Title: Listening Skills for Teachers, How to Listen, How to Communicate
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Content: Another way of looking at it is by “putting yourself in another person’s shoes”. A person displays empathy by sharing the emotion and feeling of the other person at the time. People are more able to empathise with others if they have personally experienced a similar emotion or feeling to the other person. In the classroom, it is not always easy to empathise with your students’ viewpoint. Personality clashes, character differences, the status gap between teacher and students, and age/sex/cultural differences are just some of the obstacles to empathic listening and communication between the teacher and students. Despite this, genuine communication between teacher and student can only occur by showing a willingness to try to understand the students’ feelings. Empathic listening in the classroom: Reduces tension and hostility between teacher and student
Promotes honest communication and builds trust and confidence
Gives the teacher time to clarify his/her thinking
Enhances the students’ self respect and natural friendliness towards the teacher
Keeps communication alive and active
Some of the ways teachers can convey the genuine desire to understand are: Be attentive, alert and not easily distracted. Create a positive atmosphere with your non verbal behaviour - your body language and facial expressions.