Improve your listening skills – and get more out of your studies

Active listening is more than just paying attention.

Listening may seem simple, but good listening requires attention and effort. Active listening means being consciously present in a conversation and trying to understand both what is being said and what the other person wants to convey. It is not just about waiting for your turn to speak, but about showing interest, asking relevant questions and checking whether you have actually understood the message.

Especially important in everyday student life

As a student, you will encounter different perspectives, experiences and ways of thinking – in teaching, group work, supervision and academic discussions. When we listen actively, it becomes easier to understand complex issues, learn from others and contribute constructively to collaboration. At the same time, good listening can reduce misunderstandings and make it safer to express your own thoughts and ask questions.

Listening actively does not necessarily mean agreeing

You can listen to a point of view you are critical of. The point is to try to understand what the other person actually means before you assess, challenge or respond to it. In this way, active listening can contribute to more nuanced discussions and better academic reflection.

Good advice for active listening

Active listening is both a study technique, a collaboration skill and a communication competence. It is a skill that can be practised – and which can make learning, collaboration and conversations better.

• Keep your focus – put away anything that may distract you
• Show that you are listening – use body language, eye contact and nodding
• Avoid interrupting – give the person speaking time and space
• Repeat what the other person says – use your own words and be open to clarifications
• Ask follow-up questions – be curious, and follow up with open questions
• Be attentive – what can you read from body language, tone of voice and state of mind?
• Summarise together – show that you have listened and understood the essence of what has been said

Tips and advice are taken from verdensdagen.no

What gets in the way of listening? 

On-off listening

People think faster than they speak. When we listen to someone, we have time to think. Often we use this time to, for example, think about lunch, or what we did yesterday, instead of thinking about what the other person is saying. 

Defensive listening

In all cultures there are certain words or expressions that make others stop listening, such as ”radical”, ”egoist”, ”you have no clue!” When people hear these words, they stop listening and plan their defence or a counter-attack. 

Listening with prejudice

Sometimes we decide very quickly that the person (or the topic) is boring, unimportant, wrong, or that we already know what the other person is going to say. Then we stop listening.  

Distracted listening

Noise, light, temperature, other things in the room, or what we have eaten for breakfast can distract us from listening to what another person is saying. But it is possible to practise listening attentively despite distractions.
 

It is important to listen because ...

• It shows people that you value their experiences and what they have to say
• It encourages people to speak honestly and freely
• It can help you find out where others agree or disagree with you
• It helps you think about solutions to disagreements

This is taken from Amnesty’s teaching resource on Active Listening.