Have you ever seen an interview between a news reporter and an interviewee on TV? Sometimes you don’t always see the news reporter as the camera is focussed on the interviewee, but, if you do see the TV interviewer, it can appear slightly odd.
TV interviewers are the best active listeners, active listening is:
paying attention to what’s being said,
show the speaker they are being listened to,
not interrupting or distracting the speaker,
show the speaker that you understand what is being,
and ask questions that are related to what is being said.
Although on TV, it looks unnatural as the interviewer’s body language is usually exaggerated and there is rarely any verbal back-channelling (yes, aha, mmm…); it’s not a natural conversation, it’s an interview.
Depending on how you look at active listening, there are three to eleven skills to learn and practice. I think five skills are enough to get you started.
1. Pay attention
Pay attention – only listen to the speaker, don’t get distracted by anything else, and make a mental note of what you want to ask later.
2. Show you are listening
Show you are listening – use suitable body language such as nodding, smiling frowning, etc., and use small verbal back-channelling (yes, aha, mmm, really, etc.), you’re not a TV reporter.
3. Give feedback
Give feedback – don’t always assume you understand, repeat back what the speaker said using different words, and ask questions when you don’t understand.
4. Don’t interrupt
Don’t interrupt – allow the speaker to finish what they are saying, interrupting can be distracting and their point may be lost.
5. Respond
Respond – as you understand what has been said, now you can respond to the speaker’s thoughts and opinions. You may agree or disagree, reply respectfully. Personally, I think sugar in natto is an awful idea but, I would reply, “That’s not to my taste.”
Active listening is part of English conversation, catch-ball, words and ideas go back and forth and a better understanding of the speaker is acquired and you may have learnt something new too.
ー オンライン英語コミュニケーションプログラム ー
【あなたの心が伝わるあなただけの英語】
英語でのコミュニケーションをあなたらしい英語で。一人一人のレベル、能力、
興味に合った教材や方法を用いたテイラーメイドの英語コミュニケーションプログラムです。
”あなたの英語”でコミュニケートしたい方は、まずは無料カウンセリングをご予約ください。
