English Tip: Better Listening=Better Speaking

Recently, I've been reading and listening a lot to Seth Godin, a great resource for any business English learners out there or just for anyone looking to develop their work or life into art.

Godin wrote this post last week on How to Listen; please go and it read it now!

Are you back?

I want to use his words to help us listen and speak English better. (not in the order he wrote them)

"The hardest step in better listening is the first one: do it on purpose. Make the effort to actually be good at it. The listener has nearly as big a responsibility as the speaker does."

Listening is the easiest and hardest thing to do. When you speak I can hear you, but am I listening? Especially in a foreign language when you need to hear, understand then produce a response. In a conversation it's alright to repeat the words back to the speaker to show you were listening and get confirmation that you understood correctly.

"Play back what you hear but in your own words, using your own situation. Building on what you just heard but making it your own. Take what you heard and make it the foundation for what you are trying on as your next idea."

If your teacher is telling a story pay close attention to how they frame that story and use that framing to tell your own story.

Teacher: One day while I was at the park I saw many families flying kites. Everyone was having a lot of fun.
Student: One day while I was at the park it started to rain. Everyone was running to get home.

"If listening better leads to better speaking, then it becomes a competitive advantage."

Listening to the tone and phrasing of the words is just as important as the words themselves. Anyone can learn to say 'please' and 'sorry' but better listening allows us to make them our own, put them in the right mood and in the right situation say them with true sincerity.

"Pay back the person who's speaking with enthusiasm. Enthusiasm shown by the expression on your face, in your posture, in your questions."

Effective listening requires attention free from distractions. In my own listening I fall in this trap all the time relating what the speaker said to my own situation or forming questions too soon without hearing parts that are important and answer those questions. It's good to have a pen and notebook near by to jot down thoughts and questions so you're not holding on to them in your head getting distracted by trying to remember them. Writing things down shows enthusiasm as well.

"The best way to honor someone who has said something smart and useful is to say something back that is smart and useful. The other way to honor them is to go do something with what you learned."

When your listening and learning from your teacher showing enthusiasm, asking good questions, and building on your knowledge to craft your speaking ability your teacher will take notice and start to improve their lessons by preparing more interesting topics, activities and assignments. But remember the opposite is also true. The teacher will only put in as much effort as you do.

This is also true for your social life. If your making foreign friends engage them with smart and useful words and questions not just the same old 'Where are you from?' question they've been asked a million times. You'll find that making friends is easier if you do so.

"Good listeners get what they deserve--better speakers."

Happy learning and remember to Speak Bravely!