AURAL COMPREHENSION

AURAL COMPREHENSIONUPLIFT 2012ObjectivesBe familiar with the different models for listening and language instruction as an alternative methodology for teaching listeningInternalize the psychosocial dimensions of the listening actAcquire knowledge, skills and strategies for proficient listeningApply the principles of listening comprehension in preparing instructional activities and materials4 Models of Listening & Language InstructionModel 1: Listening & RepeatingModel 2: Listening & Answering Comprehension QuestionsModel 3: Task listeningModel 4: Interactive listeningI know you believe you understandwhat you think I said

but

I am not sure you realisethat what you heardis not what I meantListening is not my problem!Listening and hearing are the sameGood readers are good listenersSmart people are better listenersListening improves with ageListening skills are difficult to learn

We are prone not to listenWe think more about what we are going to say rather than listening to a speakerWe prefer to talk when we should listen We tend to hear what we expect to hear rather than what is actually saidWe tend not to pay attention because of preoccupation, prejudice, self-centeredness, stereotype

Basic Communication Skills ProfileCommunication Order Learned Extent Used Extent Taught

Listening First First Fourth Speaking Second Second Third Reading Third Third Second Writing Fourth Fourth FirstListening Is With The MindHearing With The SensesListening Is ConsciousAn Active Process Of Eliciting InformationIdeas, Attitudes And EmotionsInterpersonal, Oral Exchange

Stages of the Listening ProcessHearingFocusing on the messageComprehending and interpretingAnalyzing and EvaluatingResponding Remembering

Types of ListeningInformative Listening 1. Vocabulary 2. Concentration 3. MemoryRelationship Listening 1. Attending 2. Supporting 3. EmpathizingAppreciative Listening 1. Presentation 2.Perception 3. Previous experienceBarriers to Active ListeningEnvironmental barriers Physiological barriers Psychological barriers Selective Listening Negative Listening Attitudes Personal Reactions Poor Motivation How to Be an Effective ListenerWhat You Think about Listening ?

Understand the complexities of listeningPrepare to listenAdjust to the situationFocus on ideas or key pointsCapitalize on the speed differentialOrganize material for learning

How to Be an Effective Listener (cont.)What You Feel about Listening ?

Want to listenDelay judgmentAdmit your biasesDont tune out dry subjectsAccept responsibility for understandingEncourage others to talk

How to Be an Effective Listener (cont.)What You Do about Listening ?

Establish eye contact with the speakerTake notes effectivelyBe a physically involved listenerAvoid negative mannerismsExercise your listening musclesFollow the Golden Rule Improving Listening ComprehensionListening comprehension is the act of understanding an oral messageIt involves speech decoding, comprehending, and oral discourse analysis

Speech DecodingWord recognition Recognizing words accurately, understanding the definitions of the words being use, recognizing the way words are used un context, identifying attention signals

Speech Decoding (Cont..)Accent recognition recognize stress, identify pauses, hesitations

ComprehendingComprehending a verbal message involves the ability to:Identify the central theme, main ideas and supporting details;Concentrate and understand long speechesIdentify the level of formalityDeduce incomplete informationDeduce unfamiliar vocabularyListening to structured talksPre-listening analysis-determining the purpose, knowing your speaker Predicting about the content of a verbal messageUsing background knowledgeIntensive listening

Intensive ListeningListening to the introduction 1.1. What is the position, knowledge, background, experience of the speaker? 1.2. What is his credibility? 1.3. What is the overall purpose of the talk? 1.4. What is the central idea or theme? 1.5. What is the overall structure? 1.6. What does the speaker intend to do? 1.7. What are the main points of the talk?Intensive listening (Cont)

. Listening to the BodyContains the main message-pay attentionConcentrate on verbal signpostsRecognize main supporting details of the oral messageConcentrate on visual aids

Intensive Listening ( Cont..)Listening to the conclusionUnderstand the main themes of the verbal messageRecognize the speaker`s focus of the talkConcentrate on what the speaker wants the listener`s to do, or remember

Desire to be other-directedNo desire to protect yourselfDesire to imagine the experience of the otherDesire to understand, not critiqueQualities of Active ListenersATTENDINGExplanation: Providing verbal and non-verbal awarenessSkills for Active ListeningExamples: Sitting forwardEye contactNodding headOpen gesturesMirroringPARAPHRASINGExplanation: Restating the persons basic verbal message.Skills for Active ListeningExamples: So what I hear you saying is . . .

REFLECTING FEELINGSExplanation: Reflecting feelings that have been heard or perceived through cues.Skills for Active ListeningExamples: Youre feeling ___.It makes you (feeling) that . . .CHECKING PERCEPTIONSExplanation: Finding out if interpretations are accurate.Skills for Active ListeningExamples: It seems to me like youre pretty ____.So, you were taking some risks when you . . .BEING QUIETExplanation: Giving the other time to think as well as to talkSkills for Active ListeningExamples: Count to yourself.Dont try to fill every silence.SUMMARIZINGExplanation: Bringing together in some way experiences and feelings.Skills for Active ListeningExamples: You told off the teacher and now youre scared . . .Youre feeling on top of the world because you got an A!SPEAKERTrying It OutTell about some success youve had recently.LISTENERPractice skillsOBSERVERMake note of active listening skills being used. Feedback.Logical Connectors and Transitional Signals4 Models of Listening & Language InstructionModel 1: Listening & RepeatingModel 2: Listening & Answering Comprehension QuestionsModel 3: Task listeningModel 4: Interactive listeningFocus on ListeningListen to yourself!Before you can be an effective listener you have to ensure you are ready to listen.Assess your mental, physical and emotional states.

Remember you are there to listen! Many times people in crisis need to talk through their problems, not get advice on how to solve their problems.If you arent sure if the person wants you to just listen or give advice ASK them!Focus on Their ConcernsFocus on the persons train of thought.Avoid thinking about your response or other non-related things until the person is finished speaking.

Remove distractions.If there is a distraction (TV, music, someone else in the room) remove the distraction if possible so you can focus.If you cant remove the distraction, schedule a time when you can focus on their concerns.Silence & Body LanguageSilence isnt bad!Dont always rush to fill in gaps in conversation. These gaps can be important for the individual to gather their thoughts or express themselves emotionally.

Listen with your eyes!People communicate information through behaviors in addition to what they say.Pay attention to body language to help understand their feelings.Empathic ListeningRefrain from being judgmental.Empathy doesnt mean you agree with the person, just that you have identified and understand how they are feeling.

Uncomfortable conversations.If you have difficulty keeping your beliefs from interfering with your ability to listen, let the person know the topic is too sensitive for you.Find someone else that can listen.Convey You Are ListeningMaintain eye contact when it seems appropriate.

Use minimal encouragers such as Uh huh and I see to communicate you are paying attention.

Paraphrase what the person has said to you and ask questions to fill in gaps.This will not only help you understand, but help the person think through their concerns and express their emotions more effectively.Acknowledge that you understand their thoughts as well as their feelings.Boundary Bill of RightsWe have the Right :to be treated with respectto say NO without feeling guiltyto make a mistaketo ask for what you want and needto express your feelings and opinionsto change your mindto feel good about yourself no matter what others sayto act in your own best interest as long as you do not violate others in the process