Ace the ORELA Challenge 2026 – Elevate Your Teaching Journey in Oregon!

Listening as an active communication process encompasses receiving information, interpreting its meaning, and responding appropriately. The act of receiving involves focusing on the speaker and attentively gathering the information being conveyed. Following this, interpreting requires analyzing the content, context, and emotional nuance of the message, allowing the listener to understand the intended meaning beyond just the words spoken. Finally, responding is crucial, as it demonstrates understanding and engagement, whether through verbal feedback, non-verbal cues, or asking follow-up questions.

This model emphasizes that listening is more than passively hearing; it is an interactive engagement that involves mental processing and effective communication skills. Through this process, listeners not only absorb information but also contribute to the conversation, making it dynamic and reciprocal.