Hi everyone, and welcome to COMM 1035: Listening. I’m really glad you’re here.
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking—why take a whole class on listening?
Isn’t listening something we already do every day without even thinking about it?
Our ears are always working, but just because you hear something doesn’t mean you’re actually listening.
The difference between hearing and listening can determine whether you succeed as a student, thrive in your career, or build strong personal relationships.
That’s why this course matters. In this first unit, we’re laying the foundation for everything we’ll do.
We’ll talk about hearing versus listening, the stages of listening, and how attention, perception, memory, and schemas work together.
Let’s start with the most basic distinction: hearing versus listening.
Hearing is passive. It’s when your ears detect sound waves without effort.
Listening is active. It’s when you give attention to a message and begin making meaning from it.
In a lecture, you might hear your professor’s words but remember nothing later—that’s hearing without listening.
At work, listening means silencing distractions and confirming understanding.
With friends, listening shows up when you ask questions and follow up later.
Listening makes people feel valued. That difference matters.
Listening involves three stages: receiving, understanding, and remembering.
If attention breaks down at any stage, comprehension and memory suffer.
Research shows that background noise increases cognitive load, reducing memory.
Attention and memory are deeply connected.
Divided attention weakens comprehension, while selective attention protects it.
Managing distractions helps you listen more effectively in school, work, and relationships.
Perception shapes listening, and schemas guide how we interpret messages.
Schemas help us make sense of information quickly, but they can also cause misunderstandings.
Cultural differences show how schemas influence perception.
Listening strategies vary depending on expectations and experience.
Memory determines whether listening sticks.
Information enters short-term memory and must be actively encoded to reach long-term memory.
Emotion and engagement strengthen memory.
Listening improves academic performance, leadership, and relationships.
Strong listening builds trust and reduces conflict.
Hearing is passive. Listening is active.
Attention, perception, schemas, and memory shape what we take away.
Active listening strengthens comprehension, connection, and trust.
For the next few days, notice when you are truly listening versus just hearing.
This awareness is the foundation for the rest of the course.
Thanks for tuning in. I can’t wait to see how you apply these ideas.