How can I improve my listening skills?? I am 14?

Question

I am going back to school on wednesday, and i really wanna improve the way that i listen, i dont think that i listen well enough to what my teachers say, and i feel that i need to do better so that i can get better grades, can somebody please tell me how i can increase my listening skillls please?

Answer 1

Every time you stop listening make a check mark on a piece of paper. The more you make yourself aware that you're not listening the more you'll be able to listen. I have ADD and it worked for me.

Answer 2

Listening is a matter of focus and practice - deciding you are going to really listen and then turning all your attention to the person who is speaking. Be aware of yourself listening - how do you feel in your body? Is the sound of their voice pleasant or not? Let yourself be aware of these things as well as of the content. Each time you suddenly realise you've stopped listening, bring yourself back (DON'T beat yourself up - that will make absolutely certain you can't listen). Then just continue listening. If you have missed something crucial, either ask the person to repeat what was said (you can say "there was a bit I didn't follow, after you said X and before you said Y") or ask someone else later on to fill you in on it.

Making notes can really help you to listen, if you just write down key points - whatever you do, don't try to write down every word. Listen for a minute or two, think about the most important message in what's just been said, and write that down.

Listening is a skill like any other and takes practice. The new school year is a great moment to make a resolution to pracise and practise your listening. My bet is that by the end of September, you'll find it easier and by Christmas it'll be a doddle.

Answer 3

Active listening is more than focusing on your ears. You look at the person that is talking to you, you sense the tone in their voice and you watch the matching body language. You give the person your undivided attention, and when something is unclear, you ask clarifying questions. As a student in a class, you follow your instructors instructions when it is related to your class.

Sometimes jotting down quick notes helps you recall later what was said also. You will need to relax also, people that are panicked tend to not be capable of listening.

You don't talk to your friends or get distracted by them,

hope this helps

Answer 4

Hi
something i have this problem i think of the work i say if i don't listen i am stupid or i can't go anywhere today and i try to listen to the teachers or then my friends i hope this works ok bye good luck and i hope it really helps u and i know u could do it so don't give up keep on trying and u could do it and i know u will do it ok bye good luck and i hope u have a great grade ok bye!!!

Answer 5

Read the chapters you will go over in class aheadof time, this way you have an idea what the teacher is talking about and can listen for the info thats not in the book.

Answer 6

Good question. I actually took a course centered entirely around learning to listen-it isn't something that comes naturally. That course was designed more for performing therapy, but the same concepts can apply in the real world:

1. Whenever someone is talking (in this case your teachers), try to keep the thought 'Its not about me, its about them' in the back of your mind. You will want to avoid letting your mind wander, while you sit there and just pretend to listen. Really listen! Force those irrelevant thoughts away-it will take time and effort, but eventually it becomes more automatic.

2. Listen in full to what they are saying-this is so hard to do, especially if someone says something that provokes you in some way. You will be surprised at how much your own personal thoughts, beliefs, and feelings cloud what you hear. You actually end up coming away hearing things very inaccurately.

3. A good way to get better at listening is practicing-try really focusing on what your friends say when they talk to you. If your friend says "Wow I had a really crappy day!" Try asking "What makes you say that?" instead of "That reminds me of the crappy day I had yeserday..." The latter sentence redirects attention toward you-remember good listening skills keeps the attention focused on the speaker. The idea is to use follow up questions that ask for more information about was said. You can also try restatements. For example, Your friend says "Man, my world is crap-I lost my algebra book, my bike was stolen, my mom yelled at me..." You might say "I can really see that things are difficult for you right now." Or "It sounds like today is a rough day?"
Don't sound like you are a parot, but also try to include key words and phrases that they use. If they say "I cheated on my test. Glad I passed, but I feel guilty." You might say "You feel guilty?" That reflects back to them what they said and they will probably keep talking. Your responses to what people say reflect how much you are focusing on them. Stay on topic with them and avoid leading questions and statements. This is relevant to the classroom because it will help you to respond more appropriately to your teacher and classmates. By learning about how to respond to people, you also learn how to keep your attention focused on them and the irrelevant thoughts away!

4. Your body language is important to listening. You'll want to be comfortable, but you will appear more attentive to your teacher if you maintain eye contact (not in a creepy way-break when necessary) and lean slightly foward (instead of crouching back and reclining).

Answer 7

Part of this is if you can concentrate on what the speaker (teacher usually) is saying. Can you keep yourself from getting distracted by what other people are doing or saying when it has nothing to do with what you are learning? How about what you are thinking? Are you letting your mind wander? Then you aren't paying attention. I found if I took notes, it helped me to concentrate on what is being said. I always did better when I took notes because I had to concentrate on what was being said.

Answer 8

hey i am 14 too and i am real good at listening though u could try to practice my makin ur mom or some1 read u a book and try to repeat it so u test how much u got 4 listening...it should help or try to find something to do like...head shoulders knees and toes it works really it might be 4 little kids but my karate teacher does it and it helps him kno if we are audible learners (learn by listening) or visual learners (learn by watchin) or ur probly most likely a visual learner sooo just tell the teacher to demonstrate ur work becuz u have a hard time listening ...she/he.should get mad

Answer 9

make sure to have a good healthy breakfast. i know thats what all the cereal ads say, but its actually true, being hungry throughout school adds to being able to not focus. try oatmeal and tea in the morning, or cereal (not sugary though!) with fruit. also, dont let anyone talk to you, if a friend tries to talk to you or pass you a note in the middle of class, tell them (politely) to stop, and explain that you are trying to listen. if you feel yourself starting to space out while a teacher is talking, pull yourself back into the discussion. if you try to participate more in class, you tend to focus and understand more. dont be afraid to ask questions if you space out for a minute and miss something. (i wouldnt reccommend telling your teachers that you were spacing out, but try saying that you dont understand, then they can re-explain it)

but just remember, sometimes a lesson can be really boring, and if you zone out oncec or twice in a class, its okay, everyone does it. just dont make a habit out of it!

Answer 10

Keep listening to broadcast media on a regular basis and you will find remarkable improvement in due course!