TutorTIPs: Active Listening & Paraphrasing

Active listening is a valuable skill for tutors to develop. Not only will it allow you to properly diagnose a students’ issues, but it will set an open, judgment-free tone for a tutoring session.

Quick Tips for Active listening:

• Make eye contact;
• Lean slightly toward the student;
• Nod appropriately;
• Respond with appropriate facial expressions;
• Relax when you are watching the student communicate.

When a tutor listens actively, it shows students that they are important enough to have your undivided attention. Some ways to demonstrate active listening:

• Paraphrase what the student communicated;
• Ask questions that will lead the student to her/his own solution;
• Offer constructive feedback rather than criticize;
• Guide students to make appropriate choices;
• Ask the student if there is anything else s/he can share;
• Be sympathetic to difficult situations.

Adapted from: https://www.gallaudet.edu/tip/tutor-training/crla-level-1/tutoring-techniques.html

When the student is done, you could follow-up with encouraging comments or ask probing questions to get a better sense of the situation.

Small group activity/Role-playing

• Now we are going to break up into small groups
• You will each be given a scenario to act out
• First, you are going to demonstrate a session in which active listening skills are NOT used
• Then, you will discuss with your partner how to incorporate active listening skills to improve your session
• Yes, we will be acting these out for the group! Do your best; We don’t expect an Oscar-worthy performance!

Taken from the University of South Carolina Aiken Academic Success Center's Presentation on Active Listening