Classroom Listening as key to a Bright Future

A lot of people confuse listening with hearing. The truth is, the two are very distinct. Most of us can hear, but not all of us are effective when it comes to listening. Listening is a skill that has to be developed over time. Below, we will review some of the questions that every student should ask himself or herself at some point when attending a class. This helps them become better listeners – and more successful in life outside the classroom.

What does the lecture consist of?

If you are in college and attend a lot of lectures, then you already know how important listening is to getting by. But have you ever really asked yourself what the lectures really consist of? On a structural level, most lectures consists of five different sections:

1. Introduction
2. Thesis Statement
3. Body
4. Summary
5. Irrelevancies

The introduction is usually opening statements. Whatever topic is going to be discussed in class that day will be introduced at this point. It is important to take note of what is said in the introduction, because it will effect everything else that the professor says throughout the class period.

The thesis statement is the topic that is going to be covered in the course of the lecture – an argument that the professor wishes to put forward regarding the nature of the topic.

Then there is the body of the lecture itself. This is the raw meat – all the knowledge you will want to absorb. You will most likely be tested at some point at a later date, or at the very least be expected to write a term paper on the subject, so it is of vital importance that you listen well and take notes throughout the course of the lecture.

The summary is an excellent opportunity for you to gouge all the major points of the lecture – and to fill in any gaps that you might have missed.

The irrelevancies are less important. It consists of off the topic material or filter material. You will most likely not need to retain this information at a later date – but it is important to be able to differentiate the irrelevancies from the rest of the lecture. Only a skilled listener may do this in an effective manner.

You might also wish to identify the structure of the body of the lecture. Normally there will be some sort of hidden structure – whether it is chronological or otherwise. Identifying the structure will better help you understand it. And understanding is the key to knowledge – it helps us retrieve it at a later date.

Next Page: What is the professor trying to tell you?