Listening critically

1. What does it mean to listen well?

Basically, it means you are involved in the process of listening both physically and mentally. First of all, you must be physically able to hear the sounds that the speaker makes and be able to understand them. However, it is not enough to hear. You need to pay attention to be able to receive the message, both verbal and nonverbal. To get better at listening, it helps to prepare yourself. You could adopt a positive attitude towards the speaker and his/her message, and strive to listen to all he/she has to say, not just the things you are interested in. Concentrate on what the other person says, not on what you would like to say next on the subject. You can think much faster than the speaker can say things, therefore you must be patient and let him/her finish. Even if you disagree with the ideas presented by the speaker, it is helpful not to interrupt, but wait with remarks or questions until he/she has finished speaking. And, finally, you need to realize that as you are listening you are also sending messages to the speaker. He/she notices if you cannot maintain eye contact, or if your body language shows that you are bored or tired.

2. Why is it important to listen well?

The answer is very simple: when you are able to listen well, you gain insight into the problems your audience might have when listening to you. Good listeners are usually good speakers, as they know what happens when the roles are reversed. In real life, both skills are closely connected, since in conversation we take turns speaking and listening to one another. Another advantage of good listening is that you become more skillful at criticism; you learn how to evaluate what is being said honestly and accurately.

3. What are some obstacles to listening well?

• Distractors of different types, e.g. the speaker’s clothing, make up, vocabulary, etc. Moreover, your own physical or psychological problems at any given moment may stop you from concentrating on what is being said. When listening to people, attempt to concentrate more on their speech than their mannerisms, and more on them than on yourself.
• Environment distractors: outside noise, music in the room, other people talking, etc. If possible, try to create good atmosphere for your listening and focus on the speaker.
• Language issues: if the lecture is in a language you do not know well, you may miss most of the message. In addition, if you are not familiar with a specific technical jargon or slang, you may become discouraged and stop listening.

4. What are the differences between passive and active listening?

When you listen passively, you get the meaning of the speech and are sometimes even able to repeat the gist of it. However, good listening is listening actively. It means that you are “involved in the process of determining meaning” (Verderber, 2011). You repeat to yourself what you heard, you question what was said, and you may paraphrase or take notes while listening. (Verderber, 2011). This will help you to evaluate the speech later on, and take action based on it.