THE ART OF LISTENING by Annette T. Thomas

Here I am again about how social media is not only changing the way we communicate - but also the way we LISTEN to instruction. Earlier I wrote about people not wanting to read these days - our emails will even "summarize" a correspondence so that we don't even need to read them in order to respond! But even in listening - we now want to cut to the chase. It has become "just give me the "take away", and this doesn't work for deep learning, or really any kind of cohesive learning at all. Social media exacerbates the problem by giving us "info bursts" which we have been trained to believe is real teaching! I have found that especially since the pandemic, people don't really know how to settle enough to listen thoroughly - and yet, often we still expect to somehow absorb and experience "amazing" results.

My Fundamentals Book has a quote in the beginning which I particularly like:

"A TEACHER OPENS THE DOOR BUT THE STUDENT MUST WALK THOUGH IT THEMSELVES"

Part of the "walking through the door yourself" as a student has to do with THE ART OF LISTENING - it is going to take patience and humility (yes, that's accurate self assessment) to get back what you may have lost.

Here are some points to ponder and reflect on:

Preparation (before class)

Set your Intention:

• Approach every lesson with the goal to understand from your

teacher’s perspective. To learn on every possible level - to be better (holistically) than you were last time, to understand the work on a deeper level - not to just "work out" or "increase flexibility" etc.. This may mean reflecting on WHY you are specifically taking this particular class. What are you (possibly) assuming/presuming you will "get" out of this class?

The more you presume or assume - the less you may be open to learning things you thought you already knew.

• Minimize Distractions: Leave your day at the door - put away your phone and

silence notifications to give the work your complete focus.

•  Try not to rush into class – give yourself at least 20 minutes to

prepare and enter with a calm mind set.

Active Listening (during class)

• Be 100% Present: BREATHE deeply, prepare emotionally, mentally and physically to be

completely “in the moment”. Let go of internal "chatter" and any negative/critical thoughts (either about yourself or others). There should be no competition, or comparing yourself to others in the learning process.

• Atune to Verbal Details: Absorb the teacher’s specific words, cues, sounds, and rhythms.

Try not to assume you know what they are going to say. (if they have to repeat themselves too often it MAY be because you have not been truly listening!) *Even if the direction isn't for you specifically - you can always re-check your technique and improve rather than get upset.

• Watch the teacher's Body Language:

Pay attention to and "register"/digest the teacher’s non-verbal cues, which add layers of meaning to the words.

•Allow for mental pauses and internal reflection to process the words in the context in which you will use them. (Like reading comprehension but for listening)

• Ask Questions when appropriate Why is this a good

exercise? What am I supposed to be feeling? Does this look right to you?

Getting verbal confirmation "in the moment" is the perfect way to progress.

Reflection & Response (after class)

• Digest & Reflect: Give yourself a moment to let the work settle before forming a

reaction. Try to “play back” the teacher's cues and verbal instruction in your head.

• Summarize & Paraphrase: If speaking with the teacher after a lesson ask for

specific clarification.

• Briefly restate key points to confirm understanding ("So, you're saying the

repetition was meant to show/feel...)

• Take notes – Journal about those notes and reflect on those notes throughout the

week.

As you work on the exercises on your own speak out loud to yourself - this actually re-affirms the content and mind body integration of your learning process and is also a part of developing good listening skills.

Key Mindsets for Deepening your Listening Skills

• Focus: rest your mind before you enter class

• Perseverance: Bringing your mind back to listening can be frustrating as we live in a distracted society.

• Humility: There is always something new or more to learn - try to resist getting angry or defensive or critical during corrections - it is a privilege to be corrected!

• Patience: Recognize that deep listening and understanding take time and effort.

Copyright 2026 by Annette T. Thomas Ballet For Figure Skaters and Prime Radiant Press