the secret of life b. an alternate history

Active Listening Strategies When you listen to someone in person, there are many things you can do to be a more active listener. You can make sure you give the speaker your undivided attention, looking only at the speaker instead of gazing around the room. You can use non-verbal feedback, such as nodding your head or leaning toward the speaker. You can focus on the speaker’s message rather than other elements that may be distracting, such as the speaker’s appearance. And you can interject questions and “affirmations,” such as “yes,”“I see,” and “really,” to acknowl- edge and help clarify the speaker’s message. But on the TOEFL exam, you won’t be face to face with a speaker. Instead, you will be sitting at a table or study carrel, listening to an audiotape. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be an active listener. You can still: 1. Concentrate on the speaker. While you can’t look the speaker in the eye, you can still focus on what he or she is saying. Keep your concentration on the conversation or lecture. Don’t allow yourself to day- dream or drift into other thoughts, such as what you need to get done later in the day. Avoid watching the clock or fiddling with objects. 2. Use non-verbal feedback. Even though the speaker can’t hear you, you can still nod your head and lean forward “toward” the speaker. These two physical actions may seem too minor to make a differ- ence—especially if the speaker can’t see you. But they help to engage your body and mind in the act of listening, and that helps you maintain your focus on the conversation. And if you are worried about looking silly, don’t worry. If you were to look around the testing center, you would probably see many other test takers doing the same thing 3. Focus on the message, not the person delivering the message. You won’t see the speakers face to face, but if you are taking the computer-based exam, you will see pictures of people on the computer screen at the beginning of each listening passage. These images are designed to help orient you to the conver- sation by giving you a sense of who is talking and the setting in which the conversation or lecture takes place. For example, at the beginning of a lecture, you might see a picture of a professor in a classroom. But these pictures can be distracting. Remember to focus on listening, not looking. Concentrate on the conversation, not the picture. If you are taking the paper-based exam, find something in the room upon which to concentrate during the reading of each passage—preferably something simple, such as a blank chalkboard, rather than a person in the room. If you focus on a person, you may find yourself thinking about the person’s appearance instead of listening to the conversation on the tape. If you find yourself too distracted, simply close your eyes during the reading of each passage. 4. Use visualization. Active listening means listening not just with our ears, but also with our other senses. You can use your mind’s eye to help you concentrate on the passage and better understand and remember what you hear. When a speaker describes something or someone, paint a mental picture of what you hear. For example, if the professor describes Frankenstein’s horror when he first brings his creature to life, in your mind, picture Frankenstein’s reaction. What does his face look like? How does he act? – L I S T E N I N G C O M P R E H E N S I O N – 9 8