The document discusses the differences between hearing and listening. It states that hearing is a passive process of absorbing information, while listening is an active process of eliciting meaning through decoding. It also notes that listening skills are among the least used but most taught communication skills. The document provides tips on how to be an effective listener through strategies like paying attention, avoiding bias, understanding others' perspectives, and following the listening process of hearing, comprehending, analyzing, and remembering.

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