ENGLISH SKILLS ENHANCEMENT (ESEN)

Dr. Remigio C. Sacdalan Jr.

Associate Professor IV

INTRODUCTION
This course aims to enhance students’ English language skills to adapt to the changing
communication environment. Lessons in listening, speaking, reading, and writing will be
conducted to upgrade students’ ability to engage in meaningful communication.

LISTENING SKILLS

1. Listening is a receptive skill. It allows individuals to gather information and eventually

build a repertoire of knowledge to formulate new ideas that can be shared either orally
or visually to other people.

2. Listening is part of the whole communication cycle. Messages are interpreted from the
very point of view where they are created.

3. Listening is not a natural process. It requires preparation and practice. Listeners need to
train how to accurately draw meaning from what they hear.

4. Listening is not mere hearing. HEARING requires healthy ears that involuntarily receive
sounds. LISTENING requires focus, mental processing, storing of information, and
reacting to stimuli.

5. LISTENING REQUIRES EFFORT. Notice how some of us complain about getting tired of
listening. We actually use energy while we sit down and listen. While listening, we may
(1) filter unnecessary sounds, (2) think about the words we hear, (3) remember
information we find useful, and (4) prepare to respond.

STAGES OF THE LISTENING PROCESS

1. RECEIVING is a physiological process where the sound waves enter the hearing
mechanism.

2. ATTENDING is the conscious process of filtering other sounds and paying attention to a
specific sound.

3. UNDERSTANDING refers to the process of making meaning; the listener either gets
meaning from or gives meaning to the message.

4. REMEMBERING is the storing in memory the information gathered from listening and
retrieving it when needed.

5. RESPONDING is the reaction to the message listened to.

(*the last two stages can be skipped)
TYPES OF LISTENING

1. INFORMATIONAL LISTENING entails listening to comprehend and retain information.

Types of information that we listen to:

1.1 Description translates images and other visual information into spoken words so
that listeners can access, enjoy, and learn from them.
1.2 Factual Information is information that solely deals with what is supported by
pieces of evidence. It is short and self-explanatory.
1.3 Instructions information that contain commands and explanations on how to
behave or to complete a task.

2. CRITICAL LISTENING involves the rational process of evaluating the information

presented by a text. It involves careful and systematic reasoning to decide whether a
message is valid based on factual evidence. Listening to reports, opinion, and campaigns
fall under this type of listening.

To be critical also means learning how to filter information that is listened to by

identifying whether the information received is a mere propaganda, a fact, an opinion,
or a slanted language.

Propaganda refers to the methods, measures, or devices for spreading doctrines or

promoting causes. It is used in advertisements for business, political, military, or religious
reasons.

A Fact is something that has been or can be verified or proven to be true.

An Opinion is something which people think, believe in, or prefer without evidence or
verification.

A Slanted Language is when there is bias or tendency to favor or to be prejudiced

against something or someone.

3. ACADEMIC LISTENING is essentially a specialized form of listening consisting of

integration and academic skills. Listening to speeches, lectures, and interviews is
associated with this type of listening.

Public Speaking is a presentation delivered before an audience, which can cover a wide
variety of topic.

Lecture is a form of communication that is similar to public speaking, except that the size
of the audience is smaller and the members belong to the same institution.

Interview is essentially a structured conversation where one participant asks the

questions, and the other one provides an answer.