Active listening occurs in all areas of life, but in particular, the classroom.  If you do not learn how to listen, you will miss a great deal of what people are trying to tell you.  In addition, you cannot respond in an appropriate manner, whether that be by talking or by taking tests.

• Look at the person and suspend other things you are doing.  Otherwise, your brain will be distracted from its main goal - understanding the other person's concerns, intentions, and, if you are a student and the person is a faculty member, lessons.
  

• Be interested in what the person is saying.  Everybody is interesting in some way. Yes, a person may have poor delivery, but remind yourself that you want other people to be interested in what you say. If you just can't make yourself interested, you will lose important information, so try taking notes. Doing so will keep you body and mind active.  Also, try the next suggestion.
   

• Listen to the tone of voice and inflections; look at gestures and body language - these may carry an unspoken message.  Not only does this suggestion help in listening, but it can also help keep you interested when you find it hard to keep the person's words interesting.
   

• Restate what the person said. If you are in a conversation, yes, some people will look at you funny and may even ask, "Do you have a problem?!"  Just remember, those people are the ones with no active listening training.  Tell them restating their meaning is from active listening training and a way for you to make sure you understand the person clearly.
  

• Ask questions once in a while to clarify meaning.  One, doing so will let the other person know you have been listening.  Two, doing so will let the other person know you are interested in getting all the facts and ramifications. Three, doing so will keep you alert.
  

• Be aware of your own feelings and opinions.  They may cloud your perception of what is being said.   Being aware of your own preconceptions is a type of critical thinking that prevents biasing your judgment of the other person's words.