Introduction:

Kannada is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in the southwestern region of India. The language is also spoken by linguistic minorities in the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, and Goa; and also by Kannadigas abroad. The language had roughly 43 million native speakers by 2011. Kannada is also spoken as a second and third language by over 12.9 million non-native speakers in Karnataka, which adds up to 56.9 million speakers. It is one of the scheduled languages of India and the official and administrative language of the state of Karnataka. Kannada was the court language of some of the most powerful empires of South and Central India, such as the Chalukya dynasty, the Rashtrakuta dynasty, the Vijayanagara Empire, and the Hoysala Empire.

If you have a good command of the Kannada language but are not good at Kannada listening. So, I have a solution to your problem.

 In this blog, we will discuss some tips that help you to master your Kannada listening.

• 1.Make consistent eye contact while talking– 

Body language has a significant role in communication. Maintaining eye contact communicates interest, focus, and understanding with the other person. Make sure to tailor your eye contact as per the needs of others.

• 2.Avoid distractions – 

Always focus on the conversation and do not let your mind wander. Do not let random thoughts disturb your flow and break your concentration.

• 3.Understand the context of the speech

 While communicating, focus on the specific words and phrases and try to understand the content and context of the conversation before replying. 

• 4.Show you are an effective listener by nodding 

Other than eye contact, you should nod and smile while talking as it is the best way to show your agreement and interest in what the speaker is saying. Do not interrupt while someone is talking. Wait for them to finish and then raise open-ended questions in a polite manner.

• 5.Avoid conversation when stressed or overworked

Try to avoid or postpone important meetings or discussions if you are overstressed. It gets difficult to concentrate when you are exhausted, and you end up wasting time. A bit of Yoga or meditation helps you destress in such situations.

• 6.Pick up important points and let the speaker know 

Sometimes, our attention gets drifted and we face trouble focusing on the conversation. For such instances, try to pick up a few significant points and discuss them when the speaker finishes talking. Make an honest effort and clarify your doubts.

• 7.Ask open-ended questions 

If you did not understand some parts of the conversation, encourage them to elaborate and ask open-ended questions to get lengthy responses from the speaker. This helps in understanding the big picture.

• 8.Stay equipped with knowledge

Gather relevant information on the topic so that you can not only contribute effectively to the conversation but also listen patiently when the speaker discusses the same or related topics.

• 9.Provide small encouragements 

You can fight silence and build rapport with the speaker by using small verbal encouraging words such as “right”, “sure”, “yes”, “that makes sense”, “I understand”, and others.

• 10.Practice listening at home 

Listen to podcasts on developing listening skills and learn from them. You can also play audio and try to gauge your listening ability. Recollect from what was played and make pointers. Seek assistance from a friend to help you evaluate your listening skills.

You can follow the above-mentioned tips to master Kannada listening.

Also, join Multibhashi for language learning.