Wasim HasanLecturer in English

 MS Applied Linguistics

M.A. English (Linguistics & Literature)PGD in Computer Sciences

PGD in Linguistics

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Writing Reading Speaking Listening

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Writing Reading Speaking Listening

Amount taught

Listening skills form the basis of:◦Continued learning◦Teamwork skills◦Management skills◦Negotiation skills◦Emotional intelligence

70% of all communication is◦Misunderstood◦Misinterpreted◦Rejected◦Distorted◦Not heard

Difference between Listening and Hearing◦Hearing is a natural ability to detect sounds◦Listening is a skill, which is developed to

understand, interpret the message accurately.

It does not require much of an effort to hear, whereas Listening to be effective, takes much of an effort and time on the part of a listener.

Listening ability varies according to◦Interest in the topic◦Importance of the information◦Length of the message◦Complexity of the message◦The delivery of the message◦Personal problems◦External distractions

Speaker◦ Language◦ Wordiness◦ Semantics◦ Emotions◦ Inflections

Listener◦ Perceptions◦ Preconceived

notions/expectations◦ Physical hearing

problem◦ Speed of thought◦ Personal interests◦ Emotions◦ Attention span◦ No active listening!

Steps involved in Effective Listening:◦Hearing◦Focusing on the message◦Comprehending and interpreting◦Analyzing and evaluating◦Responding◦Remembering

Concepts Related to Listening Ability◦Concentration◦Questioning◦Objectivity◦Note Taking◦Feedback

1.ConcentrationI. Motivation and DemotivationII. Anticipate what the speaker will say nextIII. Focus on the messageIv. Avoid interruption, let the speaker finish first.

2.QuestioningUse of questioning is an effective listening strategy.

It serves two purposes:I. message gets clarifiedII. Speaker gets a positive feedback that a listener is involved.

3. Objectivityi. Minimize the impact of emotion-laden wordsii. Judge content, not deliveryiii. React fairly and sensiblyiv. Overcome distraction; internal as well as external 4. Note Taking

The usefulness of note taking depends on the situation.

5. FeedbackFeed is important in the listening process to that a speaker knows that his/her message is understood.

Good ListenersAttending

◦ Attend to important information

◦ Ready themselves mentally and physically

◦ Listen objectively regardless of emotional involvement

◦ Listen differently depending o situations

Bad Listeners

◦ May not hear what a person is saying

◦ Fidget in chairs, look out the windows, and let their minds wander

◦ Visibly react to emotional language

◦ Listen the same way regardless of the type of material

Good Listeners Understanding Assigned appropriate

meaning to what is said Seek out apparent

purpose, main points and supporting information

Ask mental questions to anticipate information

Silently paraphrase to solidify understanding

Seek out subtle meanings based on non-verbal cues

Bad Listeners Hear what is said but are

unable to understand or assign different meaning to the type of words

Ignore the way information is organized

Fail to anticipate coming information

Seldom or never mentally review the information

Ignore non-verbal cues

Good Listeners Remembering Retain information Repeat key information Take notes Evaluating Listen critically Evaluate inferences Responding

empathically Provide supportive

comforting statements

Bad Listeners Interpret message

accurately but forget it Assume they will

remember Rely on memory alone Understand but unable to

weigh or consider it Accept information at face

value Pass of joy or hurt, change

the subject

ReferencesReferences S. Pfeiffer, William George. (2007)

Technical Writing: A Practical Approach (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall)

Bovee & Thill. (2008) Business Communication Today (Prentice-Hall)

Smith-Worthington Darlene, Jefferson Sue. (2008) Technical Writing for Success (Nelson Education, Ltd. USA)