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Title | Listening skills: Context, Body language, and Hidden meaning |
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Source | CASLS Activity of the Week |
Body | By Patricia Roldan Marcos We are never "just listening:" it is not enough to understand the words only. When you listen you are using your past knowledge and experiences, familiarity with the context and knowledge of body language in order to understand what is being communicated. Listening is not simply hearing the words, but also is reading the cues—verbal and non-verbal. Much of what is communicated is silent and "between the lines." Cultural values influence understanding of context, body language, and hidden meaning, which is why sometimes even if we understand the words spoken we miss the intended meaning of the speaker. Practicing picking up on these subtle cues takes time, practice, and exposure to the target culture. This activity has students watching a film clip first silently and then with sound so they can be exposed to and practice both verbal and non-verbal listening skills. Part 1 of the activity is a short, three paragraph introduction to the topics of context, background knowledge, body language, hidden meaning and cultural expectations. Depending on your students and your time constraints, Part 1 could be omitted from the activity. Objectives: Students will be able to give examples of how context, background knowledge, body language, hidden meaning and cultural expectations affect how they interpret meaning while listening. Students will be able to identify body language and other non-verbal cues that affect meaning while listening. Students will be able to reflect on how their cultural expectations and norms may influence how they interpret meaning while listening. Resources: Listening skills handout Procedure:
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Publishdate | 2017-03-27 02:15:08 |