Final answer:
Active listening skills in spoken communication are similar to the skills needed when reading written communication. Engaging actively with both spoken and written words requires understanding underlying meanings, asking clarifying questions, and building connections with the content.
Step-by-step explanation:
The active listening skills used when you listen to the spoken word are similar when you "listen" to what people say in their writing. Both when interpreting spoken words and written texts, it is essential to avoid passive listening or reading, which means just hearing or seeing the words without truly understanding or engaging with the content. Instead, one should aim for active engagement with the material, whether it is through reading or listening. This can be done by looking for deeper meanings, asking questions for clarification, offering ideas, and understanding the context, all of which can help build a bridge of comprehension and facilitate communication.
When engaging with written content, similar to how we listen to someone speak, it's important to look for the author's emotions and ideas, which can be identified through their use of language and tone. It's equally important to be critical and interactive with the text by considering the underlying meaning, questioning the content, and relating it to other knowledge. This way, just like in active listening, active reading also becomes a form of conversation with the text, allowing the reader to fully grasp and engage with the material presented. Furthermore, when you are writing, especially for an audience that will hear the content rather than read it, it is vital to consider how you will sound and how the audience will receive and interpret your words, which may include using different techniques like vocal modulation, tone, and cadence to make the content more accessible and impactful for listeners.