"We were given two ears but only one mouth, because listening is twice as hard as talking." 

Listening is also a skill. It is one of the most important learning skills because listening is a part of almost everything else that you do. It seems simple, but it's not. Being a good listener doesn't come naturally. It requires learning and practice.

Why Is It Hard To Listen Even When You Are Interested?

Generally people talk at about 125 words per minute. However, we think at a speed that is four or five times as fast, at 500 words per minute or more. This means that our thoughts move much faster than the words of what we are listening to and makes it not surprising that we often let our attention wander.

Active Listening

The key to becoming a good listener is to be an active listener by trying to keep your thoughts directed on what you're listening to.  To do so, try the following:

Prepare with a positive, engaged attitude and focus your attention on the subject.

Avoid distractions and seat yourself appropriately - close to the speaker.

Use good posture to stay alert and demonstrate your interest to the speaker by remaining attentive.

Set your opinions aside so your mind is open to learn new things.

Actively respond to questions and directions.

Make note of emphasized phrases for study reference.