LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP LISTENING AND VIEWING SKILLS

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, the students must have:

1. Explained what listen and viewing skills are

2. Identified the different learning activities for developing listening and viewing skills
3. Recognized the importance of listening and viewing skills in the field of education

I. LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP LISTENING SKILLS

Hearing Versus Listening

Hearing Listening
Involuntary Voluntary
Natural Requires effort
Passive Active

LISTENING

 In the communication process, it is the ability to accurately receive and interpret

messages.
 An integral part of the communication process
 It is key to all effective communication.

ACTIVE LISTENING

 It is the practice or a skill of going beyond simply hearing the words that another
person speaks, but also seeking to understand the meaning behind them.
 The attempt of the listeners to internalize the words that they are hearing.
 This requires motivation and purpose, and the listener should have an intention
to connect and participate.
TIPS ON HOW TO BECOME AN ACTIVE LISTENER

1. Face the speaker and have eye contact

In face-to-face communication, eye contact is important. It makes the speaker

feel that you’re listening actively to him/her. However, it shouldn’t be too much since it
can intimidate them and make them uncomfortable.

2. Do not interrupt

Interrupting will make the speaker feel that we don’t have time listening to what
they say, and this could be frustrating for them. We should allow them to express
themselves, so that it will be easier for us to understand their message.

3. Don't start planning what to say next

We cannot listen and prepare at the same time. The best thing to do is to listen to
what the speaker is saying, and focus solely on that. If there are other things that we are
thinking about inside our mind, we are likely to not internalize the speaker’s words. At all
times, we should put our full concentration to their words, so its meaning would get
across.

4. Listen without jumping to conclusions

If we start reacting emotionally to what’s being said, then it can get in the way of
listening to what is said next. We should always try to focus on listening. Equally, don’t
assume that we know what’s going to be said next.

5. Listen to non-verbal cues

Pay attention to what the other person is saying with their body language. Facial
expressions, tone of voice and gestures can tell us just as much as what is being said in
words.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP LISTENING SKILLS

1. Simon Says

This classic game is perfect for teaching active listening skills. Students have to
pay close attention to the speaker. One person stands in front of the classroom and says
the task the rest of the class must perform. Then, students have to quickly perform the
activity. However, they can only do it if the speaker says, “Simon Says.” If those words
aren’t used, the children doing the activity are “out” for that game.

2. Telephone or Message Relay

This game is great for kids from preschool up to high school. In this game, the
teacher or a student makes up an appropriate phrase or sentence. Then the message is
whispered to the next student until it is passed around by the entire class. The goal is to
have the correct message revealed at the end. This game shows students the
importance of active listening and is a fun way to hone their skills.

3. Group Story

In this game, students actively listen to everyone’s ideas. One person starts by
saying a few words (1-3 works well for younger students, 3-5 for older students). Then
the next person adds to it, based on what was said in the previous sentence. For
example, if one student says, “My pet bunny,” the next person should say something
like, “likes eating carrots.” The goal of the activity is for students to listen and repeat the
full story at the end.

4. Reported interviews

Students are placed in pairs or can find their own partners and they have to
interview each other. Some topics they can ask about include family, hobbies, childhood
experiences, future goals, etc. After everyone finishes their interviews, each student
reports to the class what they learned about their partner and can also assess how
accurately their partner described them.

5. Listen for lies

Divide the class into two teams A and B. Ask one student at a time to come to
the front of the class and read aloud a passage which you have chosen, e.g. a story or
newspaper article. Then ask them to read it aloud again, but to make some changes.
Each time a lie (or change) is read out, the students must stand up. The first team to
stand up gets a point. This game requires students to listen carefully and encourages
them to remember important information and details.
II. Learning Activities for Developing Viewing Skills

VIEWING SKILLS

 A process that supports oracy and literacy and is a part of an integrated

language program.
 It involves interpreting the images for which words stand and connecting visual
images in videos, computer programs, and websites with accompanying printed
or spoken words.
 It is not a skill that was taught until recently.
 It is an important skill for in addition to developing the knowledge and abilities to
analyze and evaluate visual texts and multimedia texts that employ visuals,
viewing aids students in slowing down, reflecting on, and thinking about the
images they are seeing.
 Students learn information and develop an appreciation for others’ perspectives
and experiences through the use of viewing.

SOME WAYS TO REPRESENT IDEAS VISUALLY INSIDE THE CLASSROOM

 Drawing
 Photographs
 Video
 Multimedia

LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR DEVELOPING VIEWING SKILLS

1. Picture Book Studies

In this kind of activity, the teacher various picture books or illustrations for
viewing. Then, through guided discussion, the learners will talk about the author’s
style, artwork, and other interesting detail.
2. Gallery Walks
This is a learning activity where the teacher or students construct displays or
representations about various aspects of a topic. Usually a student acts as the
curator at each display site and responds to any questions about the display.
 3. Drama And Puppet Plays
Drama and puppetry, presented by a professional troupe, are powerful vehicles
for developing students’ critical viewing skills.

SUMMARY

1. Listening and viewing skills are important both in academic settings and communication
settings.
2. Integrating learning activities for developing listening and viewing skills is important in
the learning process since these are integral to positive communication and discussion.
3. There’s a nuance between hearing and listening. While listening is temporary and active,
hearing is continuous and natural.
4. There are only four macro skills until viewing has become a skill that was taught
recently.