Study Skills for Higher Education: Challenges and Ideas for Active Listening

This article discusses the challenges faced by students in higher education while listening and provides ideas for improving active listening skills. It covers the importance of vocabulary, accent, technical terminology, and more.

STUDY SKILLS FOR
HIGHER
EDUCATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Study skills can be defined as a set of adroitness which are required in a student in order
to maximize its learning outcomes (Raju, 2018) In the present scenario higher education is
becoming quite hectic and students are supposed to listen a lot such as at lectures, tutorials, class
discussions etc. so they are more likely to miss it and do not make it through. The essay is aimed
to articulate some listening challenges' student may face. At the end of essay some ideas would
be suggested to develop active listening skills to hike overall performance at university level.
MAIN BODY
Listening is one of the most comprehensive aspect when it comes to study at higher
educationthe. Since listening is not limited up to hearing it is wider phenomenon and behind final
outcomes of learning. So there are number of listening challenges students may confront with at
university.
One of the biggest issue found is Lack of Vocabulary. Students are more likely to have
their limited vocabulary. It hinders their listening capacity at university level. In general due to
higher knowledge and ability of using the most appropriate words professors and other speakers
generally use high vocabulary which not only creates jargon but also make students miss key
information.
With the progress of time, it is seen that cultural exchanges are paving way with faster
trends. So it is very much possible that students come across of different accent which ultimately
makes everything fuzzy for them. They do not decipher the message extended by someone due to
accent related concerns. Accent is key dimension of listening if student does not have command
then will be losing its ability of learning (Mudra, 2020)
One so often challenge is confronting with technical terminology. At higher education the
growth and research is quite faster, which kicks off new words and technological terms. Unlike
school education the higher education is all about innovation and research so students may
experience new terms which are not known to them. It fabricates some jeopardies to them, and
they may not make sense. It affects their listening ability, sometimes it is seen that due to such
perils student miss entire set of information.
Not be able to catch and synchronize with speed of a speaker. All speakers do not carry
same speed of talking or delivering their message so it is so often, that a student may not
synchronize with their speed. If student is not able to go hand in hand, in term of message

delivery and receiving then some discrepancies may take place. This would hinder its listening
ability and ultimately final outcomes too.
Overload of information is a general thing in higher education. Students are more likely
to listen something carefully and with full potential if they are giving information is digestive
manner but if there is overload than they may show reluctance to learn the things and may even
lose their quality of listening (Kapur, 2018) If information is coming in hectic manner then will
damage listing capacity. Bulky information damages listening in two ways, firstly it pours in a
lot of information and also disrupt listening capacity phycological.
Prejudices of a student are key players when it comes to their listening skills. Generally
students keep some prejudices which take place due to some reasons such as their attitude,
aptitude, emotional intelligence etc. If they have assumptive, affirmative, defensive,
authoritative, evaluative listening style then obstacles will automatically take place.
They would not be able to take the message in its perpetual form, they may go for some
speculations or judgements about certain talk which drives obstacles and weaken listening
capacity of students. Listening is having its direct relationship with the trust factor, if it is not
appropriate then will drive something catastrophic to student while listening (García, Weiss, and
Welshans, 2020)
Technological factors can not be denied, specifically the modern era of education is
hugely depended on technology for communication. Even the higher education is prone to abide
with technological tools for education. It is seen that if these tools are not appropriate and
students are not aware of its operation then there may be miscommunication which would drive
to listening barriers. For a listener such technological tools are quint essential.
One of the biggest listening challenge which is often missed being enumerated being
considered as listening challenge is priority order of a student. If student is giving priority to
speaking rather than listening, then it will place severe challenges before its listening skills. So
altogether, if student is not well aware that how to set preference order then may face some
issues in listening at university.
Personal traits are having their great significance in listening skills. The emotional
aspects such as happiness, sadness, excitement etc. These different states of emotions are having
their direct relationship with emotions of a student. If these elements are prevailing then would

be driving attention of a student in different directions which may lead to horrendous final
outcomes of listening at university (Egamnazarova and Mukhamedova, 2021)
Besides these all lacunas, if messenger or information provider is not good at delivering
message then it will be affecting capability of a listener. It is so often to see students facing
difficulties while listing since their teacher or information provider is not doing things
appropriately. Gestures, postures, use of words, keeping strong connectivity in different sets of
information, way of presentation etc. are some key elements. If these are not well-structured then
despite making intensive efforts' student will face listening challenges.
Some associated skill are lacking then it will place challenges before a student to listen
impact-fully. For instance- Writing down keywords, asking relevant questions, keeping
discussion centred to the class objectives, not interrupting information sender etc. (Kapur, 2018)
are some key qualities which hike listening capacity so if a student is not having these qualities
then will get affected while listening.
So altogether, it can be summarized that there are number of factors which place listening
challenges before a student while going through university education. It can be eradicated by
inculcating some listening skills and ideas for betterment.'
Active listing is the essential skills which every individual person need to improve in order to
bring the defectiveness and work in adequate manner. Active listening skills is not much difficult
task to improve the individual person can easily improve these skills in adequate way. For
improving these skills the student need to focus on the person who is delivering the information
or speaking. Along with that the student need to bring out the understanding with the speaker in
order to become active listener. In order to become the active listener the individual person need
to focus on the emotional engagement of a speaker(Hoppe, 2018).
For improving the skills the student can attain the training, counselling and conflict resolution
programme in adequate manner. The individual person need to hear the content carefully.
Along with that the individual person need to observe the body language of the mentor, teacher
or the speaker for listening and understanding the message of speaker in clean and clear manner.
With the assistance of this skill the individual person is able to deal with the forthcoming
challenges and decrease the chances of misunderstanding.
For improving the skill the individual person need to focus on some important tips. For
instance, the listener should maintain the eye contact with speaker which help in developing

and enhancing the concentration. Due to which it will be essay to remove the barriers of
understanding (Hoppe, 2018). Along with that the student need to avoid the interruption in the
mid of the conversation and allow the speaker to complete their sentences in adequate manner.
Furthermore, the individual person need to ignore the assumption or extra thought which is not
required at the time of conversation. Beside this it is important for the student for clarifying the
things if not understood after the speaker finish the sentences. It will develop the understanding
and listing power stronger.
the student is the highly indulge in the learning programme, so they have opportunity to read
the books and deliver the logic behind the conversation in order to develop their in tensest.
Along with that for the active listening the individual, teacher or mentor need to deliver the brief
description of the topic or conversation which encourage the person or student to listen carefully.
The individual person need to pay attention on the thoughts ideas and creativity of the individual
person. The student need to avoid the unwanted distraction during the conversation and focus
on the expression of the teacher or speaker. It will help in improving the performance of the
student and deliver the best career path in adequate manner (Morrell, Eukel, and Santurri, 2020) .
Apart from that in order to determine the week point the teacher need to provide feedback to the
scholar in an appropriate manner. Along with that the scholar need to deliver the respond and
treat the person in a right manner. During the explanation the individual person need to avoid
the procrastination and make the judgement when it is required. Along with that the in order to
become the active listener or improve the skills the scholar need to collect all the clues of
conversation. Apart from that for the conversation the student need to remove the negative vibes
as the negative mind change the perception of the individual person and encourage the individual
person to focus on other things rather than focusing on the conversation.
The active listener supposed to improve the communication skills too. With the assistance of the
communication skill the individual person is able to exchange the ideas, views and thoughts in
adequate manner. With clear communication the individual person is able to express the feeling
and able to determine what the speaker is specking and what student want to convey. For a
making the conversation more effective and become active listener the student need to bring
clear communication with the friends, family, teacher and classmate. Also the person has the
opportunity to noting down the things which the other person used for improving the skills and
develop the personality in appropriate manner( Tate, and Hopkins, 2020).

Apart from that during the conversation the individual person should avoid the engagement in
the other worker and maintain the discipline. The discipline is the significant element or the
factor which the individual person should consider for bringing the effectiveness in performing
the task. It also delivers huge assistance in focusing on the conversation and pay attention on
the discussion in an appropriate manner. Along with that the individual person or the scholar
need to avoid the things which are hard to understand and having no sense.
Moreover the student orb the learner need to come out of the comfort zone and deliver efforts in
improving the skills. In order to improve the active listening skills the individual person can
have opportunity to utilized he technology and watch the videos regarding the active listening
and pay attention in order to active brain. S along with that the schooler need to workout and do
some meditation in order to increase the power of brain in an appropriate manner( Santos,
2018)..
CONCLUSION
From the above report it will be concluded that the for the student skill development in the
higher education. For the student the skill development is the essential element as it improve the
performance of the individual person and bring the effectiveness in the career path. The report
indicate an idea which the student can used for improving the active listening skills. From the a
analysation it is determined that in context to become active listener the individual person or
scholar should pay attention on the conversation, make eye contact, stay focused avoid
distractions in effective as well as efficient manner.

REFERENCES
Egamnazarova, F. A. and Mukhamedova, M. S., 2021. Improving english language listening
skill. Academic research in educational sciences, 2(Special Issue 1), pp.28-32.
García, E., Weiss, E. and Welshans, I., 2020. What teaching is like during the pandemic—and a
reminder that listening to teachers is critical to solving the challenges the coronavirus
has brought to public education.
Hoppe, M.H., 2018. Active Listening: Improve Your Ability to Listen and Lead, (French).
Center for Creative Leadership.
Kapur, R., 2018. Barriers to effective communication. Delhi University.
Morrell, B.L., Eukel, H.N. and Santurri, L.E., 2020. Soft skills and implications for future
professional practice: Qualitative findings of a nursing education escape room. Nurse
Education Today, 93, p.104462.
Mudra, H., 2020. Digital literacy among young learners: How do EFL teachers and learners view
its benefits and barriers?. Teaching English with Technology. 20(3). pp.3-24.
Raju, C. P., 2018. Types of listening skills: Barriers and tips to overcome them. International
Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Scientific Research (IJAMSR ISSN: 2581-4281).
1(2). pp.41-45.
Santos, R.S., 2018. Improving young learners´ listening skills through storytelling (Doctoral
dissertation).
Tate, S. and Hopkins, P., 2020. Listening Skills. In Studying Geography at University (pp. 67-
72). Routledge.