Try It! Interactive Exercise - What Do You Hear?

Active listening involves focusing on what, as well as how, something is being said. Since there are no obvious clues to a lecture's purpose as there are in readings, such as headings, it is more difficult to understand the focus of the lecture just by listening. Pay attention, therefore, to body language as well as to voice tone and inflection. When the speaker pauses for a length of time, it is clear that one section of the lecture is ending and another is beginning. Major points of emphasis will more likely be made at this time. Be prepared to jot down brief notes as you listen. Remember, as discussed in Chapter 5, that notes are more effective if they are in phrases rather than whole sentences, and organized in some kind of outline form.

Listen now, to the audio file of a brief lecture below. As you listen, take notes on a piece of paper. When the lecture is finished you will enter your notes in the space below. You will be able to compare your notes with an expert’s when you have completed the exercise.

 Click here to begin the lecture

(You will need the free RealPlayer© Basic plug-in to play the audio file. You can download it by clicking here.)