Six ways to improve listening

When I ask teachers which oracy skills they want their class to get better at, they often say listening – especially pupil-to-pupil listening.

Here are six ways to help your pupils get better at listening to each other:

1. Ask them to repeat what another pupil has just said.

2. Ask them what they think about what another pupil said.

3. Ask them whether they agree or disagree with what another pupil said.

4. Ask them what their partner said during pair talk.

5. Use random selection after a group or pair talk task.

6. Play games which require careful listening, for example Word Connect.

Discuss-teach-practise

Be transparent and open with your class that you want them to get better at listening. The research on learning behaviours is very clear: discuss the desired learning behaviour with students, teach it and then provide opportunities to practise it.