Module 8: Encouraging, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing: Active Listening Skills

Learning Outcomes

Awareness and Knowledge

  • Recognize and value active listening skills.

Skills and Actions

  • Assist others to talk in more detail about their experiences.
  • Clarify for others, and you, what is being said in conversation.
  • Check on accuracy of what you hear by saying back to others the essence of their comments, providing periodic paraphrasing and summarizing (this is not interpreting; as that would be your impressions, not an objective gathering of the information).

Introduction

This section’s reading will familiarize you with active listening skills. Pay attention to the skills of encouraging, paraphrasing, and summarizing. 

Readings and Resources

The following assigned reading will help you to gain awareness and knowledge of this week’s topic:

  • Ivey, A., Ivey M., & Zalaquett, C. (2018). Chapter 6: Encouraging, paraphrasing, and summarizing: active listening and cognition. (pp.132-153). In Intentional Interviewing and counselling: facilitating client development in a multicultural society. Belmont CA: Brooks/Cole. (Course text)
  • Microtraining Associates (Producer). (2017). Basic Attending Skills, 5th Ed., Encouraging, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing: Key Skills of Active Listening [49:52 – 1:16:52].

The Microtraining Associates resource may require you to log in through the University of Waterloo library proxy system. (If you cannot directly view the entire resource, click on the "Watch Now" button and enter "The University of Waterloo" as your institution.) For more information on this, please consult the library's Get access from anywhere resource.

Perspectives from the Field

Active Listening Skills

Active listening, such as encouraging, paraphrasing and summarizing helps the counsellor check for accuracy (that the counsellor is understanding correctly what client is saying), and encourages the client to continue with their story.

Transcript: Active Listening Skills

 

Activities and Assignments

Discussion Activities

Activity 1: Practice Active Listening Skills With Others

Practice active listening skills with others this week and post your observations (brief; point form is acceptable). (1 mark)

You are also encouraged to comment on the posts of others. Be sure to communicate respectfully, whether you agree or disagree.