Listening skills: A key element in students

Listening to misconceptions are always worth thinking about what you should not do, as well as what you should do, when trying to develop your skills. You may find that you recognize some of the bad habits you or other people have picked up when listening. Listening can help you to avoid misunderstandings.

Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process. Listening is key to all effective communication. Without the ability to listen clearly, messages are easily misinterpreted. As a result, communication breaks down and the sender of the message can easily become frustrated or irritated. If there is one communication skill you should aim to master, then listening is it.

Aman Dwivedi of Class 12 is a House Captain at DPS. His hobbies are tennis, cricket, acting, dancing. His aim is to be a Data analyst or an actor. "Being a good listener has helped me in every aspect to understand others. Academically, to be a good student, at the personal level to build relationships with my friends and family. Most importantly it has helped me to self- introspect and improve my decision- making skills." My role models are Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Nawazuddin Siddique, Martin Luther King Jr.

One can have a greater number of friends and social networks, improved self-esteem and confidence, higher grades at school and in academic work, and even better health and general well-being through listening. It however requires more than that: focus and concentrated effort, both mental and sometimes physical as well.

"The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen, Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention." ~ Dr. Rachel Naomi

The Purpose of listening

There is no doubt that effective listening is an extremely important life skill. The purpose of listening will depend on the situation and the nature of the communication. To specifically focus on the messages being communicated, avoiding distractions and preconceptions; To gain a full and accurate understanding into the speakers point of view and ideas; To critically assess what is being said.

Principles of effective listening

1. Stop Talking, Don't talk, listen;

2. Prepare yourself to listen;

3. Relax, Put the speaker at ease;

4. Be Patient;

5. Avoid personal prejudice;

6. Listen to the tone;

7. Listen to the ideas;

8. Wait and watch for non- verbal communication.

Nayan Chandra, V Grade XII is the Vice Head Boy of the DPS school (2019-2020), and takes part in organisational/leadership capacities in MUNs and Conferences. He likes discussions and debates with people, reading books, be out in the nature and moreover, a travel enthusiast. He would like to pursue a career in the Governance Sector in India. "Listening helps us to understand others perception of things which can help us understand different view points and learn about new things."

HURIER Model of listening

H – Hearing

U – Understanding

R – Remembering

I – Interpreting

E - Evaluating

R - Responding

Tips to effective listening

The ability to listen is as important as the ability to speak well, effective communication depends on both.

1. Recognize speakers or organization

2. Relate the idea to your knowledge

3. Appreciation for physical and mental relaxation

4. Receptive attitude

5. Imaginative projection and empathy

6. Evaluation analysis of the problem

7. Reasoning

8. Evidence & Motivation

Art of listening

 A factor called listening comprehension must be identified and isolated.

 Listening skills can be improved by instruction though not permanent.

 There's dislike difference between speech as 100% litmus rate does not differ.

 High correlation between listening and intelligence.

 verbal communication, the better listener you become.

 to improve listening skills

Hints for good listening

 Put the talker at ease

 you want to listen

 Hold your tongue

 Be patient

 Ask questions

 Stop talking

To be a good conversationalist, one must be a good listener. Students therefore have to incorporate some of the best practices to be an effective communicator. This is possible only with good listening techniques.