Critical Listening

What is critical listening?

• Listening only for fun

• Listening to music carefully

• Listening to understand, think, and respond

• Ignoring unimportant parts of a conversation

Which of the following is a sign of a critical listener?

• Daydreaming during a lesson

• Looking at the speaker and nodding

• Interrupting with unrelated questions

• Finishing the speaker’s sentences

Why is critical listening important in school?

• So you don’t have to take notes

• To memorize jokes

• To understand lessons and follow directions

• To win arguments

What should you do if you don’t understand something while listening?

• Ignore it

• Change the subject

• Ask a thoughtful question

• Start talking to a friend

Which of these actions shows poor listening?

• Taking notes during a lecture

• Making eye contact with the speaker

• Checking your phone while someone talks

• Asking for clarification

When listening critically, what should you focus on?

• The speaker’s hairstyle

• The main message and important details

How can you show that you're listening critically?

• Repeat what the speaker said in your own words

• Stay silent no matter what

• Talk over the speaker

• Avoid eye contact

Which of these is most helpful for remembering what you hear?

• Doodling

• Taking notes

• Looking out the window

• Talking during the lesson

What is a benefit of critical listening during group work?

• You control the conversation

• You remember your group's names

• You can better understand everyone's ideas

• You don’t have to contribute

Which of the following is an example of critical listening?

• Guessing what the speaker means

• Listening for the main idea and asking follow-up questions

• Tuning out the speaker

• Talking to others during a speech