Listening Skills

Active listening

Involves hearing something in an interactive way. Listening closely to song lyrics so you can better understand their meaning is an example of active listening.

Passive listening

Involves hearing something without any engagement or interaction. Hearing a song on the radio without paying attention to the lyrics is an example of passive listening.

Critical listening

Listening for facts and supporting details so you can make evaluations and judgments about what you hear. Critical listening is also active. The more you involve yourself in the listening process, the more you will understand the words being spoken. Situations that require critical listening include - informative or persuasive speeches; - class discussions; and - announcements.

Types of Listening

While there are two ways to listen, there are four main types of listening: critical, empathetic, appreciative, and reflective.

Appreciative listening

occurs when you identify and analyze artistic elements, such as character development in a movie, rhyme in a spoken poem, and descriptive language in a story. Situations that require appreciative listening include - oral presentations of a poem; - dramatic performances; and - concerts.

Listening

paying close attention to, and making sense of, what we hear

Reflective listening

Occurs when you ask questions and use the speaker's responses to form new questions. Situations that require reflective listening include -class or group discussions; and - interviews. - The difference between critical and reflective listening is subtle. Critical listening involves making evaluations about material you hear. Reflective listening does not require you to make such evaluations. Instead, you are participating in a discussion by asking questions in response to what someone has said.

Empathetic listening

Occurs when you imagine yourself in the other person's position and try to understand what he or she is thinking or feeling. The speaker feels valued and respected since the listener responds with feeling or compassion. Situations that require empathetic listening include - personal conversations with friends or family; and - one-on-one conversations with a co-worker or teacher.