Active Listening and (Active Reading)

Hello Everyone!

Which one do you like the most? Listen or talk? Hahahha Just answer it in your heart.  👀

Well, today I will discuss about active listening. Why? Because in active listening we can learn about critical thinking. 👩

Active listening is commonly used in three main fields:

• Counseling and training
• Business
• Conflict resolution

Active Listening is a situation where it is extremely important for the listener to fully hear what other speakers are saying. This is important for professional development which requires quality exchanges.

Active listening helps us, the educators, to fully understand what someone else is expressing before responding. It really helps us to help others gain insight, to practice ourselves in giving feedback, to offer suggestions, clarify information, and think critically.

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”

Stephen R. Covey.

Here are some techniques we can use:

1.       Use your full attentions to read the posts. Do not be distracted while reading. Fully present, clear your mind. Read out loud to concentrate more.

2.       Reflect before responding.

Being ACTIVE LISTENERS requires SELF-AWARENESS.

“Is it something needs to be said?”

3.       Make sure you understood what other person wrote. Be careful to express what you want to say!

It will indicate:

a)      We have completely understand what others said, or

b)      We are worried that the other person may not be receptive to our words.

Tips:

·         Clarify “Correct me if I’m wrong, but ….”

·         Restate/ Summarize “Let’s see if I’m clear about this…”

·         Emotional topic “It seems that you….”

4.       Recognize the emotional side

Instead of REPEATING, RECOGNIZE the emotional impact.

“That sounds really scary….”

5.       Offer Alternatives

“Would you agree with this idea…..?”

UNDERSTANDING or TAKE other person’s idea FURTHER

You show them implications

(Meaning/Outcomes of what they’re saying)

6.       Share your P.O.V, knowledge, or experience.

“I have also experienced this, when….”

7.       Request more information. This can make discussion more meaningful.

“Can you tell me about your experience?”

“NO MATTER WHAT OUR TECHNIQUE WE USE,

BE RESPECTFUL, HONEST, AND OPEN!”

So guys, try to get your students know about this. These techniques will help them be more critical towards what other people say. There is one activity from RELO US Embassy that is explained by Mrs. Najwa Abdullah, that can be applied within these techniques. I call it as “Responding Ball”.

Steps:

1. Ask your students to make a circle. Then explain the techniques of active listening briefly.
2.  Bring a real ball in, which have been covered by attached words on the surface. The words are: define, ask questions, agree, clarify, disagree, challenge, and summarise.
3. First, explain them to concentrate and fully understand what other people say or what the statement shown says, because they have to respond whenever they get the ball. They can choose to ask questions to the previous speaker, or to clarify previous statement, and etc. However, teacher will show a statement first on the screen, and student who will get the first ball, has to define, and then give the ball to her/his friend to do the next response.
4.  Do this activity, until all students speak.
5.  Guide the time. Make sure there is no student who dominates the discussion.
6. Remember to also clarify and summarize this session so that students have a right understanding.

By doing this activity, I believe, students will learn how to respond right to every saying.