Working it Out -
When I Listen, People Talk (I)
This exercise helps students compare and contrast good and bad listening skills.Materials: none
Duration: 10-20 minutes (shorter skits for younger children)
Procedures: Ask for a volunteer. Away from the circle tell the volunteer to think of a story they want to tell you. Something about school or vacation or anything of interest to them. Explain that they are to tell you the story even though you will not be listening very well. You (the teacher) will exhibit all of the poor listening skills: interrupting, changing the subject, acting distracted, fidgeting, looking at your watch, shuffling papers, waving to others, turning away, no eye contact, asking irrelevant questions, saying "yea, yea, I'm listening..." Assure the child that the second time he or she tells the story you will be a great listener. You can the volunteer return to the middle of the circle. Let the children know that they will be watching the skit to identify good listening skills. Do the first skit.
Process: Ask the group what they learned about listening. Write their reactions on the board. Let them vent your frustrations about poor listening skills. How do they imagine the speaker was feeling during the skit? Ask if anyone has ever been listened to like that. Beg the student volunteer for one more chance to become a better listener. If he or she says OK, get the agreement from the group.
Do the second skit. In the middle of the circle, have the student tell you the same story. This time do all the good listening behaviors. Go a little deeper into the conversation with open questions.
Process: Ask the group how they think the volunteer speaker felt this time. Ask the volunteer. Elicit the good listening skills, crossing out the negative words on the board. Example: (no) eye contact. Review the good listening skills.
