Homework Help: Health: Mental Health: Active Listening

What does it mean to be an Active Listener?

To be an active listener means to listen carefully to the person who is saying something. Even if the person is saying something that is not of an interest to you, you should listen attentively. This shows respect and good listening skills. For example, today in Communication Arts, everyone had to write a paragraph or more on any topic they wanted to write on. When everyone was done writing, each person at each table would have to read their own writing, and not someone else's, or let someone else read theirs. Rebecca, read her paragraph on how Ms. Sails reminded her of a character in a book she had read. Everyone had to listen carefully and had to show consideration for her and her writing. It was kind of interesting, even thought it didn't appeal to me a lot. But she did have good details and the details stuck to the topic. So by listening to Rebecca, I showed respect and showed that I had good listening skills. Also, another important part of being an active listener is being able to respond to the writing. This shows that you were listening and that you paid attention to the writer when he/she was reading his/her writing. For instance, when Rebecca finished, I said that she could have a more engaging beginning but that she had good supporting details and that the details stuck to the topic. This way, she could improve her writing and could appeal more to the reader.

Being an active listener is a very important skill. It shows a mutual kind of communication between two or more people. It shows consideration for your peers and others. Plus, you wouldn't like it if no one listened to you, so listen to others. The golden rule is "Do unto others as you would have them unto you", so listen to others as you would have them listen to you. Also, keep up the great listening skills!!

Homework Help: Health: Mental Health

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