Collins 144 BECOME AN ACTIVE LISTENER There are two kinds of listeners - those who are passive and those who are active. Passive listeners do more hearing than listening. They are aware that the instructor is speaking, but they aren't making sense of what he or she says. Passive listeners may expect instructors to motivate them and to interest them in the topic. Active listeners pay attention to what they hear and try to make sense of it. Active listeners tend to be self-motivated, and they expect to find their own reasons for being interested in a lecture topic. To get more out of lectures, become an active listener. Follow these six steps: Decide to listen. Deciding to remember is the first step toward increasing your memory's power. Now you must decide to listen. By making this decision, you are strengthening your commitment to learn. Also, by deciding to listen to a lecture, you are taking an active role instead of waiting passively to receive information. Listen with a positive frame of mind. Expect to find something in the lecture that will interest you. Assume that you will learn something useful, that you will expand your knowledge, and that your understanding of the course will increase. Focus your attention on the speaker. If you keep your eyes on the speaker, you should be able to ignore any distractions that are competing for your attention. Keep your mind on the speaker's topic. Do not give in to negative thoughts or feelings about the speaker, the topic, or the speaker's opinions. Your purpose is to learn what the speaker has to say. Encourage the speaker. Look interested. Sit straight but comfortably, and make eye contact from time to time. Ask questions and make comments when appropriate. Studies of audience behavior indicate that a speaker who is getting positive feedback is encouraged to do an even better job. Your posture and expression can communicate to the speaker that you are trying to follow his or her ideas. Everything you do to encourage the speaker also affects you by making you concentrate on the lecture. Take notes. Taking notes helps you concentrate on the lecture. Also, taking notes activates your tactile sense, so that you are more likely to retain the information, especially if you review your notes soon after the lecture. Take notes consistently when listening to lectures, and adopt or develop a note-taking system that works for you. Decide what is important. Listen for repeated terms or ideas. Speakers use repetition to emphasize important points. Watch for gestures and facial expressions that may also be used for emphasis. Listen for signal words or phrases. Listening for signal words will help you listen for ideas. Signal words can help you understand relationships among ideas. Watch for them as you read textbooks, and listen for them during lectures. Signal Words and Phrases To indicate that another point or example follows; also furthermore another in addition moreover To add emphasis; most important above all of primary concern remember that a key idea most significant pay attention to the main point To indicate that an example follows; for example to illustrate such as for instance specifically To indicate that a conclusion follows; therefore in conclusion finally consequently to conclude so To indicate an exception to a stated fact; however although but nevertheless though except To indicate causes or effects; because due to consequently since reason result for cause effect To indicate that categories or divisions will be named or explained; types parts kinds characteristics To indicate a sequence; steps numbers (1,2,3...) stages first, second, etc. To indicate that items are being compared; similar different equally like in contrast on the other hand advantages disadvantages contrary to Traits of Passive and Active Listeners PASSIVE LISTENERS ACTIVE LISTENERS Expect a lecture to be dull Expect that they will find something in the lecture that interests them Assume that information in a lecture will not be useful or pertain to their lives Assume that information in a lecture will be useful - if not now, then later Look for weaknesses in the speaker's style instead of listening to what the speaker says May notice weaknesses in the speaker's style but pay more attention to what the speaker says Listen only for major points and ignore details and examples Listen for major points and the details that support them Give in to daydreaming and become distracted Resist daydreaming and ignore distractions Tune out when they disagree with the speaker Keep listening even when they disagree with the speaker Tune out difficult or technical information; do not ask questions Try to understand difficult or technical information; ask questions as needed May doze in lectures if tired Fight to stay awake if tired Do not take good notes Take well-organized notes The Confident Student, Second Edition, Carol C. Kanar. WHOM DO I CONTACT FOR FURTHER INFORMATION? If you have questions about any of the classes or services offered by the Learning Enhancement Center, please call (630) 466-7900, ext. 2576, or e-mail the Learning Enhancement Center.

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