COSERE | 69 • Questions for discussion: What are their experiences with empathy in their interpersonal relationship in education? What advantages do they attribute to the use of empathy in education? Have any communication theories resonated particularly with their teaching philosophy? • Reflection: Consider how incorporating empathy in communication can enhance relationships with colleagues, students, and parents. 2.2. Active listening. In their preface to Active Listening, a book from the series Research and Resources in Language Teaching, editors Candlin and Hadfield state that “Listening is now rightfully considered to be the foundation of… communication ability” (Rost & Wilson, 2013). Active listening is the natural progression of this cornerstone in understanding the place of listening in effective communication. The importance of active listening in communication is now so fundamental and universally lauded that “being a good communicator [is said to start] with active listening” (Leonardo, 2022). What distinguishes active listening from passively hearing what another person is saying, however, is the listener’s involvement by “restating a paraphrased version of the speaker’s message, asking questions when appropriate, and maintaining moderate to high nonverbal conversational involvement” (Weger et. al, 2014). While active listening is the most popular term, this type of conscious engagement whilst listening has also been referred to as “empathic listening, speaker-listener technique, reflected listening, [and] dialogic listening” (Weger et. al, 2014), among others. But how do we become an active listener? The key lies in recognising the many components that contribute to this end goal. Active listening is not possible without first understanding passive, critical, and reflective forms of listening. In passive listening, we simply “[allow] the speaker to get their words out” (Leonardo, 2022). This might sound straightforward, but it can be deceptively difficult! Sometimes, in our eagerness to present as invested in the other person’s contribution, we unwittingly cut across their speech, which can be very frustrating. Passive listening teaches us to engage in patient communication that allows the other party to feel heard. Reflective listening is somewhat like a mirroring technique, which sees us repeating back elements of the other party’s conversation to demonstrate that we have acknowledged their words. Critical listening, meanwhile, is the most involved of the three, requiring a person to contribute their “own analysis and opinions of the message being conveyed” (Leonardo, 2022). When we engage in active listening, we are demonstrating all three techniques described above.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzYwNDE=