Active Listening Study Skills 2 nd period Mrs. Sheppard

Listen Actively Successful listeners are active listeners. While listening they: 1. Pay attention 2. Put the information in their own words 3. Evaluate the material as they go along

Here are some tips for paying attention.  Get enough rest. You can’t be a good listener if you fall asleep in class.  Give every lecture a chance. Something you thought was going to be boring could actually be pretty interesting.  Try to figure out the main points of what is being said and what you think will come next.  Reward yourself for good listening.

In Your Own Words  When you are putting something in your own words, you are paraphrasing. This is a useful technique to help you remember what you just heard. As you listen, ask yourself : “ What was the important point? What supports the point? ” See if you can paraphrase the answers. If you have trouble, ask questions to make sure you understand what was said.

Evaluate the Material Active listeners evaluate the material as it is presented. They listen for:  Main points  Information that supports the points  Transitions from one point to the next

Main Points The main points are what the teacher thinks are most important. The teacher will often repeat main points to reinforce information, and will probably ask about them on quizzes and tests. Write down the main points as you take notes. Stay alert for the following words on the next slide which often introduce the main points.

Key Phrases that most likely will indicate main points  Most important  Most interesting  Therefore  The main idea or concern  In addition (or plus)  If  Resulted in  The reason is  For our purposes

Information that supports the main points Main points don’t stand alone. They are explained and supported by additional information. Many times the information appears as items in a list. The teacher may use numbers or letters for the items. Remembering how many things were in the list is very helpful when doing assignments or studying for tests. Stay alert to the phrases listed on the next slide that would indicate information that supports the main points.

Key phrases that information that supports the main points  The first point is  Point A is  There are five reasons  The second of three

Transitions Transition words and phrases let you know that something new is coming. Being aware of transitions helps you organize what you are hearing. You can figure out what goes with what. Stay alert for phrases like the ones listed on the next slide that often indicate transitions.

Transition words or phrases  First (or first of all)  Second (or secondly), third (or thirdly) etc.  Additionally (or in addition)  Furthermore  However  But  Nevertheless (or nonetheless)  Consequently (or as a consequence)  Finally

Body Language A teacher’s tone of voice and gestures often give clues of what’s most important in the lecture. Let’s say your teacher points a finger in the air and used a louder voice at points during a lecture, or repeats information several times. These are indications that the teacher thinks the information is important. Pay close attention and write down what is being said. Anything this meaningful is likely to appear on a quiz or test.

Review What you do after listening helps the information stay in your brain. After class, write down the main points and a summary of the lecture. Rewriting your notes will help you review and remember the information. When reviewing your notes think about how they relate to material that’s already been presented in class. One proven method for testing how well you remember something is to teach it to someone else.

Summary In this power point, You have learned: 1. the difference between hearing and listening. 2. discovered how important it is to be a good listener. 3. techniques to help you prepare to listen, listen actively and review what you learned. Your new listening skills will help you become a better student!