Chapter 7: Active Listening and Reading

Success in college depends not just on what you learn, but how you take in and engage with information. This chapter focuses on two essential academic skills, active reading and active listening. You will begin by exploring how college reading differs from high school, what instructors expect, and how to approach academic texts with purpose. With tools like the SQ3R method and vocabulary-building strategies, you will learn how to read more effectively and retain what you’ve read.

This chapter also emphasizes the importance of active listening in the classroom. You will discover why consistent attendance matters, what it means to participate actively, and how to make the most of lectures, even when you can’t attend. Together, these skills will help you become a more engaged, prepared, and confident learner in any class setting.