mode: Quiet the environment. Mentally open your mind to hearing by getting comfortable and engaging in eye contact.
Make the speaker feel comfortable: Examples of this might be nodding or using gestures. Seating is also important. Decide if the speaker will feel more comfortable if you stay behind your desk, or if you took a chair beside them. For smaller children, get at their eye level instead of towering over them.
Remove distractions: This is something you might not think of at first. It means things like clearing the room, quieting screens, and silencing your phone. If the speaker requests privacy, honor that by closing the door or asking others to give you a few minutes in private.
Empathize: At the very least, try to celebrate and wonder about the other person's uniqueness.
Be comfortable with silence: Some people really need time to formulate a thoughtful response. Rushing them through, or suggesting what they want to say, robs them of the opportunity to communicate honestly.
Put aside personal prejudice: This is also quite difficult, as our experiences form who we are. Putting all those experiences aside is a skill that requires help and practice.
Heed the tone: Sometimes the tone can hide the meaning of the words, and sometimes the tone enhances the meaning of the words. Know which is which.
Listen for underlying meanings, not words: Listen first for comprehension, and then a second time for ideas.
Pay attention to non-verbal communication: People communicate through body language and facial expressions. This is why eye contact is necessary.
Leading (and Listening) by Example
Teaching effective listening skills is, first and foremost, a process of learning how to listen yourself and then modelling that behaviour. Perhaps one of the most oft-quoted steps in Stephen R. Covey’s seminal work 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is seek first to understand. St. Francis knew this, and highly effective learning processes like Solution Fluency begin with this. By listening well to your learners, modelling it for them, and making them aware of what you are doing, you make them feel safe. Then they can practice listening with each other.
In conclusion, effective listening is a critical skill for learners to develop. Teachers can use active listening exercises, visual aids, note-taking, active listening strategies, and feedback to help learners improve their listening skills. By incorporating these techniques into their teaching, teachers can help learners to become more engaged, attentive, and successful listeners.
References
Brown, G. (2017). Active Listening: Improve Your Ability to Listen and Lead. Harvard Business Review Press.
Covey, S. R. (2004). The 7 habits of highly effective people: Restoring the character ethic ([Rev. ed.].). Free Press.
Fielding, R. (2016). Effective Listening Skills. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(20), 56-62.Goh, C. C. M. (2015). Teaching Listening in the Language Classroom. Routledge.
Jalongo, M. R. (1995). Promoting active listening in the classroom. Childhood education, 72(1), 13-18.
