LECTURES lll –

Learn more from listening

        Do you listen well to a lecture?

        Many people daydream and cannot remember next day what they heard at the talk they attended the previous day.

A handful of tips to learn more from each lecture you listen to

*  Before the lecture

       If you have the time, read up the topic so you arrive prepared for the event. Preparation can help you feel engaged in the topic and make it easier to follow the content.

         Arrive early and select your seat with care.

         Chose a seat near the front away from distractions. Make sure you will be able to hear the speaker and see all the visual aids.

* Give your undivided attention

       Concentrate on what the speaker says.        

Watch for body language.

        Listen for areas of particular interest.

        Listen for new information.

* Make brief notes

       Jot down “memory words”. Make brief notes to increase your recall.  If you write too much you will miss much of the content of the lecture.

* Don’t create distractions

        Try to concentrate on the speaker.

        Give your undivided attention to the speaker.

        Listen for new information.

        Ask yourself ; “What’s in this for me.”

        Don’t make asides to your neighbour.

        Try not to daydream – forget what you are going to eat for lunch or how are you going to get home tonight.

* Keep summarising , reviewing and questioning

        “If you ask a question you may look foolish for five minutes, but if you don’t you remain a fool forever.”

        Keep asking yourself questions during the lecture. The who, what, when and where, how and how much questions. How does the speaker know that? Where is the evidence?

        After the lecture try to sum up and review  your notes.

Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)

“People who make brief notes (memory jotters) remember much more.”

        For those in need,  download our FREE book “NO JOB! WHAT NOW? available from our website.

Source: Time-Savers, Moss Associates .Ltd  New Zealand; McGraw-Hill, Australia; Times Business Books,  a Federal Publishing House, Singapore and  Qingdao Publishing House, China.