1 Learning listening
Listening is learnable
The listening paradox
Relearning listening
Dispelling the assumptions
Assessing listening skills
Teaching listening
Listening quiz
2 What listening is
Defining listening
Listening choices
The listening process
The message
Message variables
Message components
Verbal component
Vocal component
Visual component
Interpret in context
3 Levels of listening
The different levels
Switching levels
4 Listening filters
Filtering the message
Existing knowledge and past experience
Beliefs and values
Self-interest
Staying open minded
5 Listening barriers
Listening barriers
Sender’s barriers
Environmental barriers
Listener’s Barriers
6 Listening essentials
Empathy
Suspended judgment
Awareness
7 A listening focus
Concentration
Evaluation
Remembering
Note-taking
8 Active listening skills
Encouragers
Summarising content
Paraphrasing
Reflecting feelings
Questioning
Appendices
1 10 tips for effective listening
2 A good listener/a bad listener
3 Guidelines and suggested answers for exercises
CD Contents

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This book is designed to help teachers to teach the skills necessary for effective listening, by addressing the following points:

• what listening is – the process
• the components of a message
• factors influencing the reception of the message
• interpreting and understanding the message
• evaluating the message
• listening for different purposes
• skills to facilitate the information transfer

The program is based on teaching students:

• an awareness of how they listen to and interpret messages
• how they can have more control over the factors (both external and internal) that interfere with a message
• how they can more accurately evaluate a message
• the skills to assist a speaker make the message understood (eg in conversation)
• how to retain the parts of the message that are important to them

Each chapter is divided into the following components:

• background information for the teacher
• information sheets containing the main points, which can be copied and distributed
• exercise sheets that provide instructions for students and space for answers (if required), for copying and distribution

In the appendices you will find:

• teacher’s instructions and additional information (if required) for all exercises
• suggested answers for the exercises
• additional handouts (Good Listener/Bad Listener and 10 Tips for Effective Listening)      

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