Page 182 - Keys To Community College Success

■ Recognize your pattern so you can change it. When you feel yourself reacting to
something, stop and take a deep breath. Count to ten. Take one more breath and
see how you feel.
■ Know that you cannot hear or learn from others if you are filled with precon-
ceived notions about them and their ideas. Put yourself in their shoes: Would you
want them to stop listening to you if they disagreed with you, or would you want
to be heard completely?
■ Stop it. It’s as simple as that. Risk listening with an open mind. Even when you
disagree or have a negative reaction about an instructor, keep listening. Being
open to the new and different, even when it makes you a bit uncomfortable, can
bring the reward of learning that changes you for the better.

Issue #4: Partial hearing loss and learning disabilities
If you have a hearing loss or a learning disability, listening effectively in class may
prove challenging. Learning disabilities come in a variety of forms affecting different
parts of cognition.

Fix #4: Get help
If you have a hearing loss, find out about available equipment. For example, listening
to a taped lecture at a higher-than-normal volume can help you hear things you missed
in class. Ask instructors if digitalized recordings are available for download or if you
are permitted to record the lecture yourself. Meet with your instructor outside of class
to clarify your notes or sit near the front of the room.
If you have, or think you have, a learning disability, learn what services are avail-
able. Seek connections with people who can reward you with productive help. Talk to
your advisor and instructor about your problem, seek out a tutor, visit academic cen-
ters that can help (such as the writing center, if you have a writing issue), scan the col-
lege website, and connect with the office of students with disabilities.

Issue #5: Comprehension difficulties for non-native English speakers
If English is not your first language, it may be challenging to listen and understand
material in the classroom. Specialized vocabulary, informal language, and the rate of
speech can add to the challenge. Succeeding in the classroom will require concentra-
tion, dedication, and patience.

Fix #5: Take a proactive approach to understanding
Talk to your instructor as soon as possible about your situation. Discussing your needs
with your instructor early in the course keeps the instructor informed and shows your
dedication. In some cases, your instructor will give you a list of key terms to review
before class. During class, keep a list of unfamiliar words and phrases to look up later,
but try not to let the terms prevent you from understanding the main ideas. Focus on
the main points of the lecture and meet with classmates after class to fill in the gaps in
your understanding.
If, after several weeks, you’re still having difficulties, consider enrolling in an English
refresher course, getting a tutor, or visiting the campus advising center for more assis-
tance. Be proactive about your education.
Listening isn’t always easy and it isn’t always comfortable. Keeping an open,
engaged mind takes practice and sometimes exposes you to information that you
6 disagree with or that even upsets you. However, only by taking the risk to listen
CHAPTER 144 important information.
well can you be rewarded with the ability to focus on and remember the most