Classroom (and Church!) Listening Skills

Are you an fruitful listener?

"Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly" -- Plutarch (46 AD - 120 AD)

Top ten ways to listen to boring speakers

Former University of Minnesota professor Ralph Nichols has been called "the father of listening." His research showed that at the end of a 10-minute lecture, most college freshmen will have retained about half of it. Forty-eight hours later, they will have forgotten half of what they did remember.

Want to do better than that? Then, use productive listening techniques. Here are the "Top ten ways to listen to a lecture." By the way, these are also valid suggestions to remember when listening to a sermon. 🙂

  1. Choose to find the subject useful.
     
  2. Concentrate on the words and message,, not on the professor's looks, clothes, or delivery.
     
  3. When you hear something you're not sure you agree with, react slowly and thoughtfully
     .
  4. Identify the "big ideas," those fundamental concepts to which everything else in the lecture is related.
     
  5. Adjust your note-taking system to the lecturer's pattern.
     
  6. Aggressively tackle difficult material.
     
  7. Don't get derailed by emotionally charged "buzz" words that trigger negative responses.
     
  8. Get to know the professor personally.
     
  9. Understand and use the differential between the speed of speaking and the speed of thinking. We think at about 400 words per minute. That's four times faster than most speakers talk.
     
  10. Choose to be intentionally present.

Inspired by material in "The Professor in the Classroom," © by Leadership Lane

After learning to be a good listener, what's next?

Next Are there other steps you can take to improve your grades? Yes, there are. [ more ]

    -- Howard Culbertson,

Final Reminder: Use These 10 Strategies

Listening attentively when someone is lecturing, giving a presentation, or preaching a sermon will help you understand and retain things. Here are some strategies to help you become a better listener:

  1. Keep your mind from wandering by actively engaging with the speaker. Concentrate on the main points being made.
  2. If possible, maintain eye contact with the speaker. Making eye contact helps you stay focused.
  3. Write down key points, important details, and questions that come to mind during the lecture or sermon. This will help you remember information better. It will also keep you engaged.
  4. If something is unclear or you need clarification, don't hesitate to ask questions.
  5. While it's important to ask questions, avoid interrupting the speaker. Let the speaker finish a thought before asking for clarification or raising a point.
  6. Show that you are engaged by nodding your head, using affirmative verbal cues (like "yes" or "mm-hmm"), and paraphrasing in your mind what the speaker is saying.
  7. Minimize distractions by sitting in a quiet area. Turn off your phone or putting it on silent mode. Choose a comfortable seating position.
  8. Be receptive to new ideas and outlooks. Avoid jumping to conclusions or forming premature judgments.
  9. After the lecture, presentation, or sermon, take some time to reflect on what you've learned. Review your notes and consider how the information relates to your own experiences and beliefs.
  10. As with any other skill, you can improve with practice.

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