Mistakes and confusion generally arise from not paying attention. If you want your students to have an above-par learning experience – check out what are the benefits of listening in the classroom and how can this bring your students to the highest level of performance.
Listening encourages understanding of new knowledge, thoughts, an exchange of ideas, and a flow of information. Without the ability to listen, certain points are missed and the worst is misunderstood. As a result, communication breaks down.
There are many benefits associated with paying attention when the teacher is giving a lecture. In fact, those listening keenly know what to do better than those who don’t. Efficient listening in the classroom actively absorbs the information given by a teacher. It saves time and promotes academic, and social skills.
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What Are the Benefits of Listening in the Classroom
“We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say.” ―
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1) A Better Grasp of Information
For obvious reasons, students who listen in class are smarter. They perceive the lessons more in detail giving them a clearer understanding of what has been explained. The greater sequence of information they absorb allows them to align the things they learn to what needs to be addressed.
Better apprehension of the content the teacher presents also helps in identifying concepts better, solving problems, answering questions, and seeing new ways or solutions. Overall, it makes remembering information faster. In math subjects, for instance, recalling procedures would be easier and quicker.
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2) Higher Concentration and Focus
When one is silent, it also quiets the brain. This helps the student improve concentration and focus because listening implies a more active inner stance. Freed from talking, thinking, and hearing noises; the brain is able to better concentrate on the task at hand.
Listening requires nothing from the student than allowing their ears to function, the act of paying attention arises by being drawn to the lessons being explained. The result is it also allows him or her to take in, process, and act on information that has been told and become more effective in class.
3) Lesser Chances of Misinterpretation
Students who listen carefully in class are confident about what to do next. They do not panic about asking seatmates or the teacher questions about what exactly to do if there is a class activity.
Students who do not pay attention make unnecessary mistakes. The anxiety of “not knowing what to do” is like some kind of agitation that affects self-worth. The result is they are not able to concentrate, they get low enthusiasm and poor grades.
Listening in the classroom develops patience and diligence, and students are able to do their tasks, assignments, and other class activities with lesser mistakes.
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4) Can Spend More Time on Study
Information without full attention may not be processed efficiently and is likely to be forgotten very quickly. But when one pays attention, he or she has a much better chance of absorbing and saving knowledge in long-term memory.
Students find homework convenient and smooth-sailing knowing they have more space and time to study the contents they are struggling with. It prevents cramming before a test resulting in no sleep.
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5) Improved Confidence and Productivity
Actively listening exercises a student’s undivided attention and results in acknowledging what has been told, better. It offers perspectives that increase the potential of being open to feedback and new ideas.
Strong listening skills help students perform better by the way they think, speak, and lead. This improves the learner’s ability to share ideas, that are equally important.
6) Enhanced Interpersonal Connections
Attentive students make effort to listen and therefore earn their teacher’s appreciation. Since they gain more input and perform better in most class activities, they encourage positive conversation.
Since listeners show verbal and nonverbal signs of listening, they also create an impact when it comes to communication skills. Being an effective listener also shows good character, and commitment that the entire class can rely on.
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7) Sharpened Listening Skills
Listening to learn means trying to hear what the teacher is saying. Maintaining eye contact, visualizing what the teacher is stating, and waiting for a pause to ask questions are just some of the skills the student will develop just by listening in the classroom.
Teachers also incorporate listening prompts and activities like using rhythm games to teach the class aggressive listening skills. Phrases like “All eyes on me,” or “Listen up this is important” in order to get students’ attention. When students follow these prompts, they develop strong listening skills that they can carry in all aspects of life.
8) Promotes Appropriate Behavior
It is good etiquette to listen when someone is talking. Just exactly similar to listening to the teacher while she gives lectures. It shows respect, obedience to classroom rules, and great support in maintaining order.
Through appropriate student behavior, not only do teachers are able to concentrate on lessons and activities, but students as well learn how to manage the input of data to studying, remembering, and applying everything they learn in and outside of the classroom.
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9) Happy and Active Students
Of course, when students know what to do, they become assertive and self-reliant. They have fewer panics, less stress, less anxiety, and are far from the feeling of fear. Overall, they are happy.
Successful students are happy students. They are more productive both in the class and at home. It creates a sense of pride and achievement that helps them to excel in class.
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Amanda Leger of Wichita Collegiate school (in the video below) talks about developing student listening skills.
Conclusion
Students who practice the habit of listening to the teacher can retain more information, keep an open mind, picture the words the teacher is saying better, and can ask questions confidently. This further makes them more self-assured in the sense that they absorb the necessary details they needed for successful learning.
A teacher who creates interesting activities to encourage listening habits even helps increase participation in the classroom. A reward-based system, for instance, is challenging enough that will result in more effort on the part of the student.
Indeed, good listeners gain an improved academic understanding that equips them better for learning.
You might have tips and tricks to encourage more listening habits for students? Share them with us in the comments.
