2. Listening vs. Hearing
• Hearing- physical process; natural;
passive, unintentional,
• Listening- intentional process, physical &
mental process; active; learned process; a
skill
• Listening is hard!
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3. What is Listening?
• Listening (ILA, 1996): the process of
receiving, constructing meaning from, and
responding to spoken and/or nonverbal
messages; to hear something with
thoughtful attention.
• Effective communication is 2-way
– depends on speaking and listening
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4. Significance of Listening with Facts
• We listen at 125-250 wpm, think at 1000-
3000 wpm.
• 75% of the time we are distracted,
preoccupied or forgetful.
• 20% of the time, we remember what we
hear.
• More than 35% of businesses think
listening is a top skill for success.
• Less than 2% of people have had formal
education with listening. 4
5. Types of Listening
1. Insensitive Listening or Offensive listening:
The listeners selects information to use
against the speaker.
2. Insulated Listening: A style where the listener
avoids responsibility by failing to acknowledge that
they have heard the information.
3. Selective Listening: A style where the listener
only responds to the particular parts.
4. Bottom Line Listening: The receiver only listens
about the facts. "Just the facts man." 5
6. Cont…
5. Court Reporter Syndrome: Listening and
recording it verbatim.
6. Informational Listening: The listener is
seeking out specific information.
7. Evaluative Listening: A style used to listen to
information upon which a decision is made.
8. Critical Incidence Listening: When not
listening may have dramatic effects.
9. Intimate Listening: The speaker is
communicating information completely honest. 6
8. Step 1: Listen
• To Feelings As Well As Words
– Words – Emotions -- Implications
• Focus on Speaker
– Don’t plan, speak, or get distracted
• What Is Speaker Talking About?
– Topic? Speaker? Listener? Others?
• Look At Speaker (if present)
• Use Verbal & Non-Verbal Encouragers
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9. Step 2: Questioning
• 3 Purposes
– Demonstrates why you are listening
– Gather key information
– Clarification of your understanding
• Open-ended
– Tell me more?
– How did you feel?
– Then what happened?
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10. Step 3: Reflect-Paraphrase
• Reflect What Is Said (In your words)
• Reflect Feelings
• Reframe
– Capture the essence of the communication
– Remove negative framing
– Move towards problem solving
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11. Strategies to Improve Your Listening
1. Increase your listening span:
• Try to resist the temptation to interrupt.
• If you don't get the whole message, ask
the speaker to repeat what they said.
• 2.) Take time to listen:
– Don't put obvious limitations on your
listening time - the speaker will feel
rushed.
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12. Cont…
• 3.) Listen between the lines:
– Don't just listen to what is being said.
– Try to understand the attitudes, needs and
motives behind the words.
• 4.) Give your full attention:
– Nodding or interjecting occasionally
– If the speaker pauses, don't fill the silence.
– Use open-ended questions to encourage
elaboration.
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13. Cont…
• 5.) Restate the message:
– When you are sure that the speaker has finished,
restate the main points.
– It also gives the speaker assurance that the message
has been received.
• 6.) Listen for ideas as well as facts:
• 7.) Don't monopolize:
– Resist the urge to dominate a situation
– Be open to new ideas and allow the speaker to have
his or her say.
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14. DO’s
• Be mentally prepared to listen
• Evaluate the speech not the speaker
• Be unbiased to the speaker
• Fight distractions
• Be open minded
• Ask questions to clarify
• Paraphrase from time to time
• Send appropriate non-verbal signals
• Eye contact, nodding
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15. Don’ts
• Not to pay undue emphasis on vocabulary; use the
context to understand the meaning
• Don’t focus on accessories and clothing of the speaker
• Not to prepare your responses while the speaker is
speaking
• Avoid preconceptions and prejudices
• Not to get distracted by outside influences
• Not to interrupt too often
• Not to show boredom, yawning
• Daydreaming.
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16. IELTS Listening Pattern
• 30 minutes
• 40 questions
• Recording 1: a conversation between two
persons
• Recording 2: a monologue
• Recording 3: a conversation between up to
four people set in an educational context,
Recording 4: a university lecture
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17. Free Practice of IELTS Listening Test
• Questions, audio, answers
• https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-
ielts/prepare/free-ielts-practice-
tests/listening/section-1
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