Question

Effective speaking depends on effective listening. It takes energy to concentrate on hearing and concentrate on understanding what has been heard. Incompetent listeners fail in a number of ways. First, they may drift. Their attention drifts from what the speaker is saying. Second, they may counter. They find counter arguments to whatever the speaker may be saying. Third, they compete. Then, they filter. They exclude from their understanding those parts of the message which do not readily fit in with their own frame of reference. Finally, they react. They let personal feelings about speaker or subject override the significance of the message which is being sent. What a listener do to be more effective/the first key to effective listening is the art of concentration. If a listener positively wishes to concentrate on receiving the message, his chances of success are high. It may need determination. Some speakers are difficult to follow, either because of voice problems, or because of the form in which they send a message. There is then particular need for the determination of a listener to concentrate on what is being said. Concentration is helped by alertness. Mental alertness is helped by physical alertness. It is not simply physical fitness, but also positioning of the body, the limbs and the head. Some people also find it helpful to their concentration if they hold the head slightly to one side. One useful way for achieving this is intensive note-making, by trying to capture the critical headings and sub-headings the speaker is referring to. Note-taking has been recommended as an aid to the listener. It also helps the speaker. it gives him confidence when he sees that listeners are sufficiently interested to take notes; the pattern of eye-contact when the note-taker looks up can be very positive; and the speaker's time is aided--he can see when a note-taker is writing hard and can then make effective use of pause. Posture too is important. Consider the impact made by a less competent listener who pushes his chair backward and slouches. An upright posture helps a listener's concentration. At the same time it is seen by the speaker to be a positive feature amongst his listeners. Effective listening skills have a impact on both the listener and the speaker. \hrule 1. Read the following passage. Make notes (5 marks) and write a summary (4 marks) and give it a suitable title (1 mark): (10)

Hint:

Always include a 'Key to Abbreviations' box with at least 4-5 standard abbreviations. Ensure the summary does not exceed one-third of the original passage's length.

Answer 1

The question evaluates the ability to comprehend a passage, extract the core ideas, and organize them hierarchically using headings and subheadings with recognizable abbreviations. It also requires drafting a concise summary based on the notes and providing a suitable title.

TITLE:
The Art of Effective Listening
NOTES:
1. Inter-relation of spkg. & listng.
1.1. Effective spkg. depends on effective listng.
1.2. Requires energy and conc.
2. Traits of incomp. listeners
2.1. Drift in attention
2.2. Counter-argue mentally
2.3. Compete with the spkr.
2.4. Filter messages to fit personal ref.
2.5. React emotionally to spkr. or subj.
3. Keys to effective listng.
3.1. Art of conc.
3.2. Strong determ. to receive the msg.
3.3. Overcoming spkr. difficulties (voice/form)
4. Aids to Concentration
4.1. Mental and physical alertness
4.2. Proper body positioning (limbs, head)
4.3. Intensive note-making
5. Benefits of note-making & posture
5.1. Aids the listener's focus
5.2. Boosts spkr's conf.
5.3. Promotes positive eye-contact
5.4. Upright posture enhances conc.

Key to Abbreviations used:
spkg. - speaking
listng. - listening
conc. - concentration
incomp. - incompetent
spkr. - speaker
ref. - reference
subj. - subject
determ. - determination
msg. - message
conf. - confidence
SUMMARY:
Effective speaking is inherently dependent on effective listening, which demands high energy and concentration. Incompetent listeners often fail by drifting, countering, competing, filtering, or reacting emotionally to the message. To become an effective listener, one must master the art of concentration through strict determination, especially when a speaker is hard to follow. This concentration is significantly enhanced by mental and physical alertness, proper body posture, and active note-making. Ultimately, tools like taking notes and maintaining an upright posture not only boost the listener's focus but also build the speaker's confidence, fostering a mutually beneficial environment.