LISTENING Skills

INTRODUCTION:
Listening is a process of receiving, interpreting and reacting to a message from the
speaker. No communication process is complete without listening. Listening is an
important skill. Listening is quite similar to reading as it involves reception and decoding
of the verbal message from the other person . Listening is a purposeful and focused
activity. It requires attention and concentration from the listener. It is a conscious and
voluntary activity. The process of true listening starts with receiving and ends with an
appropriate response. Listening is the first of the four skills in communication that
initiatives the path for the other three skills viz , speaking, reading and writing. Someone
rightly said, “Hearing is through ears, but listening is through the mind.” The two activities
hearing and listening involve the use of ears, but they are different .Listening skill is key to
receiving messages effectively. It is a combination of hearing what another person says
and psychological involvement with the person who is talking. Listening is a Skill of
Language. It requires a desire to understand another human being, an attitude of respect
and acceptance, and a willingness to open one’s mind to try and see things from
another’s point of view. It requires a high level of concentration and energy. It demands
that we set aside our Own thoughts and agendas, put ourselves in another’s shoes and
try to see the world through that Person’s eyes.

For Example;
In a biology class teacher asked the students to refer to a book titled “Origin of Species”,
One of the students sincerely went to library searched to the catalogue of library,
looking for book named “Orange and Peaches” but to his utter dismay he could not find
it. When he approached the teacher he found that the book was entitled “Origin of
Species”. This is what happens when there is lack of concentration in listening.
A .What is the difference between hearing
and listening?

Listening :
It is one’s ability to correctly receive and interpret the message transferred by the Other
party in the process of communication.

Hearing :
The hearing is nothing but a sense that helps you receive sound waves and noise by
Ears . It is the power of perceiving sounds.

Hearing LISTENING
1. Meaning Hearing refers to one’s Listening is something
ability to perceive sound, done consciously, that
by receiving vibrations involves the analysis and
through ears . understanding of the
sounds .
2.what is it ? An ability An skills
3.Nature Primary and continuous Secondary and temporary
4.Act Physiological Psychological
5.Involves Receipt of message Interpretation of the
through ears message received by ears
6.process Passive bodily process Active mental process
7.occur Occur at subconscious Occur at conscious level
level
8.Use of senses Only one More than one
9.Reason We are neither aware nor We listen to acquire
we have any control over knowledge and receive
the sounds we hear information
10.concentration Not required Required

Thus Hearing is simply perceiving sound, while

Listening is actively making sense of it.
Listening comprises of some key
components, they are:
➢ Discriminating between sounds .
➢ Recognizing words and understanding their meaning .
➢ Identifying grammatical groupings of words.
➢ Identifying expressions and sets of utterances that
act to create meaning.
➢ Connecting linguistic cues to non - linguistic and
paralinguistic cues .
➢ Using background knowledge to predict and
confirm meaning .
➢ Recalling important points.

Stages or steps in Listening

➢There are five stages /steps in this
process :
1.Receiving;
• It is the intentional focus on learning the
speaker’s message. It filters out other
confusing stimuli.
2.Understanding:
At this stage the listener attempts to learn the
meaning of the message. The listener’s knowledge
level, experiences and perception influence his
understanding.

3.Remembering:
In this stage, what has been understood is
processed meaningfully and put to memory.

4.Evaluating:
In this stage, the value or sense of the message
received is judged. The same message may seem
valuable or purposeless depending on the listeners’
experiences, biases etc.

5.Responding:
It is like a feedback to what has been received. It
indicates in words, gestures or deeds, the listener’s
involvement or participation in the conversation.
 (Errors at any of these five steps could lead to
miscommunication/misunderstanding. So, attention
must be paid from beginning to end).

Types of Listening
1) Active listening :
It is also known as attentive listening. Active listening
involves attention, careful Consideration,
concentration of the speaker’s ideas. The listener
Participates in Communication process actively and
attentively.
•The listener nods his head, leans forward or show
positive body language, which supports and
encourages the speaker to communicate more
enthusiastically. This is positive type of Listening.

2.Passive Listening:

Unlike active listening, passive listening does not

require any special effort other than hearing what is
being said. A passive listener usually does not
interrupt the speaker or perform any other her action
whatsoever at the same time in which the speaker is
 delivering his or her speech. typically, a passive
listener does not nod his or her head, make
appropriate facial expression and maintain eye
contacts with the speaker or engage in any other
action that indicates he or She is paying attention .

Examples of passive listening include, communicating on the

phone to your mother while Checking Facebook, Instagram or
texting your friend during a lecture.

Other types of Listening

Critical Listening
Critical listening can also be called as ‘evaluating
listening’. This type of listening involves Critical evaluation
of the speaker’s thoughts and ideas. The listener assesses
speaker’s depth Of knowledge, choice of words and tone
and style of the listener this type of listening is used in
seminars, conferences, group discussions, and other
formal type of interactions. The listener encourages and
motivates the speaker to speak more and more.

•Empathetic listening

•This Type of listening exercises emotional influence on

the listener not only understands the literal message but
also understand the feeling, emotions, and the world view
of the speaker

IMPORTANCE OF LISTENING SKILLS ;

1.Good speaking and effective
communication depend on good listening.

2. Effective listening is a skill required to

maintain professional and personal
relationships.

3.Ineffective listening leads to a breakdown

of communication .

4.Effective listening enables us to evaluate

the strong and weak points in a message
and give more useful feedback and
constructive criticism
Sub – skills of Listening skill ;

Developing Listening sub skills

▪ Listening for Gist
▪ Listening for general understanding.
▪ Play a song and ask students What the
song Is about.
Listening for gist:
This is when we listen to something
to get a general idea of what it’s
about, of what’s being said. We don’t
want or need to understand every
word.
Example:
Listening to a summary of the day’s
news on the radio.

• Listening for specific information:

This is when we listen to something
because we want to discover a
particular piece of information. We
know in advance what we’re hoping
to find out. We can ignore other
information which doesn’t interest
us.
Example:
listening to a Weather report to find out
about the weather in your part of the
country.
Listening in detail :
This is when we listen we listen
very closely, paying attention to
all the words and trying to
understand as much information
as possible.
Example:
• A member of a Jury listening to a
statement from a witness.

o INFERENCE – understand things not

directly stated by the author
➢ Listen for tone
➢ Listen for words that are stressed
➢ To be inferred
Techniques of “ LISTENING ” SKILLS

❖ Count It
❖ Identify It
❖ What is it?
❖ Listen and mark/write
❖ Grid
❖ Family Tree
❖ Timetable, Bio-Data Forms,
passport/bank
❖ Flow Chart
❖ Maps
❖ Stories/passages
❖ A technique used for advance level
learners
❖ Objective – Type Questions

Let us now see elaborately about the

technique **what is it ** in listening skills
Introduction ;
In the context of listening skills, “What is it?” refers to
activities or strategies that involve identifying,
recognizing, or understanding spoken language. These
activities are designed to improve a listener’s ability to
process and comprehend spoken words, sounds, or
meanings in different situations. Listening is a
receptive skill that plays a crucial role in
communication. It requires active engagement,
concentration, and interpretation of spoken
messages. The “What is it?” approach helps learners
develop their ability to recognize key information by
listening carefully to descriptions, sounds, or
contextual clues. The phrase “what is it” refers to
Activity where the listener must identify object,
word , sound or meaning based on the audio
input. This approach commonly used in
language learning ,cognitive development and
auditory training to improve comprehension
and recognition skills .Listening is a crucial skill
in language learning, as it forms the foundation
for effective communication. The “What Is It?”
technique is a listening exercise designed to
enhance auditory discrimination,
comprehension, and inference skills. It
encourages learners to identify objects,
sounds, words, or concepts based on audio
clues, descriptions, or contextual hints.
This method is widely used in English Language
Teaching (ELT) and other second-language
acquisition programs to develop students’
ability to process spoken language effectively.

1. What Is the "What Is It?" Technique in

Listening?
The "What Is It?" technique is a listening exercise where learners are given verbal
descriptions, sound clues, or contextual hints and must infer or identify what is being
described. It is commonly used in English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a
Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms to enhance listening comprehension and critical
thinking.

How It Works
• The teacher or an audio recording provides a description, sound, or definition
of an object, action, or concept.
• Learners listen carefully and use contextual clues, background knowledge,
and inference skills to guess the answer.
• The activity can be structured as individual work, pair work, or group
discussions to encourage interaction.

Example Exercises
1. Guess the Object:
o Audio clue: "It has four legs, a tail, and it barks."
o Answer: "A dog."
2. Identify the Sound:
o Audio clue: A doorbell ringing.
o Question: "What sound is this?"
o Answer: "A doorbell."
3. Contextual Inference:
o Audio clue: "People use me to travel in the sky. I have wings and engines."
o Answer: "An airplane."
Purpose of “What Is It?” Technique in
Listening skill:
❖ The goal of these activities is to
train students to listen carefully and
recognize words, phrases, or
contextual clues that help them
understand what is being described or
talked about. These activities are
particularly useful for beginners and
intermediate learners as they build
confidence in understanding spoken
language.

Who Invented the "What Is It?"

Technique?
▪ There is no single inventor of the "What Is It?" technique, as it is based on
fundamental principles of listening comprehension and inference skills.
However, it has been influenced by several key figures in language learning
research:

1. Stephen Krashen (1980s) – Input

Hypothesis
 • Krashen emphasized the importance of comprehensible input in language
learning.
• The "What Is It?" technique aligns with his idea that learners acquire language
by processing meaningful input.

2. David Nunan (1989) – Task-Based

Language Teaching (TBLT)
• Nunan’s work on task-based learning suggests that listening should involve
meaningful, real-life tasks.
• The "What Is It?" activity fits into task-based learning as a way to develop
listening skills through active engagement.

3. John Field (2008) – Listening in the

Language Classroom
• Field highlighted the importance of bottom-up and top-down processing in
listening.
• The "What Is It?" technique trains learners in both:
o Bottom-up: Recognizing individual sounds and words.
o Top-down: Using context and background knowledge to infer meaning.

While no single person "invented" the "What Is It?" technique, it has been shaped by the
contributions of linguists, psychologists, and educators in the field of language acquisition

How to use “what is it” Technique in Teaching

1. Pre-Listening Stage:
o Introduce key vocabulary and concepts related to the listening task.
o Provide visual aids or context clues to help students prepare.
2. During Listening Stage:
o Play or read out descriptions, definitions, or sound clues.
o Ask learners to take notes or make guesses while listening.
3. Post-Listening Stage:
o Discuss answers and encourage students to explain their reasoning.
o Provide additional exercises to reinforce comprehension.

Classroom Applications
• Beginner Level: Identifying everyday objects and simple sounds.
 • Intermediate Level: Listening to short dialogues and guessing missing words.
• Advanced Level: Using news reports or storytelling for contextual inference.

Barriers and Challenges in Using the

"What Is It?" Technique
1.Learners Difficulties
• Limited Vocabulary: Some students may struggle if they do not know key words.
• Pronunciation Variations: Different accents and speech speeds can make
comprehension difficult.
• Listening Fatigue: Extended listening tasks may overwhelm learners.

2.Teaching Difficulties
• Finding Suitable Audio Materials: Authentic audio sources must match
learners' proficiency.
• Managing Diverse Classrooms: Mixed-level groups require differentiated
instruction.

3.Possible solution
• Pre-teach Key Vocabulary: Provide a list of important words before listening.
• Use Repetition and Slower Speech: Play recordings multiple times at a slower
speed if necessary.
• Incorporate Visual Aids: Use pictures, gestures, or real-life objects to reinforce
meaning.

Types of “What Is It?” Listening Tasks ;

1.Identifying Objects or Sounds ;

Students listen to a sound or a
description and guess what it is.
Example:
Listening to an audio clip of an animal
sound and identifying which animal it
belongs to.

2.Recognizing Words and Phrases;

Learners listen to words or short phrases
and determine what they mean.

Example:
Listening to descriptions of items in
a store and matching them with
pictures.

3.Understanding Descriptions
Students hear a description of a person,
place, or object and identify what is
being described.

Example:
o Listening to a description of a historical
monument and naming it.
4.Distinguishing Between Similar Sounds;
o Activities that focus on minimal pairs
(EX;SHEEP vs SHIP) to improve
pronunciation and listening accuracy.

5.Listening for Specific Information (Gist

or Detail ;
o Short dialogues or monologues where
students listen for keywords or main ideas.

Example:
o Listening to a weather forecast and noting
the temperature.

6.Sound Identification
Learners listen to a sound (e.g., a bird
chirping) and identify what it is.

7.Word Recognition ;
A word or phrase is played, and learners guess
or repeat it.
Advantages of the “What is it?” Technique
in Listening Skills ;
▪ Enhances Active Listening –
Encourages learners to focus
closely on auditory details.
▪ Improves Sound Recognition –
Helps distinguish between different
sounds, words, or tones.
▪ Develops Critical Thinking –
Requires inference and
interpretation, improving analytical
skills.
▪ Encourages Engagement – Makes
listening more interactive and
enjoyable.
▪ Builds Vocabulary – Learners
encounter new words and sounds in
context.
▪ Useful for All Levels – Can be
adapted for beginners to advanced
learners.
Disadvantages of the “What is it?”
Technique in Listening Skills ;
▪ May Cause Frustration – If the sound
is too difficult to recognize, learners
may feel discouraged.
▪ Depends on Clear Audio Quality –
Background noise or poor audio can
hinder understanding.
▪ Limited Context – Some sounds or
phrases may lack enough context
for accurate identification.
▪ Requires Teacher Guidance –
Learners may need support to
interpret ambiguous sounds
correctly.
▪ Not Always Practical – Some
learners prefer structured listening
activities over guessing games.
Conclusion
“The ‘What is it?’ technique is a powerful tool
for defining and clarifying concepts in listening.
By asking and answering this question, listeners
can break down complex ideas, improve
comprehension, and stay engaged in
conversations. This method fosters deeper
understanding and ensures that the message is
accurately received and processed.”
“Listening skills are essential for effective
communication, as they allow individuals to
understand, interpret, and respond
thoughtfully. Active listening builds strong
relationships, enhances learning, and improves
problem-solving abilities. By developing good
listening habits, individuals can create
meaningful interactions and navigate both
personal and professional conversations with
confidence.”