Learning to Listen
Resources you will need:
Enough chairs for everyone
Aim
To give young people a chance to experience and reflect on different types of listening.
Overview
This is an exercise that allows young people to work in pairs and to experience and explore the importance of active listening
Instructions
Split the group into pairs, ask each pair to names themselves A and B.
Ask As to think of something that irritated them recently (make sure that this is kept light-hearted and is something they are happy to share with B).
Ask A’s to talk to his/her partner about this subject. Bs have to firstly ignore their partner for 30 seconds, secondly use body language and a few words to show they are listening for 30 seconds, and finally have normal conversation with them for the final 30 seconds. Make sure you give all of these instructions before you begin the exercise.
Ask As to begin talking. After each 30 seconds, give Bs the relevant instructions (as above).
Swap and repeat so that As have a chance to be the listener.
Finally in a big group, discuss how it felt at each stage, and emphasise the importance of the role of a listener and how this impacts on how you talk to someone and share how you are feeling.