What Strategies Can Teachers

Use to Promote Active

Listening in the Classroom?
Lesley Rey
 Listening is the first way in
which English language learners
involve themselves in the
language learning process.
Alberta ESL Benchmarks
What is Active Listening?

"Active listening is a
communication technique that
requires the listener to
understand, interpret, and
evaluate what (s)he hears
(Grenoble)."
 Why is Active Listening
Important?

Listening is the neglected literacy skill, often taking a

backseat to the more prominent reading, writing and
speaking skills. However, listening skills are important,
especially in 21st Century Learning where collaboration
plays a vital role in education (Alber).

"Listening comprehension is a key initial step in

communication. The better a student can understand
what is being said, the better will be there ability to
communicate (Bilash)."
ELL students feel a great sense of pride and
accomplishment when they are able to comprehend
something in the language their are learning (Bilash).
How can you teach Active
Listening skills?

1. Develop relationships with your students. Students

are more likely to listen to someone they respect. Take
the time to get to know your students and develop
attachments and connections with them.

2. Model good listening. Show that you are interested in

what your students are saying. This includes your facial
expression and body language.
3. Provide opportunities for students to talk. Create
multiple opportunities in the classroom for collaborative
tasks where students need to listen to each other's
ideas. Teach students a "participation protocol" for
group discussions with an emphasis on looking at the
person speaking, leaning towards the speaker, listening
attentively, using a lower voice, and providing evidence
and examples to support your argument.

https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/participation-protocol-ousd
4. Hold students accountable. Only give instructions
once. Provide visuals during your lesson but avoid
rewriting everything you said on the board or posted in a
Power Point. Pre-teach key concepts and give students
something to listen for.

5. Provide opportunities for reflection and discussion so

students can share what was heard and learned.

6. Get your students moving! Incorporating movement

and actions in your lessons helps keep students alert
and attentive.
7. Teach Active Listening skills through games - Games
promote fun competition in the classroom, often have
students working together and get students up and
moving.
 There's no learning when
nobody's listening.

So how do you promote active listening in your

classroom?
 References

Alber, Rebecca. "Say What? 5 Ways to Get Students to Listen." Edutopia. https://
www.edutopia.org/blog/five-listening-strategies-rebecca-alber

Artze-Vega, Isis. "Active Listening: Seven Ways to Help Students Listen, Not Just Hear."
https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/active-listening-seven-
ways-to-improve-students-listening-skills/

Bilash, Olenka. "Oral Comprehension (Listening) in the SL Classroom." https://

sites.educ.ualberta.ca/staff/olenka.bilash/Best%20of%20Bilash/listening.html

Teaching Channel. "Participation Protocol for Academic Discussions."https://

www.teachingchannel.org/videos/participation-protocol-ousd

Grenoble, Elizabeth Anne. The Importance of Active Listening and how to do this in an
EFL classroom. http://eltchat.org/wordpress/summary/the-importance-of-active-
listening-and-how-to-do-this-in-an-efl-classroom-eltchat-summary/