Question 72

Establishing procedures for students to use active listening skills while engaging in small-group discussions allows the students to focus on acquiring the exact message a speaker is trying to present.

By implementing active listening skills, students are trained to concentrate on understanding the speaker's message accurately, which enhances communication and comprehension during discussions.

A) communicate personal feelings through tone of voice and body language

While tone of voice and body language are important aspects of communication, this option does not directly address the skill of active listening. Active listening primarily involves understanding the content of the message rather than expressing personal feelings.

B) focus on acquiring the exact message a speaker is trying to present

This option correctly identifies the primary goal of active listening, which is to fully understand and absorb the speaker's message. By focusing on the content, students enhance their comprehension and contribute more effectively to discussions.

C) plan out exactly what they want to say while another person is speaking

This option reflects a distraction from active listening. Instead of focusing on the speaker's message, planning a response during someone else's speaking undermines the purpose of active listening, which is to understand rather than prepare a reply.

D) make inferences and predictions about what a speaker is trying to say

While making inferences can be a part of comprehension, it is not the primary focus of active listening. Active listening emphasizes understanding the speaker's message as clearly as possible rather than making assumptions or predictions.

Conclusion

The focus on acquiring the exact message is central to effective communication, making option B the correct choice. Other options either misinterpret the concept of active listening or divert attention from the essential goal of understanding the speaker's message accurately. Thus, B stands out as the definitive answer in the context of promoting effective small-group discussions.