Listening Skills

By: Mohd Rehan Bari

Oct 31, 2023

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 Contents
Topics Time
1. Kickoff Activity 5 minutes
2. What is Listening? 2 minutes
3. Importance of Listening 3 minutes
4. How to be an Effective Listener? 4 minutes
5. Hearing Vs Listening 5 minutes
6. Types of Listening 5 minutes
7. Stages of Listening 2 minutes
8. How to Improve Listening Skills? 3 minutes
9. Barriers to Listening 4 minutes
10. Authentic Listening Materials 2 minutes
11. Conclusion 1 minute
12. References 2 minutes

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3
What is Listening?

Listening is a technique
that involves fully
concentrating on the
speaker, understanding the
message, and responding
appropriately. It requires
patience, focus, and
feedback.

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Importance of Listening
•Building relationships and
effective communication.

•Academic success:
understanding lectures,
following instructions,
participating in discussions.

•Professional development:
active listening in meetings,
negotiations, and
presentations.
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 How to be an
Effective Listener?
•Give your full attention: Remove
distractions and focus on the speaker.

•Maintain eye contact and use

appropriate body language.

•Avoid interrupting and listen

without judgment.

•Ask clarifying questions to ensure

understanding.

•Summarize and paraphrase to

demonstrate active engagement.
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 Hearing Vs Listening
•Involuntary: It takes place
regardless of our intention or
conscious effort.
•Limited Processing: Hearing
alone does not involve active
cognitive processing or
comprehension of the sound.
•Basic Level of Awareness:
Hearing provides a basic
awareness of sound but does
not necessarily involve focused
attention.
•Active Process: Listening is an
active and intentional process that
goes beyond simply perceiving
sounds.
•Intentional Understanding:
Unlike hearing, listening aims to
understand and extract meaning
from the received information.
•Response and Feedback:
Listening often leads to a
response, whether it's through
verbal or non-verbal
communication.
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Types of Listening

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Stages of Listening

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 How to Improve Listening Skills?
Strategies to enhance listening
skills:

•Practice active listening techniques

(eye contact, nodding, summarizing).

•Develop note-taking skills to capture

key points.

•Engage in regular listening exercises or

audio materials.

•Use technology tools (e.g., language

learning apps, podcasts) for listening
practice.

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 Barriers to Listening
•Distractions: External distractions, such
as noise, visual stimuli, or interruptions,
can divert our attention away from the
speaker.

•Lack of Attention: Listening requires

active attention and effort. However,
when we are tired, bored, or disinterested,
it becomes challenging.

•Biases and Prejudices: Preconceived

notions, biases, and prejudices can
interfere with our ability to listen
objectively and empathetically.

•Emotional Barriers: Strong emotions,

such as anger, fear, or stress, can create
emotional barriers to listening.

•Cultural and Language Barriers:

Different cultural norms, values, or
communication styles may affect our
interpretation of the speaker's message.
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Authentic Listening
Materials

•Podcasts
•TED Talks
•News Broadcasts
•Movies and TV Shows
•Authentic YouTube Videos
•Conversations and Interviews
•Songs and Music Lyrics
•Radio Shows and Interviews
•Authentic Language Learning
Apps

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 Conclusion
Mastering the art of Active Listening is a valuable skill
for effective communication in English. By overcoming
barriers and using techniques, we can build better
relationships and achieve greater success.

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 References
• https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/listening-
skills.html
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/womensmedia
/2012/11/09/10-steps-to-effective-listening/?
sh=709bf4b03891
• https://www.uj.edu.sa/Files/1001210/Subjec
ts/Chapter%205%20Listening%20Skills%20%2
0.pdf
• https://www.mindtools.com/az4wxv7/active-
listening 14
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