chapter 10 listening and taking lecture notes. copyright © houghton mifflin company. all rights...

Chapter 10

Listening and Taking Lecture Notes

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 10 - 2

Listening

Listening involves understanding what you are hearing and having the ability to hold verbal stimuli in working memory long enough to attach meaning to the words and to interpret what the speaker is saying.

Listening is not the same as hearing.

Listening is an active process that engages the listener in a variety of mental processes.


Communication Activity


Factors that Influence Listening

• Your attitude

• The topic

• The speaker's qualities

• External distractors

• Personal factors


Kinds of Listening


Strategies for Active Listening

• Familiarize yourself with the topic before class.

• Prepare questions about the topic to increase interest and intention.

• Show a positive, respectful, attentive attitude.

• Use concentration strategies to combat external distractors.


Strategies for Active Listening (Cont)

• Create a relaxed state of mind; use relaxation techniques.

• Focus on the speaker's message by using verbal and nonverbal clues.

• Listen carefully in group activities and be open to other points of view.

• Ask clarifying questions, paraphrase, and respond to questions.


Steps in the Listening Process


Create a Listening Goal

Is your goal in a listening situation to:

• Acquire information?

• Analyze and interpret information?

• Empathize with someone's feelings, emotions, or situation?

• To enjoy and appreciate the speaker's message?


Essential Strategies to Strengthen Listening Skills

• Create an interest or a curiosity about the topic.

• Strive to develop the mental discipline to stay tuned in to the speaker.

• Attend to levels of information.

• Visualize the topic and the content.

• Monitor your emotional responses.


Essential Strategies to Strengthen Listening Skills (Cont)

• Ask clarifying questions.

• Paraphrase the speaker.

• Pay attention to nonverbal clues and body language.

• Discuss or explain the information to someone.


Essential Strategies to Prepare for Lectures

• Familiarize yourself with the topic before class.

• Familiarize yourself with new terminology, symbols, formulas, and equations.

• Ester the classroom with a positive, receptive attitude.

• Leave stress and emotional issues at the door.

• Take care of personal comfort needs before you enter the classroom.


Essential Strategies to Prepare for Lectures (Cont)

• Be mentally alert.

• Sit in the front of the room.

• Identify your listening goal.

• Set goals that include specific listening strategies to implement during the lecture.

• Be prepared with appropriate materials.

• Begin taking notes as soon as the lecture begins.


Options for Taking Lecture Notes

The Cornell Notetaking System

The Two-Column Notetaking System

The Three-Column Notetaking System

The Formal Outline Notetaking System

The Taking Notes in Your Textbook System


Techniques for Organizing Information

1. Listen for key words and signal headings and main points.

2. Listen for terminology and definitions.

3. Listen for important details.

4. Listen for ordinals.

5. Listen for examples.

6. Use verbal and nonverbal clues as signals.

7. Copy steps and explanations for math problems.


Speech, Writing, and Thinking Rates

Average rate of speech during lectures: 100-125 wpm

Average rate of writing: 30 wpm

Average rate of thinking: 400 wpm


Techniques for Adjusting to the Rate of Speech

• Paraphrase the speaker by shortening and rewording.

• Use abbreviations to reduce the amount of writing.

• Create a set of common symbols.

• Use a modified form of printing/writing.

• Keep writing.

• Stay focused.


Talking and Thinking Discrepancy

Use the following techniques when the speaker is talking too slowly and your mind is wandering and you are losing your focus:

• Keep writing.

• Mentally summarize.

• Anticipate the next point.

• Mentally question the information.


Working With Your Lecture Notes

• Complete your notes after the lecture.

• Add more structure to your notes.

• Supplement your notes.

• Rewrite your notes when justified.

• Recite, reflect, and review your notes.

chapter 10 listening and taking lecture notes. copyright © houghton mifflin company. all rights...

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