Al Akhawayn University School of Humanities and Social Sciences Effective listening Presented by: Amine Bennani Khalil El Yamani Rim Bensalah Reda Tahlaoui Supervised by: Pr. M. Ibahrine Based on: Public Speaking, Concepts and skills For A diverse Society, 4th Edition JAFFE

The Learning Objectives: Appreciate the importance of listening skills Appreciate the importance of listening skills Name two linguistic barriers to listening Name two linguistic barriers to listening Describe cultural factors that hinder listening Describe cultural factors that hinder listening Explain how personal barriers affect your listening Explain how personal barriers affect your listening Use cultural schema to improve your listening Use cultural schema to improve your listening Identify strategies to improve your comprehensive listening Identify strategies to improve your comprehensive listening Improve your critical listening skills Improve your critical listening skills Practice dialogical listening through nonverbal feedback Practice dialogical listening through nonverbal feedback Give appropriate verbal feedback Give appropriate verbal feedback

An ancient proverb: « We have been given two ears and but a single mouth in order that we may hear more and talk less »

Listening Skills Are Valuable Can someone tell me why? Can someone tell me why?

Listening Skills Are Valuable We listen most: employers mention that listening is the most commonly used job skill We listen most: employers mention that listening is the most commonly used job skill Good listening skill are job skills: Barbers, doctors, journalists even politicians understand the need to listen (WHY) Good listening skill are job skills: Barbers, doctors, journalists even politicians understand the need to listen (WHY) Listening and being heard empowers people and aids personal relationships: being listen to is one of our most basic needs Listening and being heard empowers people and aids personal relationships: being listen to is one of our most basic needs

Barriers To Listening

Barriers to Listening Listening is the combination of many different symbols such as: Listening is the combination of many different symbols such as:▪Ears ▪Eyes (and even) ▪Heart People want to better listen but face obstacles such as linguistic, cultural and personal barriers People want to better listen but face obstacles such as linguistic, cultural and personal barriers Discuss this from an Islamic point of view Discuss this from an Islamic point of view

Linguistic Barriers Diversity is crucial when it comes to language variations in the world Diversity is crucial when it comes to language variations in the world In one exact place or city hundreds of languages are spoken In one exact place or city hundreds of languages are spoken Not forgetting different language usage among different groups using the same language Not forgetting different language usage among different groups using the same language

Linguistic Barriers: Language Differences A language shared between speakers in a country is vital for communication or more precisely speaking or listening. A language shared between speakers in a country is vital for communication or more precisely speaking or listening. Accents and dialects can also complicate the understanding of the words one hears: Accents and dialects can also complicate the understanding of the words one hears: - Ex: A person from India can ask if he or she can have some water pronouncing it “vaater.” People have always got to pay attention to people with different regional accents or ethnic dialects. People have always got to pay attention to people with different regional accents or ethnic dialects.

Linguistic Barriers: Vocabulary Differences Not all listeners will understand all the vocabulary in a language: Not all listeners will understand all the vocabulary in a language: -If a speech is being given on French cuisine then the audience will need to know the terminology of this specific field to be able to understand -Jargon for rocket science is different to jargon for archeology When a listener does not share a speaker’s vocabulary then the speech will not be easy to understand Here your are referring to the register, which means a subset of a language used for a particular purpose in a particular social setting When a listener does not share a speaker’s vocabulary then the speech will not be easy to understand Here your are referring to the register, which means a subset of a language used for a particular purpose in a particular social setting

Cultural Barriers One could also fail to understand a speaker’s cultural allusions or references to historical, literary and religious sources: One could also fail to understand a speaker’s cultural allusions or references to historical, literary and religious sources: - In other words a person that grew up listening to The Beatles would not know or appreciate Eminem or 50 Cent. - A Christian would not be able to define what the Muslim term “bismillah,” is.

Personal Barriers There are many personal factors, which may distract a listener from paying attention to a speech. There are many personal factors, which may distract a listener from paying attention to a speech. Physical factors such as hearing loss, insomnia, hunger and illness can interrupt one from listening. Physical factors such as hearing loss, insomnia, hunger and illness can interrupt one from listening. Psychological factors such as having to worry about other issues in ones life can distract a listener. Problems like previous arguments, stressing for a test, or having an overdrawn bank account are major factors. Psychological factors such as having to worry about other issues in ones life can distract a listener. Problems like previous arguments, stressing for a test, or having an overdrawn bank account are major factors.

Personal Barriers (Cont’d) Listening can also be an issue when the speaker is being judged. Listening can also be an issue when the speaker is being judged. People stereotype when putting someone into a category. People stereotype when putting someone into a category. Prejudice means that a listener can already have a negative or positive opinion on the speaker, which will affect the listener from paying attention. Prejudice means that a listener can already have a negative or positive opinion on the speaker, which will affect the listener from paying attention.

Personal Barriers (cont’d) Taking small departures from the communication line. In other words to interact with the speakers ideas using ones own knowledge. Usually the most productive. Taking small departures from the communication line. In other words to interact with the speakers ideas using ones own knowledge. Usually the most productive. Going off on a tangent. Not concentrating on the main idea. Too many ideas are mentioned and this leads to stop listening. Going off on a tangent. Not concentrating on the main idea. Too many ideas are mentioned and this leads to stop listening. Engaging in a private argument. Challenging and arguing internally. Engaging in a private argument. Challenging and arguing internally. Taking large departures from the communication line. The listener in this case is also mixing different issues taking him or her off the main topic. Taking large departures from the communication line. The listener in this case is also mixing different issues taking him or her off the main topic.

Strategies to Improve Listening

Use Cultural Schemas Schemas are mental plans or models that guide your perception, interpretation, storage, and recollection of a speech. Schemas are mental plans or models that guide your perception, interpretation, storage, and recollection of a speech.

Use Cultural Schemas (cont’d)

Know Your Listening Purpose Improve your comprehension: Improve your comprehension: Prepare in advance. Prepare in advance. Use attention directing strategies. Use attention directing strategies. Enhance the meaning. Enhance the meaning. Look for organizational patterns. Look for organizational patterns. Use strategies that complement your personal learning style. Use strategies that complement your personal learning style. Do not ignore the speaker’s manner. Do not ignore the speaker’s manner.

Know Your Listening Purpose (cont’d) Improve your critical listening skills: Improve your critical listening skills: Critical listening is the listening that requires you to reflect and weigh the merits of persuasive messages before you accept them. o What is this speaker’s goal? o Does this message make sense? o Where does the information come from? o What are the benefits of adopting the speaker’s ideas? o What problems, if any, go along with this position? o Am I being swayed by my emotions? o Should I trust this speaker?

Practice dialogical Listening

As one listen to a public speech, the listener provide different interactions: As one listen to a public speech, the listener provide different interactions: ► Non verbal feedback ► Verbal feedback

Give Appropriate Nonverbal Feedback Managing these factors can help the listener send feedback more effectively: Managing these factors can help the listener send feedback more effectively:>Posture>Distance>Movements

Posture The posture communicates involvement and helps to focus attention: The posture communicates involvement and helps to focus attention: ▪ Face the speaker squarely ▪ Face the speaker squarely ▪ Turn toward the speaker more directly if you are sitting in the corner of the room. ▪ Turn toward the speaker more directly if you are sitting in the corner of the room. ▪ Lean forward slightly ▪ Lean forward slightly ▪ Let you body assume a relaxed, and open position. ▪ Let you body assume a relaxed, and open position.

Distance The more you interact with the speaker, the more you will understand and remember. The more you interact with the speaker, the more you will understand and remember. Instructors interact more regularly with students who are sitting in the first two or three rows, toward the center. Instructors interact more regularly with students who are sitting in the first two or three rows, toward the center.

Movements Avoid disruptive behaviors as: Avoid disruptive behaviors as:-Fidgeting -Shuffling papers -Drumming fingers on the desk Support the speaker by making: Support the speaker by making: -Eye contact -Smiling at an amusing anecdote -Nodding in support of a major point -Applauding when appropriate

Give Appropriate Verbal Feedback Questions and comments arise as you listen, so if a question and answer period will follow the speech, write down your questions and comments, as : Questions and comments arise as you listen, so if a question and answer period will follow the speech, write down your questions and comments, as : -Loaded questions -Closed questions -Open questions -Clarification questions -Requests for elaboration -Comments

Thank you for your Attention