How To Teach Listening?

Listening comprehension is more than simply hearing what is being said. It involves:

The ability to take in information
The ability to respond to instructions
The ability to share ideas, thoughts, and opinions.

Overall, listening comprehension is the ability to understand the meaning of words heard and to then be able to relate to them in some way. When your child hears a story, listening comprehension allows them to understand it, remember it, talk about it, and even retell it in their own words.

Children who are good listeners often grow up to become good communicators. It's an important skill to develop at an early age and, like a muscle, it needs regular exercise to grow stronger. Below are six everyday ways you can help build your student's listening comprehension skills.

six everyday ways

1. Get their full attention

Encourage them to look at you when they listen. Their full attention is important, and this gets them into the habit of giving their full attention to what's being said.

2. Make reading an interactive activity

While reading aloud, stop before and ask, “What do you think will happen?” Ask them to explain to see how well they've been listening. If they haven't been listening, avoid criticizing get them into a fun habit of predicting what will happen next.

3. Play listening games

Helps your students build listening comprehension skills in a fun and rewarding way. You can even make up your own listening games at home. For example, ask them to find objects around the class by giving them two‑part verbal instructions, then gradually progress to three‑part, four‑part, and so on.

4. Place an emphasis on common speech signals

Help them listen out for important cues by placing an emphasis on common speech signals when you talk. These could include words like ‘now’, ‘next’ and ‘finally’.

5. Be a good listener too

Avoid interrupting the child when they are talking and show them that you're listening to what they have to say. Give positive indicators like nodding, smiling, saying supporting words, and following up with questions or elaborating on what they have said to show interest.

6. Remember that most young children have short attention spans

Don't expect them to process information if it is lengthy, out of context, or not particularly interesting to them. Focus on building learning comprehension skills in a fun and supportive way and remember to always be patient.