Active Listening

Session 3

Introduction No communication process is

complete without listening. Listening can be defined as a

process of receiving, interpreting and reacting to a message received from the speaker.

Hearing and listening are not similar.

STEPS INVOLVED

TYPES Appreciative Listening is listening to derive

aesthetic pleasure. Empathetic Listening is listening to a

distressed friend wherein one provides emotional and moral support.

Comprehensive Listening is done when someone understands and comprehends the message in greater detail, like in a class.

Critical Listening is evaluating the message critically. Used when the purpose is to accept or reject the message.

You do not listen with just your ears: you listen with your eyes and with your sense of touch ,you listen by becoming aware of the feelings and emotions that arise within yourself because of this contact with others. You listen with your mind, your heart, your imagination.

Egan Gerard

ACTIVE versus PASSIVE Listening. Prepare to listen Avoid pre-judgement Be open-minded Establish eye contact Watch for signals Extract main points Make notes if possible Give FEEDBACK

DON’TS Pay undue emphasis to the

vocabulary. Pay to much attention to the

accessories and clothing of the speaker.

Concentrate too hard Interrupt too often Show boredom to an uninteresting

speaker

Activity

Sit in groups of 8 each. The first group member will frame a three to four lined story and pass it to his next friend. Each group member will keep on adding one line each and finally the last person in the group will tell the story to everybody in the class.