Listening is a vital skill in all aspects of life. Being able to listen well will contribute to a persons overall success. Listening is an important skill for students to improve and develop while in college as they are preparing to enter the workforce. This article will outline several steps to improving your listening skills.
Instructions
01.Be prepared - Prior to going to class make sure to do the required reading for that day and review notes from previous lectures.k
02.Concentrate on the lecture itself, not the lecturer - Try not to let your self become distracted by the lecturer's or instructor's mannerisms, voice quality, or delivery technique. You should concentrate on what is said, not on how it is said.
03.Listen with an open mind - Everyone has their own opinions about things and you don't have to accept everything that is said in a class. But you should maintain an open-minded attitude. Don't let your opposition to a subject or issue block out the message being discussed before the point is fully developed.
04.Keep physically alert - Attempt to minimize any visual or hearing difficulties by sitting near the front of the classroom, near the person speaking, and maintain a comfortable but alert posture.
05.Keep mentally alert - Try to think of likely test questions as the material is presented. Also compare content in the lecture with that in the textbook. Active participation in class discussions is also important. Try to keep yourself from becoming distracted by the floor, ceiling, stuff going on outside through the windows (if there are windows in the classroom), or others around you.
06.Use the listen-think-write process - Practice listening attentively to the material that is being presented. Then evaluate critically its importance and any evidence to support it. Finally, select what is the most appropriate content for your notes. Record that in your own words.
07.Be flexible - You might try taking fewer notes if you are struggling to get it all in or using different note taking systems depending on the type of presentation and the style of the speaker.
