Listening Skills

 Listening Skills

  We have two ears and one mouth to listen more and talk less.

Introduction

Along with reading, writing, and speaking, it is one of the four primary language learning skills. Therefore, the first stage in learning a language is to develop listening abilities, which are also crucial.

Receiving and comprehending are basic steps of active listening. It is also the capacity to take in, grasp, examine, and interpret the thoughts and messages spoken by others. For instance, attentive listening includes viewing the news and listening to the lecture in class.

Understanding a person's accent, sound pitch, intonation, and body language allows us to listen to them.

 

Definition of Listening Skills by Scholars

Here are a few fundamental definitions offered by the thinkers. i.e.

1. Dr Rachel Naomi Remen

His perspective of view on listening skills is as follows:

"The most fundamental and effective approach to connect to another person is to listen. Listen only. Our attention is arguably the most significant gift we ever give to one another.

2. Dumont and Lennon

They define listening as "the intricate and selective process of receiving, focusing, deciphering, accepting, and storing," according to their theory on the subject.

Components of Listening Skills

Since successful communication skills include listening, Therefore, the notion of the elements of listening is derived from the very fundamental query. Specifically, can listening skills be taught?

Yes, practising and exercising your listening skills will help you become a better listener. However, you can explain a few things to your class that will help them grasp how to listen, what to listen for, and why an error might be made.

As a result, listening might be challenging for English language learners. Due to the different components that make listening challenging to understand, there are many reasons for improving our listening skills.

The elements listed below can help every ESL (English as Second Language) learner understand language structure more precisely by focusing on them.

1. Layers of Sound

Rather than reading, students are given a single text to follow. However, as we listen, we frequently experience frequent interruptions and hear others at varying levels and speeds. Therefore, to listen effectively, we must pay attention to every little detail of what others are saying or doing.

2. Stress

When a phrase is stressed, some words are highlighted and the overall meaning is altered. Therefore, every ESL learner may accurately perceive language by listening to emphasized words and phrases. As stated in the examples below, the bolded words in these statements correspond to the stressed area, and you will hear many interpretations.

v He speaks English. (In this instance, the primary focus is on the person who speaks not anyone else)

v He speaks English. (In this example, the stress is on the capability of the person to speak/ That is he speaks the language but possibly he can’t read or write it)

v He speaks English. (Here the primary concern is on the language that person speaks/ That is he speaks English but not any other language)

3. Accent

Since written English is essentially the same around the world. However, there are several variations in spoken English because of accents, which can make it extra harder for ESL learners to follow a discussion. Thus, the accent is yet another factor that influences our hearing abilities.

4. Intonation

A sentence's intonation determines how it sounds. Every English speaker changes the pitch of their words throughout a conversation rather than speaking in a monotone. In this approach, the listener is in charge of how he or she interprets the speaker's tone. The most frequent instance is when we ask a straightforward/simple question.

With a falling intonation, this is a simple statement.

Ø it’s time to say goodbye ↓

However, with a rising intonation, it refers to a question.

Ø it’s time to say goodbye ↑

Consequently, we might think about how intonation affects our listening abilities, particularly for ESL learners.

 

Methods of Listening Skills

Interactive exercises and multimedia materials are both parts of effective contemporary listening skill instruction. The best ways to learn listening skills are through straightforward, interesting activities that emphasise the learning process above the finished output. Any of the following examples can be used to create your strategies for teaching students to listen effectively, regardless of whether you are working with a big or small group of students.

1. Interpersonal Activities

Through interpersonal exercises like role-playing interviews or mock interviews and storytelling, students can improve their listening abilities safely and effectively. Place the kids in groups of two or three, and then give each group a specific listening task to do. You might, for instance, have one student interview another for a position with a business or a newspaper piece. Students can practise active listening skills by asking each other questions as part of any storytelling activity, such as one that responds to the inquiry, "What was your favourite movie from last year?"

2. Group Activities

Larger group activities are also effective in instructing pupils in listening skills. Start with a straightforward group activity. Divide the class into groups of five or more for the first activity, and give each group a task to learn about one hobby or interest shared by at least two group members. Encourage them to ask clarifying questions throughout the activity, and if it would be useful, let them take notes. However, as time goes on and their abilities advance, you should restrict students to simply making notes after the initial phase of the group activity is finished. In the second half, arrange the students in a big circle and ask them to take turns sharing the names and interests of the group members they met. Additional listening activities might be used in this group activity's second section. For instance, you might ask the class to list a few of the interests and pastimes mentioned during the sharing session.

3. Audio Segments

Additionally, audio excerpts from radio shows, internet podcasts, instructive lectures, and other audio messages can be used to develop listening skills. You should practise this interactive listening approach with your pupils in class before giving them instructions on how to do it alone. First, tell the students to think about what they would want to learn from the audio segment's material as they get ready to listen. After they have shared their thoughts or written them down, play the audio clip while allowing the students to take notes, if necessary. Repeat this activity once students have gained confidence and experience, but this time, tell them not to take notes until the audio portion is over. For this kind of practice, you can employ shorter or longer audio portions, as well as more approachable or difficult content. 

4. Video Segments

Videos, including short sketches, newscasts, documentaries, interview segments, and dramatic and funny content, are another useful tool for teaching listening skills. Similar to audio segments, choose the length and portion of the video segment based on the student’s degree of proficiency. Watch the clip silently with your pupils first, then have a group discussion about it. Encourage the pupils to indicate what they anticipate the segment's content to be. Then, replay the scene with sound, allowing students to take notes if necessary for their level of understanding. You can ask students to summarise the video segment in a few sentences once it is over, or you can take some time to have a group discussion about how the section stacks up against the students' expectations.

5. Instructional Tips

Whatever approach you take to teaching listening, keep in mind a few crucial teaching pointers that will guide you and your students through the process. Firstly, be realistic about your expectations. Even the most skilled listener would not be able to precisely recall a message. Secondly, make sure that your instructions are clear and include an opportunity for students to make mistakes as well as seek clarification. Thirdly, create exercises that are suited to students' ability and confidence levels to help them overcome their communication fears. Then, by praising their progress, no matter how modest, students can build confidence.

 

Techniques of Effective Listening

To improve your listening abilities, apply the following five simple strategies.

1. Make Eye Contact

Eye contact is the first technique. It is to turn to face the speakers and make eye contact so they know you have their full attention.

2. Minimize Distractions

The obstacles that can prevent us from listening with interest are distractions. As an illustration, if you are participating in a Zoom conference, set your status to "Do not disturb," put your phone on silent, and mute the television and radio.

3. Ask to Follow up Questions

Ask a question to get more information and to clarify the speaker's message if it is unclear. For instance, I want to make sure, that's correct. Is what you're saying true? Would you like me to say it again?

This can assist you in determining whether you correctly understood the message.

4. Pay Attention

Pay close attention to what is being said and nod your head in agreement. Take a direct look at the speaker as well. Distracting thoughts must be set aside, and a retort must not be mentally prepared. Last but not least, be mindful of your surroundings (side conversations) and pay attention to the speaker's body language.

5. Show You are Listening

Show that you are paying attention by demonstrating your body language and gestures. Additionally, keep in mind the following guidelines: periodically nod; simile; and utilize other facial expressions.

Make sure your stance conveys attention and openness.

Make brief vocal comments, such as "Yes" and "Hmm," to prod the speaker to go on.

6. Defer Judgement

Since interruptions lose time, Additionally, it aggravates the speaker and prevents a proper comprehension of the message. So, refrain from asking questions until the speaker has finished making each point. Similarly, avoid interjecting with opposing points of view.

Importance of Listening Skills

1. Listening Skills Improve Language

The enhancement of language is one benefit of listening skills. You will learn as you listen. You learn new words when you watch talk shows and attend lectures.

You may argue that reading has a similar impact. Yes, you are correct, however, reading books gives you less exposure than listening to someone talk because you tend to read books in a script that is familiar to you.

2. Listening Skills Get You Prepared

Being prepared for a conversation is why listening is crucial in communication. You are preparing your comments for the conversation while you listen. Because hearing requires comprehension and interpretation, and because it ultimately gets you ready with pertinent information.

3. Listening Skills Promote Better Socialisation

In this world, nobody can live alone so everyone has to engage with others. Better social skills are encouraged by effective listening skills. Sometimes all it takes to help someone is to listen. Your social circle will grow due to your ability to listen with a sincere want to be with someone else.

4. Listening Improves Leadership Skills

You should improve your listening skills before trying to become a better leader. Because it enables you to link the thoughts of your team, hear different points of view, and avoid misunderstandings. A good team leader makes sure that everyone feels heard and valued. If you've always believed that effective communicators make successful leaders, you're only seeing half of the picture. They are excellent listeners as well.

 

TYPES OF LISTENING

The following are fundamental types of listening skills;

1. Dialogic Listening

The Greek terms "dia" (meaning "through") and "logos" (meaning "word") are the origin of the word "dialogue." Dialogic listening is thus defined as learning through dialogue and an involved exchange of ideas and information in which we proactively try to understand the other person and their way of thinking.

2. Biased Listening

Poor hearing occurs when people just pay attention to what they want to hear. Typically, people misread what others say. This kind of biased listening is frequently quite judgmental in nature.

3. Sympathetic Listening

It is motivated by emotions; rather than paying attention to the words used to convey the message, the listener concentrates on the speaker's feelings and emotions. Processing these emotions and feelings is done. The assistance the speaker needs can be given by using sympathetic listening. It is vital if you want to create a deeper relationship with someone in your life.

4. Relational Listening

This kind of listening is what we do when we're attempting to support someone else or keep a connection going. The relationship could be with a spouse, parents, classmates, or friends, for example.

5. Discriminative Listening

v Everyone is born with the ability to listen discriminately.

v Sound identification.

v To ascertain what the speaker truly thinks and feels, pay attention to their body language, tone shifts, and loudness.

6. Critical Listening

v The ability to evaluate the message is examined, and the listener or receiver does so by his or her capacity.

v Analysis, critical thinking, and judgement are required.

v Use critical listening if you need to analyse complicated information.

7. Pretending Listening

It is also known as not listening, and it appears that way because of facial expressions that suggest someone is paying attention to the message being transmitted. Although your ears and brain do not, your eyes may be pointing at the speaker.

8. Active Listening

v Appropriate listening

v Appropriate feedback

v Complete focus on the speaker and what he is saying.

9. Selective Listening

v Before deciding.

v Remembering the part about selecting.

v We either do it because we have already heard about it or because we have no interest.

v The only portion of the message that is required is listening, and the rest gets discarded.

v For instance, the repeated lecture in class.

10. Comprehensive Listening

It involves comprehending the message being delivered. To use comprehensive listening, the listener must have the necessary language and vocabulary skills.

 

Activity

The teacher will tell a story to the children as part of their exercise. Students will be divided into groups when they have memorised the story, and they will then be required to retell it on their own terms. So, we may assess their listening skills in this manner.

 

For More Articles Check This...