How To Overcome the barriers of listening

1. Concentrate on what a teacher is says rather than on how he looks.
Don’t be distracted by his physical appearance or his mannerism.

2 Repeat the key ideas to yourself. Particularly, while listening to a long lecture, if you can repeat yourself all the important ideas the speaker has put before you. This will also help you to understand the lecture better.

3 Try to relate the speaker’s remarks to your personal background and experience. This will also enable you too retain those remarks in your memory longer.

4 Do not let your mind wander away from what the speaker is says. So do not think of the pleasant or unpleasant experiences of your own. Be determined that you are going to search everything out of your mind expect the speaker’s words. It is also advisable to keep your eyes switched on the speaker. If you start looking out of the window, around the room, your mind will go on unnecessary excursion.

5 Listen with a positive attitude. Many listeners fail to listen because they are mentally unprepared to listen. Don’t let your prejudices to close your mind to what the other person has to say.

6 Try to grasp ‘between-the –lines’ messages. Listen to what you can’t hear. Watch for body languages, for changes in expression, for voice intonation, which might be very significant indicators of the real message.

7 Take notes if you feel desirable. But this might distract you from listening. So keep the notes to the minimum. Let them be aids to memory rather than detailed notes.

8 Don’t be afraid to ask question or seek clarification wherever you are in doubt. Don’t think that interrupting is discourteous. Asking question is an evidence of your being interested