Listening to others and building on arguments
Listen carefully when other people are speaking. For example, if someone is delivering a speech or making a point in a group discussion or debate, you need to pay close attention to the points they are making.
It can help to take notes as you listen - write a few words or images down to trigger your memory when it鈥檚 your own turn to talk.
You can show that you have been listening by building on people鈥檚 arguments. Mention a point someone has made and then add your own experience or ideas. Here are some sentence starters to help you with this:
- I agree with your point about鈥. however鈥
- I鈥檇 like to add to what you said鈥
- When you talked about鈥 it made me think鈥
- In addition to your comments about鈥
Remember, you don鈥檛 have to agree with everything a speaker says but conversation of any kind is a co-operative activity and it starts to fall down when it becomes confrontational or competitive. The purpose of a discussion is to open up an issue and invite a range of opinions and interpretations. In this case you can challenge a speaker. The following sentence starters should be useful:
- I understand what you said about鈥 but I think鈥
- I disagree with your point about鈥
- I don鈥檛 think what you said about鈥 is valid. I would suggest鈥
- When you said鈥 I wonder whether you had considered鈥
Listening is as important as speaking, so avoid dominating a discussion, even if you have lots to say, and encourage others to share their views too.