The fine art of listening

B.S. WARRIER

Here are ways in which you can make the most of a classroom lecture. B.S. Warrier

MAKE NOTES, QUESTION YOURSELF: Classroom lectures can be very interesting, provided there is total involvement and interaction between the teacher and the learner. Photo: V. Ganesan

There are many reasons why you may not listen properly. You may have this pre-conceived notion that the teacher is dull and cannot evoke your interest. Sometimes the dress or demeanour of the teacher may put you off.

Mannerisms such as the frequent repetition of certain words or expressions by the teacher may prove a deterrent to the pupil. If the teacher mentions a new term that you do not understand, then further listening will not be effective. So you have to raise a doubt and get it cleared. A good teacher will only welcome such doubts, since it will help not only you, but also the entire class. Irritating gesticulations or poor voice levels of the teacher may also discourage students. Good teachers normally speak loud enough so that all the students can hear the lecture well.

Distractions such as the conversation of students next to you while the teacher goes ahead with the lesson, or your own preoccupation with other thoughts can also result in poor listening.

Worry or fear, anger or depression may prove a barrier to listening. In fact, such internal distractions are more damaging than the external ones. Another reason for poor listening could be your lack of interest in the subject. Or perhaps you fear that the subject is tedious or boring. The inability to see the teacher's face because of a poor seating arrangement is yet another reason.

Good listening

- Make prior preparation for each class, by revising the previous lesson, reviewing class notes, and reading the day's lesson in advance.

- Maintain good eye contact with the teacher. (You may have to shift your eyes to the notebook for writing lecture notes.)

- Face the teacher squarely.

- Take note of non-verbal cues such as facial expressions, posture, tone of the voice, and gestures of the teacher.

- Remain open-minded while listening. You need not try to predict what the teacher would say next, even if you have read the lesson in advance.

- Sit relaxed and composed.

- Never get distracted by extraneous sounds.

- Don't look out of the window or at whatever else is going on in the room. Focus your attention on the teacher.

- Never allow your mind to wander. Never daydream. Maintain your concentration at the highest level during the lecture. Listen actively. Be alert, attentive, and enthusiastic.

- Listening to a classroom lecture should not be taken as a passive act. You have to focus on what is said by the teacher and process the new ideas continuously in your mind, and promptly write the salient points in your notebook.

- Asking mental questions will keep you active and alert.

- As a part of listening, go on asking mental questions such as `What is the key point at this stage?' `What is the application of this idea?' `How well does this point agree with my prior knowledge?' or `How can I easily remember this idea easily?' This is not at all difficult, since you think much faster than the teacher can speak. Your mind remains occupied with the lesson content; you do not give room for distraction of any kind.

- If you feel that your mind has started wandering after you listen for sometime, forcefully tell your mind "Come back".

- Be responsive to the teacher through your expressions and confirm that you are listening. Never keep a blank face

- Look for key points presented by the teacher and note them promptly in your notebook. Write out clearly new words or terms or expressions mentioned by the teacher.

- You can ask questions such as what, why, when, where, how, and who in your mind while listening. If you cannot find answers to the relevant questions, you can raise your doubts in the class or ask the teacher for clarification after the class. You can link the new ideas you hear with your prior knowledge.

- In higher classes, students should practise critical listening of a high order. You are not supposed to swallow what is heard hook, line, and sinker, but process the lesson in the crucible of your mind, appreciate it fully, and arrive at proper conclusions and inferences.

You should necessarily apply logic and systematic reasoning as a part of exercising wise judgement.

No amount of theoretical discussion can help us, unless we practise systematic listening and learn lessons from our lapses. Remaining silent is no proof of good listening.

Practise

Try to put your best effort in listening and check how well you can recollect the points made by the teacher. Try to focus on the points brought forward by the teacher, and not on the teacher or his techniques and strategies. If you are analysing in your mind what the teacher is speaking about, you are on the right track.

Apply the steps to ensure proper listening and find out how much improvement you could make.

This is the application of the `hot stove' principle. You may read or hear a lot about the damage that would be caused by touching a hot stove. But that would be nothing like the real experience of touching a hot stove with your own fingers.

There is no substitute for practise in any human endeavour, and developing good listening skills is no exception. Remember that there is always room for improvement.