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It
is important for you to be a good listener in class. Much of what you will have
to learn will be presented verbally by your teachers. Just hearing what your
teachers say is not the same as listening to what they say. Listening is a
cognitive act that requires you to pay attention and think about and mentally
process what you hear.
Here are some things you should do to be a good
listener in class.
Be Cognitively Ready to Listen When You Come to Class.
Make sure you complete all assigned work and readings.
Review your notes from previous class sessions. Think
about what you know about the topic that will be covered
in class that day.
Be Emotionally Ready to Listen
When You Come to Class.
Your attitude is important. Make a conscious choice to find the topic useful
and
interesting. Be committed to learning all that you can.
Listen with a Purpose. Identify what you
expect and hope
to learn from the class session. Listen for these things as
your teacher talks.
Listen with an Open Mind. Be receptive to
what your
teacher says. It is good to question what is said as long as
you remain open to points of view other than your own.
Be Attentive.
Focus on what your teacher is saying. Try
not to daydream and let your mind wander to other things.
It helps to sit in the front and center of the class, and to maintain eye
contact with
your teacher.
Be an Active Listener.
You can think faster than your teacher can speak. Use this to
your advantage by evaluating what is being said and trying to anticipate
what will be
said next. Take good written notes about what your teacher says. While you
can
think faster than your teacher can speak, you cannot write faster than your
teacher
can speak. Taking notes requires you to make decisions about what to write,
and
you have to be an active listener to do this.
Meet the Challenge. Don't give up and stop
listening when you find the information
being presented difficult to understand. Listen even more carefully at these
times
and work hard to understand what is being said. Don't be reluctant to ask
questions.
Triumph Over the Environment.
The classroom may too noisy, too hot, too cold, too
bright, or too dark. Don't give in to these inconveniences. Stay focused on
the big
picture - LEARNING.
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