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Good Listening in Class
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 A lot of what you learn in school is going to be verbally communicated to you by your teachers. For this reason it is very important that you to be a good listener in class. And don’t make the mistake of thinking that hearing and listening are the same thing – they are very different. Listening is a cognitive act where hearing is not. That means it you must pay attention, think about and mentally process what you hear in order to listen. Again, hearing what your teacher says is not the same as listening to what she is saying.
The following are some suggestions for becoming a good listener in class.
Make are prepared for class.
Being ready to listen means being prepared for each class ahead of time. Make sure all assigned homework and readings have been completed. Before class begins think about the topics you’ll be discussing in class that day. And make sure to review all your notes from the previous class session. Again, listening includes mentally processing what you hear. In order listen effectively you must come to class prepared.
Be mentally and emotionally ready to listen when you come to class.
You must be emotionally committed to learn in order to be a good listener. Before class starts decide to have a positive attitude and during class try to find the topics being discussed useful and interesting.
Don’t just listen but listen with purpose.
Listen for things that help you answer questions you may have, that better clarify the subject being addresses or that may help you better understand the underlying concepts.
Pay attention.
To be an effective listener you must pay attention. That means no daydreaming. If you struggle to pay attention in class you should always try to look at your teacher when she is speaking and you should probably sit in the front of the class.
Keep an open mind while you listen.
Consider everything that your teacher is saying as a point of view. Even if you disagree with what your teachers says as long as you remain open to the point of view you can learn.
Be an active listener.
Being an active listener will help you learn more from what is being said and help you better prepare for exams. While you may think your teacher talks fast the truth is that you are able to think a lot faster than your teacher speaks. Try to evaluate everything your teacher is saying so that you can anticipate what is going to be said next. However, your teacher can speak faster than you can write so only write down those things that are most relevant to the topic being covered. In order to determine which points are most noteworthy you must be an active listener.
Never give up.
Don’t stop listening when the topic is difficult to understand or the concepts being taught are challenging. This is when you need to listen the most. Try hard to understand what is being taught, listen carefully and don’t hesitate to ask questions.
Don’t get distracted.
There are distractions all over the place in the classroom. Classrooms can be too hot, too cold, to bright, to dark, too noise, etc., etc. Don’t let yourself get distracted. Stay focused on the topic being discussed and make sure to pay attention at all times.
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