Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

Purpose:

• To understand roadblocks or obstacles that can interfere with good listening.
  
  

Introduction and Transition:

“Sometimes, even when people have excellent listening skills, certain roadblocks get in the way of their ability to listen to others. These roadblocks distract our attention and cause us to not hear others.”

Activity:

1. In either a large or small group setting, pass out the listening roadblocks survey and asks participants to review and think about other roadblocks. The handout is optional. After explaining roadblocks, the group can generate a list of its own. Add to the list to fill in gaps around gender, age, race, physical ability or other roadblocks missed by the group.
   
   
2. After completing the survey or list, ask participants which ones they often see getting in the way of the ability to listen. Ask for other important roadblocks not listed.
   
   
3. Ask why it is important to be aware of roadblocks and how roadblocks can affect communication. After listing responses, summarize by saying, “Roadblocks often make it hard for us to hear the message a person is sending by distracting us.” Good listeners remember to focus on the content of the message that is being sent and not be distracted and influenced by the speaker’s characteristics.
   
   
4. Ask for one youth and one adult volunteer and explain, “We’re going to take a look at some typical roadblocks youth have in listening to adults and adults have to listening to youth. We’re not concentrating on our volunteers as individuals, but as people who represent youth and adults and carry around lots of roadblocks. Let’s imagine that these two just met each other at a board meeting. (Have volunteers shake hands and say hello to each other.) Right away, what are some of the roadblocks that might go up in the adult’s mind? Don’t just focus on our volunteers; think of adults and young people in general.”
   
   
5. List responses, then say, “What roadblocks could go up in the young person’s mind?” List those responses also.
   Note: This activity should follow the teaching of basic listening skills. Ask participants to discuss other types of youth/adult roadblocks.

Variation:

Draw a roadblock on a sheet of newsprint to list roadblocks on the survey and additional ones generated by group. After discussion of roadblocks, draw an X over list or rip it and ask how everyone can overcome roadblocks.

Processing Questions:

1. What is it in you that makes you react to people in the way you do?
2. What kind of roadblocks do adults carry about youth?
3. What kind of roadblocks do youth carry about adults?
4. What are ways to overcome the roadblocks?