Effective Listening for Students

If you are to succeed at learning, there are a few things that you must accept as givens. Unless you are dealing with a first or second year instructor, the most important material to learn is not what's in the book, but what comes out of the instructor's mouth. If you use effective listening, you will find out what you must know, as opposed to what is interesting to know; what is critical for success and what is simply polish on the apple; maybe more importantly (at least for high marks), you will discover what will be on the test and what will likely not be on the test.

"...lectures are still the best way to discover what the teacher thinks is important." Adam Robinson, author of What Smart Students Know

Most professors expect you to acquire the main points of their classes from the lectures, and to use the textbooks as supplimental sources. They will provide guidance as to what is important, how they expect you to approach the subject and where you should focus. The textbooks become the source of raw material you need to fill in the blanks or acquire context from.

I know there are profs out there who drone on in class, basically reading from the text, and then hand out additional reading assignments, but they are the exception. To excel in any subject, you are going to have to listen to what the prof has to say, and listen effectively.

How often have you sat through a class lecture, only to discover at the end that you couldn't recall a single fact? Most of us have had an experience like that. Here's what you must do so that it doesn't happen again:

1. Prepare for class. Skim ahead in the text before class to give yourself an idea of the subject matter. With a framework in your mind, you can concentrate on what the instructor presents as the main points.

2. Prepare questions. Based on your pre-reading of lecture material, have some questions in mind that you want the answers to. Write the questions out in your note. This will prompt you to pay attention to the lecture, so you hear the answers when they come.

3. Avoid distractions. Don't sit next to the lecture hall entrance, or near a window. You want to focus on the prof, not who's coming in late, or what's going on outside.

4. Have a personal reason to listen. Aside form the questions you have prepared, try and find a personal reason to listen. Tie the subject matter into your own life or interests. Have you ever had a personal experience involving the topic, do you know anyone who has, do you have any feelings about it, does the topic involve things that could occur someplace you are familiar with, or a job you might someday want? Get creative, but find some reason to pay attention, as emotional a reason as possible.

5. Use your body. It is now well established that there is a strong brain-body link. That is, by the simple act of forcing yourself to smile, you alter how you think. By the same token, by sitting erect, leaning forward, narrowing your vision in on the lecturer, and nodding when you understand something, you put yourself into a more focus-friendly mindset.

6. Avoid other activities. This is not the time to review the call log on your cell phone, craft a note to your room mate, or create a shopping list. Put everything else aside (including conversations with the person next to you) and orient yourself to the task at hand.

7. Avoid judgment. Now is not the time to judge what is being said. Now is the time to HEAR what is being said. Save the judgments for later. While in class, be open to the lecturer and listen.

8. Pay attention to the opening. The lecturer is likely going to provide a brief summary of the topic at the start, and then to summarize at the end. These are the times you particularly need to focus. Get to the lecture early, and don't start packing up until the speaker is finished. You don't want to miss the comment that "Of course, today's topic will represent 30% of the mark for next weeks test."

9. Absorb all visual material. In particular, listen to the profs remarks about any visual material presented. These may be different or alternates to descriptive material in the textbook.

10. Listen for tonal changes or emphasis. Most professors will let you know with a multitude of clues, from volume or tonal changes to hand gestures, when they cover important information. They don't always say, "And this next bit will be on the test," but they sometimes say that too. When they give those kinds of clues, immediately develop a mental picture of yourself succeeding in the class. The mental image will carry the emotional content that allows you practice effective listening.

11. Stay a step ahead. Effective listening requires you to engage your mind in the topic. One of the easiest ways to do this is to anticipate what the professor will say before they say it. Try to see where they are going with their comments. If they are presenting details, what are they building up to. If they present a general statement, try and anticipate the details. By putting something of yourself into the process, you more easily acquire the material.

Effective listening is a skill, like any other and you get better with practice. The good news is, even if you can't use all eleven tips immediately, even one of them will make a noticeable difference in how well you listen.

For more information on effective listening techniques, as well as additional info on pre-reading and note taking, take a look at: http://www.learning-study-skills.com

For comments mailto:paul@learning-study-skills.com

More Education Links

Home page

Information Index