Module Two: Listening

Module Two: Encoding and Decoding Messages
Chapter Six

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Communication is a two-way process. In Chapter Six, we explore how communication becomes a two-way, collaborative process.
Topic 13:	Identify the stages in the listening process as you evaluate how well you and a conversation partner listen to one another.
Topic 14:	Check out some concrete ideas for listening improvement with the CARESS model of listening and decide which of these aspects of listening you can most beneficially apply to improve your communication competence.

Topic 13: Listening Stages

Listening occurs as a sequence of stages: hearing, selecting, attending, understanding, evaluating, remembering and responding with feedback. The Web link, "The Quivering Bundles that Let Us Hear," makes plain that hearing is a physiological process. From there, attending, understanding, evaluating and remembering are closely related to the process of perception that we discussed in Module One.

Featured Links

The Quivering Bundles that Let Us Hear
<http://www.hhmi.org/
senses/c/c110.htm>

Perception and Listening
http://novaonline.nvcc.edu/eli/
/spd110td/interper/listen/listening.html

As the last step in the process, responding with verbal and nonverbal feedback is the listener's part in ensuring that conversation is a two-way interaction.

For this topic, your posting should have two parts:

First, evaluate your listening or that of a conversation partner using the questions in the Making Connections Box on page 155.

Second, explain how a listener's feedback should be expressed. In this regard, draw on some of the points that Seiler and Beall make on page 163 about improving listening competence. Describe specific verbal and nonverbal behaviors of a competent listener.

As you do the exercise and write up your reflection for topic 13 on our discussion board for topic 13, use some of the key terms to describe the listening process.

Key Terms

hearing
selecting
attending
understanding
evaluating
remembering and responding with feedback

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Topic 14: Improving Listening Skills

In many business and professional settings, listening is a critical skill for effective job performance.

Consider the views expressed by Tony Alessandra, author of The Power of Listening.

In the Discussion Board for this lesson, apply what you've learned about effective listening. What are your greatest strengths as a listener? What are some of the types of situations in which you think you listen with great effectiveness? What are some situations in which you are weaker? Use Dr. Alessandra's CARESS model and use some of its key terms to identify areas that you can improve.

If Dr. Allessandra's Website is not available, you can also use the "Listening Skills" page from the University of Minnesota at Duluth.