request repetition. One more time please. Can you repeat (more slowly)?. What was the question? Sorry, I didn't catch the last part. Repeats and emphasizes.
Effective Interactive Listening Strategies to Improve Communication Skills in the Foreign Language Classroom Bruno JACTAT University of Tsukuba
Interactive Listening Strategies: keep the conversation going, show that you are listening (unless you really are not interested!) Use these strategies to… request repetition express non-understanding express unknowingness
request or provide clarification
make an interpretive summary maintain / sustain / react maintain / sustain / give feedback maintain / sustain / shadow
maintain / sustain / follow-up (to an answer, develop with WH questions)
fake / feign understanding
(Avoidance behavior)
When you listen, use these words and phrases… One more time please. Can you repeat (more slowly)? What was the question? Sorry, I didn’t catch the last part Verbally: Pardon? I don’t understand. Non Verbally: raised / furrowed eyebrows, confused / blank look I don’t know. What does…mean? I forgot. I don’t remember. Could you spell it, please? Could you write it, please? How do you say…in French? I don’t know what…means. What did you say? Sorry! I didn’t get that. WH ? (Where? / When? etc.) …lunch? He is going…? Can you give me an example? Can you elaborate on that? You mean…? What you’re getting at is…? So what you’re saying is… Oh, I see. Ok, that’s great! Wow! Wow, great! Oh yeah? Oh really? Oh, that’s too bad. That sounds like fun! Mm-hm… Uh-huh… Yeah… I see... Cool. Right. Right on! I’m with you. Non Verbally: Laughing at the appropriate time. Nods, raising eyebrows A Do you go shopping on week-ends? B Do I go shopping on week-ends?... Paris? For vacation? B Yes I like music. A What kind of music? B rock and heavy metal. A (your favorite?) (How often…?)(when?) (where?), etc. Yes (smile), I see…Uh-huh…Yeah…
Interlocutor Repeats and emphasizes Repeats more slowly Did you understand what I said? Me neither. I think it’s… It’s spelled ABC… I think it’s… I said… answers the WH question lunch means… He is going to have lunch. Sure, for example… Yes, that’s it. Exactly! No, what I meant is... continues talking continues talking No response necessary, gives time to listener to think out his answer. Yes, that’s right. No that’s not it. responds to follow-up questions
continues talking
Adapted from Vandergrift & Goh, 2012 Note: to use interactive listening strategies effectively you need to practice! This does not come naturally to most of us. Take one sample phrase or word from each strategy and start using them now with foreigners and-or your classmates. You will see the difference it makes immediately
