Listening

Being an effective listener is sometimes a difficult thing, because people are usually more focused on what they are saying than what they are hearing.

Now don’t fall in to the trap of thinking by giving the occasional nod of the head or uh huh, yup or yeah will make people think you are listening to them because they know you aren’t listening.

A good listener is someone who centers their attention on you when you are speaking to them and takes a genuine interest in what you are saying.

There are a few key things we can do to improve our listening skills:

• Decide to be a Better Listener
• Concentrate
• Give Feedback That You’re Listening
• Keep An Open Mind

http://changingminds.org/techniques/listening/good_listening.htm

The web link above gives more tips on how to become an effective listener and goes along with the handout we were given in class.

I have heard many people complain that people who speak English as a second language are impossible to understand. By listening carefully and concentrating, we can usually understand what is being said. As for myself I am not the world’s best listener and have often been accused of having selective hearing.