In life, of all the language skills – listening, speaking, reading and writing – listening is used more than the other three added together. Children (and adults) can learn a lot through listening. Regrettably, this is not an instinctive skill. Listening must be taught and developed.

Driving home, last week, I noticed some activity on an empty plot of land. There was a tractor digging a deep hole. Nearby, I saw a stack of concrete blocks. A house was going to be built on the property. Preparation was being made. The first step was laying the foundation…a solid foundation.

Listening is the foundation of language.

It’s a dynamic process that makes us:

• Access prior knowledge
• Organize, process and synthesize what we are hearing
• Interpret meaning
• Respond appropriately

Here are 4 listening tips you can teach your children to enhance their learning success. Of course, tailor them to their age and understanding.

Communicate to them that:

1. What their teachers are saying is important for their academic success as well as their future. Children become easily bored when they do not perceive value in or a valid reason for listening to a speaker.
2. It is the listener’s (their) responsibility to generate interest and understanding…not the teacher’s. Learning is up to the learner, not the teacher. Consequently, they must not sit passively and blame the teacher for their lack of understanding and success. Serious learners ask questions to ensure comprehension. Children know how they learn best.
3. If noise is impeding their hearing, they must bring it to the attention of the teacher or parent. Some children have such sensitive hearing they are able to hear the buzz of the fluorescent light in the ceiling. Minimizing distractions and sitting within an effective hearing distance of the teacher is then essential.
4. They must focus on what the teacher is saying. Even when they don’t like something about the teacher or his/her message, they must not tune him/her out. Rejecting knowledge without understanding it is foolish and counterproductive.

Good listeners are good learners.

How has listening helped you learn something that proved important for your livelihood?