Learning to listen with empathy is a skill worth practicing. It is not easy to be a great listener because it is so much more than just hearing the words. We filter what we hear and sometimes make mistakes in interpreting the meaning. Asking clarifying questions is important, as well as non-verbal communications, like nodding when agreeing with what we hear.
And while we are listening we will want to try to uderstand the viewpoint of the other (because this is not about a debate and finding a counter-argument). Asking clarifying questions is a great tool for understanding others' perpectives. Questions like:
"Is this what you said...?"
"What do you like about it?"
"What is another way you might..."
"Did I hear you correctly ...?"
Also paraphrasing to check understanding or seek clarification:
"What I am hearing is that you think..."
"So, you want to be sure that..."
"It sounds like you..."
"I understand that your point is..."
Emphatetic listening in education helps us to support the student as a whole learner and human being while preparing them for life and work. This is why trauma-informed educational practices are a great tool for creating the environment of care for learners of all ages.
https://notesfromnina.com/2025/05/30/helping-students-to-become-learners/