Listening

Listening

The majority of the population is born with the ability to hear, but not to listen. There are several reasons that people do not or can not listen or remember, ranging from physical conditions to cultural beliefs. Since the beginning of mankind, the skill of listening has been necessary to communicate, relay messages and obtain information. Before 3200 BC, when writing was first used by cultures such as the Sumerians or Egyptians, listening to people speak and repeating the message was the only way to communicate.

Listening happens in all aspects of life. We listen to each other talk, to gossip on the street, to sermons, to advertisements, to lectures, to music and in all kinds of situations. One must be able to listen to material in whatever form and however fast it is presented!

Students listen in different ways and for different reasons throughout the school day. They listen to directions, they talk with their friends, they listen to stories, they listen to game rules, they listen to announcements, etc. Each of these situations requires a different type and level of listening skills.

There are four general types of listening that occur:

·   Inactive listening: Inactive listening is simply being present when someone is speaking, but not absorbing what is being said.

·    Selective listening: Selective listening is hearing what you want to hear or what you expect to hear instead of what is being said.

·   Active listening: Active listening is hearing what is said, concentrating on the message and absorbing it.

·    Reflective listening: This is one of the most complex types of listening. It involves actively listening, interpreting what is being said and observing how it is being said. Students need to receive instruction on how to become effective listeners, especially students diagnosed with learning disabilities. It requires conscious planning by the teacher to include listening activities and practice by the student.

 Asher came with TPR that he belived in in nonverbal action before learning to be ready and this it can be improving in psychomotor rather than cognitive. And in 1983 we faced with Natural Approach tha include silent period for listening first.

 Then constructivism    believed that in listening we refer to our purpose and prior knowledge (schema)

Teaching listening skills may not seem necessary, but according to statistics, studies and state standards, it is. Listening is a skill that students can use in every subject, and it will benefit them throughout life.

