A.

Listening for Attitudes and Emotions

Tone, Attitude & Certainty

You won't just have to hear what the speaker says when you're learning to hear
spoken English. To really get the point, you'll also also have to pick up on hints about
the sound, mood or degree of certainty of the speaker. It's not just about what
someone does, in other words; it's about how she feels about it. With a positive tone,
an angry tone, a defeated tone, or something else, did she say it? In this class, to find
all of that out, you can get some tips and practice.

Volume, Pitch and Speed

We'll cover three hints before we even get into the words themselves that you can
get just by listening to the tone of the voice of the speaker: volume, pitch and speed.
The intensity is one major clue that you should listen to. Volume refers to how a
speaker speaks loudly or softly.

 Emphasis - if a speaker thinks she's saying something important, she'll probably

say it louder. In the middle of a paragraph at normal volume, a sentence spoken
more loudly stands out.

 Strong emotion - if a speaker has a very strong opinion on something, her volume
will probably increase. This is true whether the emotion is positive or negative.
People shout when they're angry, but also when they're excited.

 Certainty - people who are sure of their opinions tend to speak more loudly. On
the other hand, people who aren't confident tend to speak more quietly.

A second clue is pitch. Pitch is how high or low the speaker's voice is. Rising
pitch toward the end of a sentence in English generally indicates a question. If a
speaker's voice rises in pitch toward the end of all his sentences, even when they
aren't questions.

A third clue is pace, or how quickly the speaker speaks. Any deviation from a
steady speaking rate, in general, means that something important is happening.For
example:

 Slowing down can indicate emphasis because it's a sign that the speaker wants
you to pay attention to every single word.

 Speeding up can indicate strong emotion because English speakers tend to talk
faster when they get excited about something.
B. Body Language as a Listener

Body Language of Listeners

Body language is the process of communicating through nonverbal signals it

includes things like our posture facial expressions gestures and more the meanings of
these all vary from culture to culture but we instinctively read body language and
interpret it as some expression of moods feelings or Intentions

The strategic use of body language plays a key role in effective communication. Here
are seven ways to show that you are listening

1. Look Like You’re Listening

Don't multi-task as they do, if you want people to give you their ideas! Avoid the
temptation to check your text messages, look at your watch, or see how the other
respondents are responding. Instead, by turning your head and body to face them
directly and by making eye contact, focus on those who are talking. Another
nonverbal way to prove you're interested and paying attention is to lean forward.

2. Use Your Head

To allow a team member to build on their remarks, at regular intervals, nod your
head using clusters of three nods. I have found that when the listener nods in this way,
people can speak even more than normal. Another indication that you are interested,
curious and active is head tilting. A universal sign of offering an ear to the other
person is the head tilt.

3. Open Your Body

We reveal a lot about our attitudes, emotions and motives by the way we hold our
bodies, especially when using closed or open postures. Arms are folded in the
absolute closed body pose, ankles are crossed and the torso or ankles are turned away.
Closed signs are rounding the upper body and covering hands that may also represent
sensations of weakness or depression. Legs are uncrossed in open and receptive body
postures, and arms are open with palms exposed or comfortably resting on the desk or
conference table. This is often usually a sign of transparency, accessibility, and an
overall ability to listen and communicate if the arms are relaxed on the sides of the
body when standing.To show that you are receptive to other people’s ideas, uncross
your arms and legs. Put your feet flat on the floor and use open palm gestures (which
is a body language display inviting others into the conversation).

4. Remove Barriers

That means taking away items that block the speaker and you from accessing or
watching them. The most commonly used obstacle is the weapons. Although we have
over sixty different reasons to fold our arms, speakers see every arm fold as an
obstacle and a cue you don't listen to. In fact, the arm fold is the most obvious sign of
a lack of interest, of all the various body language postures.
 As you listen with your arms crossed, you potentially absorb 30 percent less
details from the speaker. So unfold the weapons. Furthermore, on the desk, move the
phone, books or stacks of papers that lie between the front of your body and the view
of the speaker. By keeping your beverage glass in front of your upper chest, you can
also demonstrate that you are blocking a speaker's post.

5. Activate Your Smile Power

Show a genuine smile, genuine smile enhance your own sense of well-being, it
also reminds those around you that you are open, collaborative, and trustworthy.
Slowly, a sincere smile comes on, crinkles the eyes, lights up the face and slowly
fades away. Most significantly, smiling directly affects how other individuals respond
to you. They almost always smile in return when you smile at someone.
6. Lean In

Leaning is another way in which your body reveals your thoughts. Typically,
leaning backward indicates feelings of hate or negativity. It's the limbic brain's
hardwired response; we subconsciously try to distance ourselves from something
negative or dangerous. Leaning backward in a seated conversation may also express
superiority or disinterest.

7. Mirror Expressions and Postures

If your body language is reflected by a business partner, it's his or her way of
saying non-verbally that they like or agree with you. Mirroring may be an important
aspect of listening when performed with intent (listening to what the body of the other
person is telling you this time). Mirroring begins by studying the facial and physical
movements of an individual and then subtly putting on the same expressions and
postures.
https://www.globallisteningcentre.org/body-language-of-listeners/