Active Listening
Developed by Stella Lee

When a tutor listens actively, it shows students that they are important enough to have your undivided attention. You can demonstrate active listening by making eye contact with the student and using nonverbal cues such as leaning toward the student, smiling appropriately, and responding with appropriate facial expressions and body language when you are watching the student communicate.

When it is time to respond, an active response may be to paraphrase what the student communicated. When necessary, you need to ask a question that will lead the student to her/his own solution. It is also important for the tutor not to criticize the student's response, rather, it is to give some feedback that helps guide the student to make a decision and pick the appropriate choice. The tutor's goal for the student is for the student to become an active problem solver.