Active/good listening skills

Grade 5 · English

Semester 2 | Period 4 | Week 22

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Subject: English

Semester: 2

Period: 4

Week: 22

School Name:
Teacher’s Name:
Subject: English Language
Grade Level: Grade 5
Date: Week 22
Lesson Duration: 45 minutes
Week & Period: Week 22, Period 4
Topic: Active/Good Listening Skills
Sub-topic: Emphatic Listening
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to focus on speakers, identify key words, listen objectively, and summarize orally.

Previous Knowledge
Students already know basic listening skills and can follow simple instructions.

Instructional Materials
English Language textbook for Grade 5, short passages, audio clips (optional)

Lesson Development – ABC Model
A – Anticipation (Warm-up / Starter)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Ask learners to recall a time they listened carefully to someone and explain what they learned. Discuss why listening actively is important.

B – Building Knowledge (Main Lesson Body)

Time: 25–30 minutes
📚 1. Teacher Explanation: What is Emphatic Listening? (5–6 minutes)

Start the lesson by defining and explaining emphatic (or empathetic) listening in a simple, relatable way.

✅ Definition:

Emphatic listening is a type of active listening where the listener focuses fully on the speaker with the intention of understanding their message, feelings, and ideas—without interrupting, judging, or thinking about how to reply.

Also called empathetic or attentive listening, it means:

  • Giving your full attention
  • Listening to understand, not just to respond
  • Staying quiet and letting the speaker finish
  • Noticing key words and tone
  • Respecting the speaker’s ideas—even if you disagree

 

🔍 Key Features of Emphatic Listening:

  1. Full Focus:
    • Make eye contact (or face the speaker)
    • Don’t fidget or multitask
    • No side conversations
  2. Note Key Words and Ideas:
    • Identify main points or repeated ideas
    • Mentally or physically jot down important terms or phrases
  3. Speak Only by Permission:
    • Wait for the speaker to finish
    • Don’t interrupt—even to agree
    • Raise your hand or use signals in group settings
  4. Stay Objective:
    • Don’t jump to conclusions
    • Avoid judgmental thoughts or reactions
    • Focus on the speaker’s words and message, not your opinion

🧠 Why It Matters:
Emphatic listening helps build respect, understanding, and clear communication in all areas of life—from classroom discussions to friendships and teamwork.

 

🧪 2. Teacher Demonstration (5–6 minutes)

Demonstrate emphatic listening with a live example.

📖 Step-by-Step:

  1. Choose a short passage (6–8 sentences) with emotional, informative, or persuasive content. Example topics:
    • A personal story
    • A paragraph about overcoming challenges
    • A persuasive argument on a school issue
  2. Tell students:
    • “I will read aloud. Your job is to listen attentively.”
    • “Don’t write during the first reading—just focus.”
  3. Read the passage aloud with emotion and natural pacing.
  4. Ask:
    • “What did you notice or remember?”
    • “What key words or ideas stood out?”
  5. Read it again, and this time, learners can:
    • Jot down 3–5 key points or main ideas
    • Write 1 sentence summarizing what they heard
  6. Model summarizing:

“So, the speaker is talking about how they overcame fear to speak in public for the first time.”

🧠 Emphasize how much more they understood the second time with full focus and note-taking.

 

👥 3. Learners’ Activities (Expanded and Detailed) (12–14 minutes)

🧏 Activity 1: Listening and Summarizing (7–8 minutes)

  1. In pairs or small groups, one learner reads a passage aloud.
    • Text should be short and meaningful (6–8 sentences)
    • Readers should be encouraged to read clearly and with emotion
  2. The rest of the group:
    • Listens attentively (no speaking or interrupting)
    • Jots down key ideas (focus on facts, emotions, or arguments)
    • Prepares a 1–2 sentence oral summary of what they heard
  3. Rotate roles so each learner practices both reading and listening.

📝 Encourage listeners to ask themselves:

  • “What is the speaker really trying to say?”
  • “How does the speaker feel?”
  • “What are the most important ideas?”

 

🤝 Activity 2: Group Discussion and Follow-up Questions (5–6 minutes)

  • After all have had a turn, each group chooses one speaker to share a summary with the class.
  • The rest of the class listens and then asks follow-up questions, such as:
    • “Can you explain more about that part?”
    • “Why do you think that was important to the speaker?”
    • “What would you do in that situation?”

📌 These questions should show that students listened and understood—not just repeated the words.

 

✅ 4. Assessment Checks (During and After Activities)

🔎 Teacher Observations:

  • Are learners focusing without interrupting?
  • Are they making eye contact, showing body language of attention?
  • Do their summaries reflect key ideas accurately?
  • Are they generating thoughtful questions?

🧠 Listen for summaries that show comprehension, not just memory:

❌ “She talked about something”
✅ “She explained how moving to a new place was difficult but helped her grow confident”

 

📣 Oral Check-Ins (2–3 minutes):

Randomly select students to:

  • Share one key point they heard
  • Explain how they knew it was important
  • Ask a question based on a peer’s summary

✔ This checks not only attention, but interpretation and engagement.

📝 5. Notes (Expanded & Detailed)

💡 Why Emphatic Listening?

  • Strengthens communication and collaboration
  • Helps students become more empathetic and respectful peers
  • Improves comprehension and retention of spoken material
  • Essential for real-world contexts: debates, interviews, teamwork, relationships

 

🧰 Emphatic Listening Requires:

  • Attention: Eye contact, still body, mental focus
  • Patience: No interruptions, waiting for full expression
  • Interpretation: Thinking about both what is said and how it’s said
  • Respect: Valuing the speaker’s words and emotions

 

🔧 Differentiation Tips

For Struggling Learners:

  • Use shorter or simpler passages
  • Allow extra time for note-taking
  • Provide key word banks or listening checklists

For Advanced Learners:

  • Ask them to analyze tone, intention, and bias
  • Have them write reflections on how the message made them feel
  • Encourage them to lead group summaries or question sessions

 

🌟 Optional Extensions (If Time Allows or for Homework)

  1. Listening Reflection Journal:

“What did I learn from my partner’s story?”
“What listening strategy helped me most today?”

  1. Audio Replay Task:
    Record a passage, have learners listen at home and write a summary or create a follow-up question.
  2. Role-Play Practice:
    Practice listening in different scenarios:
    • A friend sharing a problem
    • A news story
    • A classmate explaining an opinion

C – Consolidation (Conclusion & Assessment)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Summary: Active listening ensures understanding and meaningful participation in discussions.

Evaluation Method (Expanded)
Exit slip/quiz: Learners summarize a 2–3 sentence passage read by the teacher.

Assignment (Expanded)
Listen to a story or conversation at home, note main points, and report to class.

Follow-up Activity:
Pair learners to read aloud and summarize each other’s passages.

Differentiation / Inclusive Strategies
Provide graphic organizers for learners who struggle to take notes. Allow peer support for summaries.

Teacher’s Reflection (After Class)
What worked well? ___________________________________________
What needs improvement? ____________________________________
Students’ engagement level: ☑ High ☑ Medium ☑ Low