Lecture on Listening

Introduction

• Speaker: Ms. Gadlian Cortado
• Course: Oral Communication in Context
• Topic: Listening
  • Ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process.

Importance of Listening

• Effective Communication: Essential for understanding and conveying messages.
• Daily Activity:
  • 45% of our time is spent listening.
  • 90% of information is retained through ears and eyes.
  • Effective listening is about 50%, indicating many messages are not fully understood.
• Benefits:
  • Focus on the message, aids comprehension.
  • Improves or maintains relationships.

Listening vs. Hearing

• Listening:
  • Uses sensory experiences or background knowledge.
  • Involves paying attention and interpreting sounds.
  • Example: Listening to a friend's story attentively.
• Hearing:
  • Act of receiving sounds without interpretation.
  • Example: Hearing a dog bark while watching TV.

Models of Listening

• Active Listening:

  • Requires effort and concentration.
  • Full attention to the speaker.
  • Involves asking questions and engaging with the content.
  • Example: Listening to lectures.

• Passive Listening:

  • Lacks focus and effort.
  • Often occurs while multitasking.
  • No active participation in understanding.
  • Example: Listening to the radio while talking to someone.

Barriers to Listening

• Noise:
  • Any sensory stimuli disrupting communication.
  • Types of Noise:
    • External Noise:
      • Physical objects/environmental sounds (e.g., radio, temperature).
    • Internal Noise:
      • Emotional/mental distractions (e.g., daydreaming, personal issues).

Understanding Self and Others

• Self-Understanding:

  • Preconceived notions of self can block message reception.
  • Feeling superior can lead to mental contradiction or criticism.

• Understanding Others:

  • Judgments based on voice, appearance can affect listening.
  • Preoccupation with speaker's attributes over their message.

Improving Listening Skills

1. Stop Talking:
   • Allow the speaker to finish without interruption.
2. Concentrate on Task:
   • Focus solely on listening.
3. Avoid Criticism:
   • Value the message over the speaker's appearance.
4. Remove Distractions:
   • Eliminate external distractions (e.g., phone use).
5. Avoid Emotional Reactions:
   • Empathize, maintain an open mind.
6. Be Patient:
   • Allow speaker time to articulate thoughts.
7. Guard Against Prejudice:
   • Focus on the message, not preconceived beliefs.
8. Focus on Main Points:
   • Capture key ideas, not every word.
9. Take Notes:
   • Indicates attention and retention.
10. Observe Verbal and Non-Verbal Cues:
    • Pay attention to gestures, facial expressions.

Conclusion

• Quote by Brian H. McHill: "One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say."

• Q&A: Open to questions and clarifications.