10. Establishing procedures for students to use active listening skills while engaging in small-group discussions allows the students to
Answer: B
Students can focus on acquiring the exact message a speaker is trying to present.
Establishing procedures for students to use active listening skills enhances their ability to concentrate on understanding the speaker's message. This active engagement allows them to grasp the intended meaning effectively.
A) communicate personal feelings through tone of voice and body language
This option is incorrect as it focuses on expressing feelings rather than understanding another's message. While tone of voice and body language play a role in communication, active listening primarily emphasizes comprehending the speaker's thoughts and intentions.
B) focus on acquiring the exact message a speaker is trying to present
This option is correct because active listening is fundamentally about understanding and processing the speaker's message. By engaging in active listening, students are trained to concentrate on what is being conveyed, which enhances their comprehension and retention of information.
C) plan out exactly what they want to say while another person is speaking
This option is incorrect as it suggests that students should be preoccupied with their responses rather than truly listening. Active listening requires students to be present in the moment and absorb the speaker's message rather than formulating their replies.
D) make inferences and predictions about what a speaker is trying to say
While making inferences can be part of understanding a message, this option does not encapsulate the primary goal of active listening, which is to accurately acquire the speaker's intended message. Inferences may lead to misunderstandings if the listener does not fully grasp the original point.
Conclusion
The correct answer, B, emphasizes the core objective of active listening, which is to focus on understanding the speaker's message. Options A, C, and D either misinterpret the goal of active listening or divert attention from the essential task of comprehension. Thus, promoting active listening skills is crucial for enhancing effective communication in small-group discussions.