Unit 3: Top down, bottom up listening

I found the article Listening matters:top-down and bottom up listening (Tennant, 2017) very interesting. The top down listener looks at the big picture to get the general meaning or 'gist' of what is being said. They require previous knowledge to help them make sense of the content. Whereas the bottom up listener focuses on the details and looks to understand the content on a word level, looking at both grammar and syntax. I think when one begins to learn a language we rely on the bottom up strategy. Listening for those familiar words, grasping for the understanding of the syntax and grammar of what is being told to us. As one becomes more confident in the language we can listen to the big picture and determine what someone is trying to say to us. Usually this isn't too difficult as when we are having a conversation with someone there is context whether by relationship, location or situation, to help us to understand. A listener might relay on one method more than the other at times, for example, when following directions there would be more of a reliance on the bottom up method to ensure the listener gets all the pertinent information. I think our task as educators is to help our learners balance the two methods, providing them with opportunities to practice both to assist them in becoming competent and fluent listeners and speakers.

Tennant, A. (2017). Listening matters: top-down and bottom up listening. Retrieved from http://www.onestopenglish.com/skills/listening/teaching-tips/listening-matters/listening-matters-top-down-and-bottom-up-listening/154567.article