LISTENING SKILLS-1.pptx

Listerning skills

1. LISTENING SKILLS

2. Listening is the ability to accurately receive sound and interpret the message for undestanding . Listening is key to all effective oral communication . Effective listening is a skill that underpins all positive humans relationship By all accounts, however, most of us are not very good listeners. Sometimes we pretend to be listening when we are not. Sometimes we look attentive in class while our mind wanders far away . Note: What is the difference between listening and hearing?

3. Types of Listening Marginal Listening Refers to a listener’s poor/partial listening habit. It is characterised by inattention, day-dreaming, wandering mind and avoiding understanding of complex points. Evaluative Listening This involves passing hasty judgments about the speaker instead of understanding the idea from speaker’s point of view/frame of reference. Active Listening Engaging fully with the speaker regardless whether you agree to what the speaker says or not. Separate facts from emotion feeling in an effort to listen completely.

4. Obstacles to Effective Listening Physiological barriers This is mainly biological factor You cannot listen effectively if you cannot hear what is being said. A ny form of hearing impairment P hysical exhaustion or tiredness Age related factors due to degeneration

5. Psychological barriers Wandering mind & day dreaming Lack of interest to the topic/speaker Differences in opinion Preconceived notions Prejudgments etc. Linguistic barriers Use of difficult words/expressions Different accents and pronunciation Mispronounced words or words with double meaning

6. Personality H ard to listen if a speaker is different from what we view as normal. Unusual clothing M annerisms, Radical hairstyle Heavy jewelry Too much perfume Environmental distractions Busy surroundings (moving cars, loud music) Irrelevant posters and pictures Movement of people etc.

7. Building Powerful Listening Skills Give full attention Focus entirely on the speaker Avoid distractions Maintain eye contact Show interest through body language Control your environment Close windows or doors, Turn off noisy appliances such as TVs & radios Choose a quite place and time etc. Remove irrelevant pictures & posters

8. Establish a receptive mind-set Expect to learn something by listening. Strive for a positive and receptive frame of mind. If the message is complex, think of it as mental challenge . Keep an open mind D iscipline yourself to listen objectively. Be fair to the speaker Hear what is really being said, not what you want to hear. Avoid prejudgments and dislike to the speaker

9. Listen between the lines Focus both on what is spoken and what is unspoken. Listen for feelings as well as for facts. Establish and maintain eye contact with the speaker

10. Judge ideas, not appearances Learn to concentrate on the content of the message, not on the speaker . Take selective notes R ecord important facts that must be recalled later. Select only the most important points so that the note taking process does not interfere with your concentration on the speaker’s total message.

11. Provide feedback Let the speaker know that you are listening. Nod your head, maintain eye contact etc. Ask relevant questions at appropriate times. Feedback confirms understanding