1. Listening Skills
LISTENING VS. HEARING
TRAINING IN LISTENING SKILLS
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

2. Listen ≠ Decode
 To listen is to understand meaning
only, without the need to translate.
 To decode is to translate to understand
meaning and importance.
 Listening and decoding are active
processes of eliciting information
 Is hearing the same as listening?
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

3. Hearing or Listening?
 To decode is to translate or to
understand meaning and importance.
 Hearing is a passive process of
absorbing information.
 Listening is an active process of
eliciting information by decoding
(translating) the code.
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

4. Hearing or Listening?
 Is hearing the same as listening?
 The ears hear; the brain listens / decodes.
 Hearing is automatic; listening / decoding
is conscious and deliberate
 Hearing may or may not create meaning.
listening / decoding can creates meaning.
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

5. What’s the Solution?
Communication Order Extent Extent
Skills Learned Used Taught
Listening / Decoding 1st 1st 4th
Speaking 2nd 2nd 3rd
Reading 3rd 3rd 2nd
Writing 4th 4th 1st
The Situation: More teaching time focuses on the least-used
communication skills.
The Problem: Students are more practiced in the least-used
communication skill.
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

6. Points of Miscommunication
 Talking when we should be listening
 Thinking about what we are going to
say rather than listening to a speaker
 Hearing what we expect to hear rather
than what is actually said
 Not paying attention: preoccupation
 Not open-minded: prejudice, self-
centeredness, stereotype
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

7. Quiz Tip
 Listening /decoding can be used to
elicit meaning from words.
 How can decoding elicit meaning from
actions?
 How can decoding elicit meaning
regarding a receiver’s attitudes?
 How can decoding elicit meaning
regarding a receiver’s emotions?
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

8. Quiz Tip
 Decoding can be used in interpersonal
communications.
 How can decoding be used in intrapersonal
communication?
 How can decoding be difficult when used
in public communication?
 What are the barriers to effective decoding
in mass communication?
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

9. Quiz Tip
 Decoding can be used in oral exchange.
 How can decoding be used in textual
exchange?
 How can decoding be used in non-verbal
exchange?
 How is decoding used in visual
communication?
 How is decoding used in tactile exchange?
 How is decoding used in kinetic exchange?
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

10. Quiz Tip
TRUE OR FALSE? WHY?
 Decoding is the receiver’s problem, not the
sender’s.
 Listening and hearing are the same.
 Good readers are better listeners compared to good
speakers.
 Smarter people are better listeners.
 A receiver can stop listening because of the
message.
 Decoding is a minor part of the communication
process.
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

11. Quiz Tip
TRUE OR FALSE? WHY?
 The sender might have a problem if the
receiver cannot decode the message
correctly.
 Compared to speaking, reading requires
more translation activity.
 People who decode can get more meaning
than people who listen.
 A skill that is often used but not taught in
school can be learned more easily.
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

12. Stages of the Listening Process
 Hearing
 Focusing on the message
 Comprehending and interpreting
 Analyzing and Evaluating
 Responding
 Remembering
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

13. Barriers to Active Listening
 Environmental barriers
 Physiological barriers
 Psychological barriers
 Selective Listening
 Negative Listening Attitudes
 Personal Reactions
 Poor Motivation
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

14. Effective Communication
 Understand the complexities of
decoding
 Make it easier for your target receiver
to listen and decode your message
 Adjust to needs of each receiver
 Focus on ideas or key points
 Organize material for easier learning
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

15. To Be an Effective Decoder
FOR CORPORATE EMPLOYEES, WORKERS, MANAGERS
 Want to listen
 Delay judgment
 Admit your biases
 Don’t tune out “dry” subjects
 Accept responsibility for understanding
 Encourage others to talk
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012

16. To Be an Effective Decoder
FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
 Establish eye contact with the speaker
 Take notes effectively
 Be a physically involved listener
 Avoid negative mannerisms
 Exercise your listening muscles
 Follow the Golden Rule: Do unto others as
you want others to do unto you.
SHL1013 Professional English 5 October 2012