ABSTRACT
The ability to understand what you hear—listening comprehension—can be greatly improved with practice. Several processes involved in listening comprehension are intrapersonal; that is, they take place inside your head. This chapter familiarizes students with the nature of human information processing and the concept of inner speech. It also discusses the ways in which language and thought are related.
Behaviors are described that facilitate understanding in both interpersonal and public contexts. Asking appropriate and well-timed questions, perception checking, and other strategies are presented as they facilitate better understanding. Students are helped to recognize organizational patterns and develop note-taking strategies to better understand a speaker’s purpose and logic. The additional challenges of establishing connections and clear understanding through social media are also discussed.
