[originaltext] Most of us take our ability to listen for granted. In fact, w

Most of us take our ability to listen for granted. In fact, we have different listening styles for different occasions. How successful we are as listeners may depend in part on choosing the right listening style for the situation. Perhaps the most basic listening style is appreciative listening. We listen appreciatively when we enjoy music, a bird’s song or the murmur of the book. We need a different style, one called discriminative listening, when we want to single out one particular sound from a noisy environment. You discriminate, for example, when you listen for a friend’s voice in a crowded room. We use a firm style of listening, comprehensive listening, when we want to understand. When we listen to directions or instructions, we are using this style. The last listening style, critical listening, is the one we will examine most closely. Critical listeners are the most active of all listeners, and critical listening, the most helpful. Critical listeners evaluate what they hear, and decide if another person’s message is logical, worthwhile or has value. We need to be critical listeners when someone wants us to buy something, vote a certain way or support a particular idea. We also need to be critical listeners in school where we are supposed to listen and think at the same time.