Lesson 3 LISTENING

LESSON 3
Listening
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
 Demonstrate appreciation of listening
 Analyze the content of selections from listening
 Identify the barriers in listening
What is Listening?
Listening is receiving language through the
ears. Listening involves identifying the sounds
of speech and processing them into words and
sentences. When we listen, we use our ears to
receive individual sounds (letters, stress,
rhythm and pauses) and we use our brain to
convert these into messages that mean
something to us.
What is Listening?
Listening in any language requires
focus and attention. It is a skill that
some people need to work at harder
than others. People who have difficulty
concentrating are typically poor
listeners. Listening in a second
language requires even greater focus.
What is Listening?
Listening is the ability to accurately
receive and interpret messages in the
communication process.
What is Listening?
Listening is key to all effective
communication. Without the ability to
listen effectively, messages are easily
misunderstood. As a result,
communication breaks down and the
sender of the message can easily
become frustrated or irritated.
“Effective listening is a skill that
underpins all positive human
relationships."
Spend some time thinking about and developing

your listening skills – they are the building
blocks of success.
Good listening skills also have benefits in our
personal lives, including: - A greater number of
friends and social networks, improved self-
esteem and confidence, higher grades at school
and in academic work, and even better health
and general well-being.
Studies have shown that, whereas speaking raises

blood pressure, attentive listening can bring it
down.
Listening is Who are the customers you want
not the same to cater to?
as Hearing Hearing refers to the sounds that
enter your ears. It is a physical
process that, provided you do not
have any hearing problems,
happens automatically.
Who are the

customers you want to cater to?
Hearing refers to the sounds that enter your ears. It is a
physical process that, provided you do not have any
hearing problems, happens automatically.
Listening Who are the customers you want to

is not the cater to?
Listening means paying attention not only to the
same as story, but how it is told, the use of language and
voice, and how the other person uses his or her
Hearing body. In other words, it means being aware of
both verbal and non-verbal messages. Your
ability to listen effectively depends on the degree
to which you perceive and understand these
messages.
We spend a lot of Time Listening
Adults spend an average of 70% of their time
engaged in some sort of communication.
Of this, research shows that an average of 45% is

spent listening compared to 30% speaking, 16%
reading and 9% writing. (Adler, R. et al. 2001). That
is, by any standards, a lot of time listening. It is
worthwhile, therefore, taking a bit of extra time to
ensure that you listen effectively.
The Purpose of
Listening
There is no doubt that effective listening
is an extremely important life extremely
important life important?
Listening serves, a number of possible

purposes, and the purpose of listening
will depend on the situation and the
nature of the communication.
The Purpose of Listening
1. To specifically focus on the messages being
communicated, avoiding distractions and
preconceptions.
2. To gain a full and accurate understanding into
the speakers’ point of view and ideas.
3. (Critical Thinking for more) To critically assess
what is being said. (See our page on purpose)
4. To observe the non-verbal signals accompanying
what is being said to enhance understanding.
5. To show interest, concern and concentration.
6. To encourage the speaker to communicate fully,
openly and honestly.
7. To develop a selflessness approach, putting the
speaker first.
8. To arrive at a shared and agreed understanding
and acceptance of both sides’ views.
"Effective listening requires
concentration and the use of your
other senses - not just hearing the
words spoken. "
Common Barriers to Listening
There are many things that get in the

way of listening and you should be
aware of these barriers, many of which
are bad habits, in order to become a
more effective listener. Barriers and bad
habits to effective listening can include:
Trying to listen to more than one
conversation at a time
This includes having the television or
radio on while attempting to listen to
somebody talk; being on the phone to
one person and talking to another
person in the same room and also being
distracted by some dominant noise in
the immediate environment.
You find the communicator
attractive/unattractive
And you pay more attention to how you
feel about the communicator and their
physical appearance than to what they
are saying. Perhaps you simply don't
like the speaker - you may mentally
argue with the speaker and be fast to
criticize, either verbally or in your head.
You are not interested
in the topic/issue being discussed and
become bored.
Not focusing
And being easily distracted, fiddling
with your hair, fingers, a pen etc. or
gazing out of the window or focusing on
objects other than the speaker.
Feeling unwell or tired
hungry, thirsty or needing to
use the toilet.
Identifying rather than
empathizing
Sympathy is not the same as empathy,
your sympathies when you feel sorry for
the experiences of another, to
empathize is to put yourself in the
position of the other person.
You are prejudiced or biased
By race, gender, age, religion, accent,
and/or past experienced.
You have preconceived ideas or
bias
Effective listening includes being open-
minded to the ideas and opinions of
others, this does not mean you have to
agree but should listen and attempt to
understand.
You make judgements
Thinking, for example that a person is
not very bright or is under-qualified so
there is no point listening to what they
have to say.
Previous experiences
We are all influenced by previous
experiences in life. We respond to
people based on personal appearances,
how initial introductions or welcomes
were received and/or previous
interpersonal encounters. If we
stereotype a person, we become less
objective and therefore less likely to
listen effectively.
Preoccupation
When we have a lot on our minds, we
can fail to listen to what is being said as
we're too busy concentrating on what
we're thinking about. This is particularly
true when we feel about issues.
Having a Closed Mind
We all have ideals and values that we believe to
be correct and it can be difficult to listen to the
views of others that contradict our own
opinions. The key to effective listening and
interpersonal skills more generally is the ability
to have a truly open mind - to understand why
others think about things differently to you and
use this information to gain a better
understanding of the speaker.
Non-Verbal Signs of Ineffective Listening
Although with all non-verbal signals a
certain amount of error has to be
expected, generally signs of inattention
while listening include:
Lack of eye contact with the
speaker
Listeners who are engaged with the
speaker tend to give eye contact. Lack
of eye contact can, however, also be a
sign of shyness.
An inappropriate posture
Louche, leaning back or ‘swinging’ on a
chair, leaning forward onto a desk or
table and/or a constantly shifting
posture. People who are paying
attention tend to lean slightly towards
the speaker.
Being distracted
Fidgeting, doodling, looking
at a watch, yawning.
Inappropriate expressions and lack of head
nods
Often when a listener is engaged with a speaker,
they nod their head, this is usually an almost
subconscious way of encouraging the speaker and
showing attention. Lack of head nods can mean the
opposite – listening is not happening. The same can
be true of facial expressions, attentive listeners use
smiles as feedback mechanisms and to show
attention.
Inappropriate expressions and lack of head
nods
often when a listener is engaged with a speaker,
they nod their head, this is usually an almost
subconscious way of encouraging the speaker and
showing attention. Lack of head nods can mean the
opposite – listening is not happening. The same can
be true of facial expressions, attentive listeners use
smiles as feedback mechanisms and to show
attention.
Further Signs of Ineffective Listening
1. Sudden Changes in Topic
2. Selective Listening
3. Daydreaming
4. Advising
Ineffective Listening is very
common:
You can probably think of examples when you
have listened ineffectively or not been listened
to over the last 24 hours. You can probably
recognize the frustration and irritation when you
know the person you are talking to is not
listening to you. As listening is so fundamental
to the communication listening is so
fundamental to the communication listening.

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LESSON 3

Spend some time thinking about and developing

Studies have shown that, whereas speaking raises

Who are the

Listening Who are the customers you want to

Of this, research shows that an average of 45% is

Listening serves, a number of possible

There are many things that get in the

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