LISTENING

Listen to this song... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLBgmbXBOb8

Did you notice… What is the song about? What are some lyrics you remember from the song?

Discussion: Think of someone you really enjoy talking to. What are the qualities that draw you to speak with them?

Active vs. Passive Listening Active Listening Concentrating on what is being said Converting what is being said to something meaningful Can turn a classroom experience from boring & dry to something personal & useful Passive Listening Mechanical & effortless If you are awake & can hear you are listening passively You hear what is being said but that is about it

Benefits of Active Listening You become a more effective student! Class time will go by faster You will increase your memory of the material you are listening to You will strengthen your mind You will know what is important to study for tests

Listening Self-Assessment Do you look closely at the personal characteristics or mannerisms of your teachers? Examples: The way they dress, walk, talk, or style of hair. Do you frequently catch yourself daydreaming in class? Do you usually fake paying attention? Do you look at notes that you have written on past lectures and think, "None of this looks familiar"? Do you spend class time drawing pictures, doodling, or writing notes (unrelated to the class) or letters? Do you let minor distractions (a cough, a sneeze, a door closing, a person walking in late) break your flow of concentration? Do you let personal feelings about a certain teacher affect the way you listen in class? Example: Sitting in class thinking, "I hate this guy. He was such a jerk when I went to talk to him after class." Do you often find that you have no idea what will be asked on upcoming exams? Have you ever been called on in a class to answer a question without even realizing it? ("Who, ME?") Do you often feel like you've sat through an entire lecture without learning anything new or useful?

How to Become an Active Listener 1) Pay attention Give the speaker your undivided attention and acknowledge the message. Look at the speaker directly Put aside distracting thoughts Avoid being distracted by your environment Read the speaker's body language Stop your self from having conversations on the side

How to Become an Active Listener 2) Show that you are listening Use your body language & gestures to show your attention Smile & use other facial expressions Have open & inviting posture Take notes

How to Become an Active Listener 3)Provide feedback As a listener your role is to understand what is being said. This may require you to reflect on what is being said & ask questions. Ask questions to clarify certain points (“What do you mean when you say...”) Apply what you hear to your own experiences. Share if appropriate. Summarize the speaker's comments periodically

Now actively listen to this song... Adele – Rolling in the Deep http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYEDA3JcQqw&ob=av3e Or Tracy Chapman – Fast Car http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfqEisOIMJc

This time did you notice… What is the song about? What are some lyrics you remember from the song?

Activity 1: Listening with our Bodies Description: Everyone quietly mills about the room. One person will elect to freeze in position unexpectedly. As soon as one notices that someone else has frozen in position they freeze as well. So the effect of one person freezing causes everyone to freeze. Once everyone is completely still, someone decides to begin milling around again. The goal is to see how quickly the group can freeze in position.

Activity 2: Count to 5 Description: Ask for 2 volunteers. I usually ask for a place you need to go after school. Instruct the pair to perform a scene with alternating lines, but before each of them speaks, they must silently count to 5. Tips: I usually sit on the floor and or the middle of the group where the pair may not see me but the rest of the class can and I count to 5 with my fingers. I also instruct the players as to think about what is the best response they can make to what the other person said. Discussion: Ask each of the volunteers how it felt. Was it hard to wait? Did they change their mind in the 5 seconds of what they were going to say ? Applications: How many times, when we are spoken to, do we formulate a response before the other is done speaking? Too often this leads to miscommunication and a misreading of intent. We all need to slow down and pay attention to what people are saying to us.

Activity 3: Circle Story Description: The group forms a circle. A member of the group suggests a title of a story that has yet to be written. Such as: The Laughing Crab. Then the group tells the story by each person in the circle speaking one word at a time. The challenge is to listen to what has been said very closely so your word will fit with the others and continue the story. It is important not to have any preconceptions as to where the story is going. There is no way for one person to control the story. Listening is also important to hear when a sentence has ended and a new one needs to begin. This continues until the group as a whole has ended the story.

Active Listening Reflection Complete the handout by the end of the class for your “ticket out the door”