Listening to Others
Listen to someone who is speaking, give them time to finish, and respond to what they said. Show understanding with a related question or comment. Eye contact is not required.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Attend to the speaker's words without requiring eye contact
- Wait for the speaker to finish or pause before replying during an ordinary conversation
- Give a related question or comment, or ask for clarification when unsure what was said
1 · Read
Listen to the person's words. You can listen without looking into their eyes. Pause a game or screen if it makes you miss their words. In a calm chat, wait until they finish or pause before replying. If someone is in danger or you need urgent help, tell an adult.
Sam tells Mia about a trip to the beach. Mia lets him finish. Then she asks, 'What did you see at the beach?' Her question is about Sam's trip.
Your reply can be a question or a comment about what you heard. A related story can fit too. Leave time for your friend. If you missed some words, ask to hear them again or check what you heard.
Looking or nodding does not tell us everything someone understood. Jo looks down, then repeats an instruction correctly. Jo's words show understanding.
Listen to the words, leave time for the speaker, and reply about what you heard. Ask if you are unsure.
Original lesson, questions and flashcards written for this learning dataset about listening, relevant replies and asking an adult for urgent help.
Three original readings written for this learning dataset about conversation turns, hearing words clearly and listening to an upset friend.
More to read
Leave room for a reply
Ada tells Kit about a bird outside her window. Kit wants to share some news too. Kit listens until Ada pauses, then asks, 'What was the bird doing?'
Kit could also make a comment about the bird. Later, Kit can share other news and leave time for Ada to answer.
During an ordinary chat, give each person time to speak. If you need urgent help, tell an adult without waiting for the story to end.
Hear the words again
A loud game makes Pat miss a friend's words. Pat pauses the game and says, 'Could you say that again?'
The friend repeats the news. Pat replies about it.
You do not have to look into someone's eyes to listen. If something makes you miss words, pause it or move it aside. Asking to hear the words again gives you another chance to understand.
Listen to an upset friend
Sol says, 'My paper boat tore. I feel sad.' Ren waits and listens. Ren replies, 'You feel sad about your boat. Do you want to tell me more?'
Ren can listen without making the sadness go away. Ren does not need to touch Sol or tell Sol to smile. Before offering help, Ren can ask what Sol wants.
If a friend needs help with a serious problem, get a trusted adult.
2 · Watch
En anglaisTake it off screen
Where it sits
Learn first
Optional connections
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.