Sometimes we confuse the words LISTENING and HEARING and we think that they are the same thing but they aren't. While hearing is a biological process that can be scientifically explained, listening is a neurological cognitive regarding the processing of auditory stimuli received by the auditory system. In other words, we can be hearing even if we don't want to, but in order to listen we have to be focused on what we want to listen. For example if we are riding a bus, there are many people around us and they may be talking a lot of thing that are irrelevant to us but still we hear them not because we want but because hearing is a natural and involuntary process. With listening is different. Let imagine that we are on a listening test. We are focused because we want to listen and understan what it is said. 

Why is important teach listening? 

      

        Listening is one of the most important skills to be developed because we have to learn listening before learning speaking, reading and writing.

     Teaching listening is so challenging that teachers must think carefully about making activities successful and contents interesting. 

     One important idea for teaching listening   is that listening courses must make use of student’s prior knowledge in order to improve listening comprehension.

      If you want more information about this topic please visit my webpage about teaching listening