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3. Make eye contact. Eye contact tells your teacher that you’re awake and listening. It also helps to keep your mind from wandering. Facial expressions and gestures convey thoughts too, so keep your eyes on your teacher to improve your understanding of the subtleties of verbal information. Ditto for our career. Eye contact will let your boss, coworker or client know that that you are interested in what they are saying. 4. Value visuals. Senses work together: Eyes support ears; ears support eyes. When your teacher uses power points, overheads or other visuals, look at them! Copy important visuals in your notes (unless your teacher posts the image on the class webpage.) Visual images make verbal content more meaningful and illustrate principles of the lecture. 5. Make connections. As you listen, make connections between what your teacher says and what you already know. Get your schema on! Search your mental data base for connections to prior knowledge. Interpret concepts as they are presented. If you can’t make a connection or interpret a concept, raise your hand and ask. Odds are other students aren’t getting it either. Don’t sit and let information you don’t understand wash over you. Get involved and ask! What prevents students from actively listening in the classroom? Various behaviors, habits, and attitudes can interfere with a student’s ability to actively listen. Usually, students are completely unaware of this problem. For example, a lack of self-control can cause a loss of focus. Boredom is an attitude, and it distracts students from learning. Students can also get side-tracked by something a teacher says that they don’t understand. Others lose focus on the message when there is something about the messenger that bothers them. The poor acoustical quality of the classroom, or noise from outside can interfere with listening. Active listeners monitor the quality of their listening. They self-correct behaviors that prevent active listening, and seek assistance when they are prevented from listening because of noise or other interferences outside of their personal control. PRODUCT PREVIEW
THE BIG PICTURE
Hearing is a passive activity. Listening is an active pursuit requiring effort and concentration. Active listening can greatly improve your comprehension and ability to recall verbally delivered content. Get into the habit of using active listening skills in class. Monitor your personal behaviors, attitudes, and habits for things that prevent active listening. Developing your ability to actively listen is an excellent study skill for high school, college, and career.
Boredom is an attitude that distracts students from listening.
Chapter 14 | Hey, Are You Listening? 122
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