Do you remember the public service announcement that talked about the importance of good listening skills? It aired quite a few years ago and sought to explain the difference between hearing and listening. While hearing is a physical ability—actually one of our five senses—listening is a skill. It is possible to have one but not the other. Someone who is hearing impaired can be a great listener if he or she pays attention to the information someone conveys to them regardless of how it is being communicated. Likewise someone with very sharp hearing can be a poor listener.

　　你还记得在公共服务宣言中谈到的关于聆听技巧的重要性吗?这是多年前播出的内容，目的在于区别听觉和聆听能力。虽然听觉是我们的一种能力——五感之一——但是聆听能力是一种技巧。你可能会具备不错的听觉但不一定懂得聆听。即便是听觉障碍人士也可能是优秀的聆听者，如果他能足够专注于他人用各种方式向他传递的信息。同样道理，听觉发达的人也可能不是位优秀的聆听者。

　　In 1991 the United States Department of Labor Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) identified five competencies and three foundation skills that are essential for those entering the workforce. Listening skills were among the foundation skills SCANS identified. Listening skills allow people, regardless of how they take in that information, to make sense of and understand what others are saying. To put it in the simplest terms possible, they allow you to understand what someone is "talking about".

　　早在1991年的时候，美国实用技能劳务秘书委员会部门(SCANS)公布了工作中的五项竞争力和三项基础技能。聆听技巧是其中一项。无论人们如何接受信息，聆听技巧使得人们彼此理解。简而言之，聆听技巧使你听懂别人在说些什么。

　　How Can Good Listening Skills Improve Your Performance at Work? Good listening skills will help make you a more productive worker.They will allow you to:

　　优秀的聆听技巧是如何提高工作能力的?懂得聆听会让你成为一名更高效的员工。会使得你：

　　better understand assignments and what your boss expects of you;

　　了解任务内容和老板对你的期待;

　　build rapport with co-workers, bosses, and clients since everyone craves understanding;

　　和同事，老板还有客户建立融洽关系，因为每个人都渴望相互理解;

　　show support for others;

　　对他人表示支持;

　　work better in a team-based environment;

　　在团队环境中表现更出色;

　　resolve problems with customers, co-workers and bosses;

　　解决和客户，同事老板之间的问题;

　　answer questions; and uncover the true meaning of what others are saying.

　　回答问题;发现对方话语中的真正意图。

　　How to Be an Active Listener and Look Like One

　　如何成为并且看起来是位聆听者

　　Many people aren't born with good listening skills. Even those who are great listeners sometimes engage in behaviors that make them appear to not be paying attention. The following tips will help you learn how to be an active listener as well as look like one:

　　很多人并不是天生就具有良好的聆听技能，甚至那些优秀的聆听者，他们的言行举行有时也会让人觉得他们心不在焉。下面这些提示，能帮助你学习成为一个名副其实的、积极的聆听者。

　　1.Maintain Eye Contact: When you are looking someone in the eye, you have no choice but to pay attention. And there will be no question about whether you are.

　　1.眼神交流：当你看着对方眼睛时，你只能集中注意力，甚至你是否有在认真听，都无关紧要。

　　2.Don't Interrupt the Speaker: Save your questions and comments until the speaker finishes talking and you are able to digest his or her words.

　　2.不要打断说话者：保留你的问题和评论，待对方说完，你消化理解后，再提出来。

　　3.Sit Still: Fidgeting makes you look bored.

　　3.静坐:烦躁不安说明你觉得对方的话很无聊。

　　4.Nod Your Head: This indicates to the speaker that you are taking in the information he or she is conveying.

　　4.点头：这一动作表明你正领会对方所传达的信息。

　　5.Be Attentive to Non-Verbal Cues: Paying attention to what the speaker doesn't say is as important as being attentive to his or her words. Look for non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and posture to get the full gist of what information the speaker is conveying.

　　5.注意非语言线索:关注对方的言外信息，与关注他的话语本身同样重要。注意表情和姿势等非语言线索，从而理解对方言语信息的全部要点。

　　Lean Toward the Speaker: You will appear to be, and actually will be, engaged.

　　身体倾侧向对方：他人会觉得你正在认真聆听，而事实上也是如此。

　　Repeat Instructions and Ask Appropriate Questions: Once the speaker has finished talking, repeat his or her instructions to confirm that you understand them. This is also a good time to ask questions if you have any.

　　重复要点，适当提问：对方说完后，重复一下他所说的要点，表明你真正理解了。如果有疑问，这个时候适合提出来。

（编辑：何莹莹）