Module 7, Session 2
Activity 2

Attending Skills Activity

Attending is more difficult than it seems. In order to attend to another, a listener must give the other space and time, avoid thinking too much about self, what they know or want to say. Most people are NOT good listeners. You may be surprised at how hard it is to allow silence or resist the temptation to talk. You may also be surprised that your first inclination is NOT to respond directly to the speaker or his/her statements. Attending is NOT the conversation you are used to. You want to be careful to resist characteristics of normal conversation such as talking about yourself.

Carefully observe your next interpersonal encounter. Make some observations about your ability to attend and that of your friends or acquaintances.

You also want to learn how to be aware of your own nonverbal communication as well as those of your students. Our nonverbals communicate more than we are sometimes aware. Our nonverbal communication is habitual.

Also observe your nonverbal communication. What are you communicating with your nonverbals? More importantly, what are the nonverbals that you are unaware of?

Pay attention to the nonverbals of others. What do you notice about their nonverbal communication?

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