Definition of Listening Skills

Listening is the act of hearing attentively. Research shows that 45% of our time is spent on listening. We listen more than speak. If this listening skill is used in a proper way we can master the tools of communicative skills. Listening is difficult, as human mind tends to distract easily. A person who controls his mind and listens attentively acquires various other Skills and is benefited. Listening skill can be defined as, Listening is the act of hearing attentively. It is also a process similar to reading which should possess knowledge of phonology, syntax, semantics and text understanding. Thomlison (1984) defines listening as, Active listening, which is very important for effective communication. Listening can be also defined as, More than just hearing and to understand and interpret the meaning of a conversation.

Listening skill makes you successful in workplace, family and in the society. Good listening skill is mandatory to get into a profession in communications, management, planning, sales, etc. Listening skills involve a different set of etiquettes, questioning for explanation, showing empathy and providing a suitable response. Good listening skills include the understanding ability. Body language is also a part of listening skill. Eye contact with the speaker, sitting straight and alert are the good gestures of a good listener.

Definition of speaking Skills

As far as the researcher is concerned, there has been a myriad of definitions of speaking. According to the Oxford Dictionary of current English ( 2009 ), speaking is the action of conveying information or expressing ones thoughts and feelings in spoken languages. Chaney ( 1998 ), however, considered speaking process: speaking is the process of building and sharing meaning through the use of verbal or non-verbal symbols in a variety contexts . sharing the same viewpoint, Florez ( 1999 ) added that speaking is an interactive process, which consists of three main stages producing, receiving and processing information.

In language teaching and learning, speaking is considered a skill to practise and master. In this light, Nunan ( 2008 ) put it that speaking is the productive oral skill, it consists of producing systematic verbal utterance to convey meaning. Also considering speaking as a skill, Bygate ( 1987 ) investigated the distinction between knowledge and skill in speaking lesson, which he considered as crucial in the teaching of speaking. Indeed, to be a good learner of speaking, studying knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, intonation and etc. is not enough but the skill to use this knowledge to communicate successfully is indispensable.

In brief, there are different concepts, example speaking as an action, a process and a skill.

Types of Listening
There are different types of listening depending upon the situation and the environment, where the listening takes place. Few important types are the following

* Whole-person listening-understanding the speaker, his words, thought, motive etc. * Appreciative Listening- Listening for appreciation and pleasure. * Attentive Listening attentively listening each and every word. * Casual Listening- Listening not very attentive, listening casually without any interest. * Evaluative Listening- Listening to evaluate or judge something.

Tips for Effective Listening

Few tips to master the tool of listening skill are given below.

* Have eye contact with the speaker. * Sit straight and adapt a posture to tell the speaker that you are listening. * Show some gesture which represents attentive learning, for example nodding of the head. * Verbal responses while listening shows that you are a good listener. * Wait for the speaker to complete his speech and then share your views, dont interrupt him. * Try to concentrate on the complete speech. * Do not give your views unless you are asked to do so. Interrupting and thrusting your views are mostly not liked by all people.

Listening skill is a technique used for understanding, what is being said by taking into account how something is said and the nonverbal signs and body language that accompanies it. This technique requires practice as listening is very difficult. A person who controls is mind and practices attentive listening will be successful in life and his career .

Methods of Improving Your Listening Skills

Improving your listening skills requires commitment and effort. The payoff will be well worth it. You will learn more, comprehend more, and be a better communicator -- listening or speaking.

Key Points for Effective Listening

1. When its your turn to listen -- Stop Talking! People cannot talk and listen at the same time -- it does not work!

2. Identify with the Speaker This means putting yourself in the speakers place. Try to really understand the speakers view point. What is the motivation behind the message? How do his or her views match up with yours? What is the speakers agenda?

3. Ask Questions When you ask questions, two good things happen: First, it fuels your own interest level. If you are in the presence of a good speaker, meaningful questions should bring you some significant added information. Second, your questions may encourage the speaker to expand on the topic of the speech. Be careful not to ask too many questions. This could make you look like you are trying to dominate the speaker, and other members in the audience may become irritated. Nevertheless, dont be afraid to ask the questions that need to be asked. If you have a question, chances are that others in the group have the same question.

4. Concentrate Focus all of your attention on the speaker and the message being delivered. Being able to concentrate is definitely a skill -- one that we all need in todays information rich world.

5. Show the speaker that you want to listen This applies primarily to one-on-one or small group discussions. Look and act interested in The speakers comments. Listen to understand. Reserve your arguments until its your turn to speak. With this approach, most speakers will actually communicate directly with you as they present their message. This will make the listening experience much more meaningful to you.

6. Control your emotions and your temper Uncontrolled emotions and/or temper can cause misunderstanding when you are trying to listen. If you allow your feelings to interfere with your rationality your listening skills will nosedive and your comprehension will be reduced. Also, it is unlikely that you will retain the attention of the speaker .

7. Eliminate distractions Avoid fidgeting with pens, notebooks, or other stuff. If its your responsibility to handle audience control, close the door to reduce outside noises. Make sure everyone in the audience is seated, quiet, and paying attention. It is difficult to concentrate on a presentation when there are distractions from others in the room. Typically, etiquette dictates that people should not enter or leave the room after the speaker has started speaking. This practice may vary depending on the locale and situation.

8. Look for areas of agreement Listening for areas of agreement will make the speakers message more meaningful for you and will also make the speaker more comfortable; people can tell if you agree or disagree with what is being said.

9. Avoid jumping to conclusions and making hasty evaluations If you are using your mind and attention-span to formulate conclusions before the speaker is finished you may not hear the complete message. You may end up making incorrect conclusions and leave with the wrong message. This is a trap that catches many listeners. Its the same as leaving the theatre before the movie ends, or the baseball game before the last inning ends -- just to beat the parking lot jam. You may miss the best part of the whole show. You cannot evaluate someones message without hearing it completely.

10.Listen for the main points Speakers may present many details in a message. Try to concentrate on the main points being made. This will help you develop a clear understanding of what the real message is.

11. Take notes Taking notes may not always be possible, but when it is note taking can help you to concentrate on the main points. Dont try to record every word, just get the main ideas.