UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY

Biglang Awa St., Corner Catleya St., EDSA, Caloocan City

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Samelyn B. Quisay
BSE-English 4B ENGL 506
An Interactive Model of Listening Comprehension
1. The hearer processes what we will call “raw speech” and holds an “image” of it in short term
memory (phrases, clauses, cohesive markers, intonation).
Example: “Class, quiet!”, teacher Anna exclaimed to the noisy class.
Explanation: The whole class went silent but after a few minutes, they become loud again as if
they are not instructed to be quiet.

2. The hearer determines the types of speech event that is being processed (ex. Radio broadcast)
and then appropriately “colors” the interpretation of the perceived message.
Example: Daniel heard in the news that the weather is bad today.
Explanation: Daniel assumes that there will be a suspension of class because of what he
heard in the news.

3. The hearer infers the objectives of the speaker through consideration of the type of the speech
event, the context, and content (to request, deny, etc.).
Example: “Erase the writings on the board”, teacher Sally said as she walked inside the
classroom.
Explanation: The boy in the front row knew that this is an order from the teacher so he stands
up to erase the writing on the board.

4. The hearer recalls background information (schemata).

Example: “How was your summer vacation?”, the teacher asked the students.
Explanation: The students will recall the events in their summer vacation and will write an
essay to describe them.

5. The hearer assigns a literal meaning to the utterance. This process involves a set of semantic
interpretations of the surface strings that the ear has perceived. 
Example: “Where’s your assignments?”, teacher Elsa asked.
Explanation: “Here”, “In my bag”, “At home”, are some of the responses of the students as they
took the teacher’s message literally.

6. The hearer assigns an intended meaning to the utterance (perceived and intended meaning).
Example: “Where’s your assignments?”, teacher Elsa asked.
Explanation: The students passed the paper in front because they already knew that they need
to submit it to the teacher.

7. The hearer determines whether information should be retained in short-term or long-term

memory.
Example: “This will be included on our quiz next meeting.”, said the teacher.
Explanation: The students will remember the concept or the lesson for a longer time because it
is needed for their upcoming quiz.

8. The hearer deletes the form in which the message was originally perceived.
Example: Cath heard that teacher Janna will be late because she is in the hospital.
Explanation: Cath announced to her classmates that teacher Janna will be absent because
she is confined in the hospital. Cath spreads a fake news about teacher Janna.
 UNIVERSITY OF CALOOCAN CITY
Biglang Awa St., Corner Catleya St., EDSA, Caloocan City
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION