Strategies for Developing Listening Skills

Listening strategies are techniques or activities that contribute directly to the comprehension and recall of listening input. Listening strategies can be classified by how the listener processes the input.

Strategies for Developing Listening Skills

* Top-down strategies are listener based; the listener taps into the listeners background knowledge of the topic, the situation or context, the type of text, and the language. This background knowledge activates a set of expectations that help the listener to interpret what is heard and anticipate what will come next.

Strategies for Developing Listening Skills

Top-down strategies include listening for the main ideas predicting drawing inference summarizing

* Bottom-up strategies are text based; the listener relies on the language in the message, that is, the combination of sounds, words, and grammar that creates meaning. Bottom-up strategies include listening for specific details recognizing cognates recognizing word-order patterns

Tips and Hints for listening

Before Listening Prepare ahead of time--read assigned chapter, re-read notes, etc. Think ahead; anticipate what is going to be said. Avoid distractions--noisy students, open windows, etc. Sit where you can hear and see clearly, preferably toward the front of the classroom.

While Listening

Listen for ways to relate ideas to previous, lectures, to the textbook, and to previous experiences. Listen for what is being said, not how it's being said. Do not try to write everything down. Be ready to participate. Look for clues from the professor that indicate what he/she considers important. (vocal, postural, and visual cues)

After Listening Review what was said as soon as class is over. Seek answers to questions that arise.

Suggestions for taking notes

1. Use ink. Notes in pencil will smear and hard to read anyway. Be sure to use a large notebook. 2. Use abbreviations as much as possible to increase your note taking speed. Have a uniform system for punctuation and abbreviation that will make sense to you. Leave lots of white space for later additions 3. Don't write down everything you hear. Be attentive to the main points. Concentrate on the "meat" of the subject and forget the trimmings. 4. It is better to take too many notes than too few.

5. Take accurate notes. You should use your own words, but try not to change the meaning. If you quote directly from the author, quote correctly. 6. Mark your notes with checks (\/), stars (*), question marks (?), circling dates and names, etc. to bring out the important facts. 7. Listen for signals: For example : The first point I discuss today 8. Dont try to make a formal outline. Otherwise you wont be able to concentrate on listening and trying to understand

strategy |stratdi|
noun ( pl. -gies) a plan of action or policy designed to achieve a major or overall aim : time to develop a coherent economic strategy | shifts in marketing strategy.

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technique |tknik|
noun a way of carrying out a particular task, esp. the execution or performance of an artistic work or a scientific procedure. skill or ability in a particular field : he has excellent technique | [in sing. ] an established athlete with a very good technique.
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comprehension |kmprhn()n|
noun the action or capability of understanding something : some won't have the least comprehension of what I'm trying to do | the comprehension of spoken language.

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classified |klasfd|
adjective arranged in classes or categories : a classified catalog of books.

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classified |klasfd|
adjective arranged in classes or categories : a classified catalog of books.

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classified |klasfd|
adjective arranged in classes or categories : a classified catalog of books.

Return

classified |klasfd|
adjective arranged in classes or categories : a classified catalog of books.

Return