Examples of Active Listening in Conversations for Middle Schoolers

📚 Quick Study Guide

👂🏼 Active listening means fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what is being said. 👁️‍🗨️ It involves both verbal and non-verbal cues. 🧘🏽‍♀️ Key elements include paying attention, showing that you’re listening, providing feedback, deferring judgment, and responding appropriately. 🗣️ Paraphrasing, summarizing, and asking clarifying questions are great techniques. 🚫 Avoid interrupting, changing the subject abruptly, or planning what you’ll say next while the other person is talking. 🤝 Active listening builds trust and rapport in conversations. 🧠 Practicing active listening improves communication skills overall.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following is the BEST example of active listening?
   1. Avoiding eye contact to not intimidate the speaker.
   2. Thinking about what you're going to say next.
   3. Nodding and summarizing the speaker's points in your own words.
   4. Interrupting to share a similar experience.
2. What does 'deferring judgment' mean in active listening?
   1. Agreeing with everything the speaker says.
   2. Forming an opinion only after hearing the entire message.
   3. Ignoring the speaker's emotions.
   4. Interrupting to correct the speaker.
3. Which non-verbal cue shows you are actively listening?
   1. Frowning while the speaker talks.
   2. Looking at your phone.
   3. Maintaining eye contact and nodding.
   4. Crossing your arms defensively.
4. Why is active listening important in conversations?
   1. It allows you to dominate the conversation.
   2. It helps build trust and understanding.
   3. It gives you a chance to show off your knowledge.
   4. It lets you quickly disagree with the speaker.
5. Which action demonstrates that you are NOT actively listening?
   1. Asking clarifying questions.
   2. Summarizing the speaker's points.
   3. Changing the subject abruptly.
   4. Providing feedback.
6. What is 'paraphrasing' in active listening?
   1. Repeating the speaker's words exactly.
   2. Ignoring the speaker's message.
   3. Restating the speaker's message in your own words.
   4. Arguing with the speaker's points.
7. Someone is sharing a problem with you. What's the BEST active listening response?
   1. Immediately offering a solution.
   2. Saying, "That sounds really tough. It seems like you're feeling frustrated."
   3. Changing the topic to something more positive.
   4. Ignoring their emotions and focusing on facts.