| Level: | Topic: | Speakers: | Length: |
| difficult | listening skills | man – woman | 02:11 |
Pre-Listening Exercise
If you have a problem in you life (with money, a girlfriend, or with your grades in school), who do you talk to first: your mom, your dad, a brother or sister, or a friend? What are your reasons for talking with this person?
Idioms
“be all ears” = very willing and interested in listening
“Listen. Tell me about the problem. I’m all ears.”
“fall on deaf ears” = having your ideas ignored by others
“I always share my feelings with my coworkers, but my ideas always fall on deaf ears.”
Pre-Listening Exercise
A. Listen to the recording and answer the questions.
The company where the woman works is going to _____.
Wife: It was terrible. The company is going to lay off about 50 people, and I might be one of them.
The woman _____ to help her husband learn the art of listening.
Wife: The problem is you never listen. Never! So look. I bought you this book. Here. Read it.
The first skill of listening that the woman points out is to ____.
Wife: No, you DON'T know. The first thing is not to interrupt and think you know what I'm going to say. Hold your tongue for once and give me a chance to share my feelings before you come up with some witty response.
The second point is to ____.
Wife: I hope. Number two. Show me that you're listening. Stop checking Facebook while I'm talking to you, turn off the TV, look me in the eyes. Anything to show me that you're paying attention.
According to the final point, some people who are experiencing issues in their lives don't want others to _____ their problems.
Wife: It's not funny. It's not funny!! So QUIT LAUGHING!! And don't tell me what to do to fix my problems either. Most of the time, I don't need solutions. I just need you to listen to my feelings.
This couple is going to _____ to improve their relationship.
Husband: Okay. I guess I haven't listened enough, [ No. You don't listen very much. ] and I haven't shown much empathy [ No. ] And, well, how about if I read a couple of chapters and then we talk about it? Is that okay?
Post-Listening Exercise
What are some reasons why people don’t seem to listen very well? Do (Did) you feel that your parents listen to your own concerns and problems? Why or why not?
Online Investigation
Use the Internet to find out at least three points that help people develop their listening skills better. Discuss these ideas with a partner. Think about yourself and identify how many of these skills you do or don’t do well and what you plan to do (if anything) to improve your listening.
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