{"id":281,"date":"2024-07-13T20:45:50","date_gmt":"2024-07-13T20:45:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281"},"modified":"2025-04-06T17:34:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-06T17:34:43","slug":"practical-strategies-of-active-listening","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281","title":{"rendered":"Practical Strategies of Active Listening"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">EMPATHETIC ANNOTATIONS &#8211; PRODUCTIVE QUESTIONS &#8211; PARAPHRASING<\/h4>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\">(THE \u201cLAFF\u201d TECHNIQUE)<\/h4>\r\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-285 aligncenter\" style=\"width: 531px; height: 165px;\" src=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4-1024x318.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4-1024x318.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4-300x93.jpg 300w, https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4-768x239.jpg 768w, https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4-1536x478.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4.jpg 1711w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p>A few widely recognised techniques of Active Listening involve a) using empathetic annotations, b) asking productive questions, and c) paraphrasing the speaker&#8217;s statements to exhibit attentiveness and confirm understanding [<a href=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=352\">27<\/a>].<\/p>\r\n<p>In the context of this Guide, we have selected to showcase one specific technique, namely the <strong>\u201cLAFF\u201d Technique<\/strong>, because it is easy to remember and put into practice in daily interactions.<\/p>\r\n<p>The \u201cLAFF\u201d technique, introduced and tested by McNaughton et al., offers a practical way for two people to engage while valuing their perspectives. This strategy was tested on teacher-parent relationships but can be applied in various relationships, including that of adults-children.<\/p>\r\n<p>The four letters L-A-F-F stand for the four steps the technique involves:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-680\" src=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/L-300x286.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"41\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/L-300x286.jpg 300w, https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/L.jpg 334w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 41px) 100vw, 41px\" \/><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p>This letter represents the word &#8220;Listen&#8221; in english.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Listen, Empathise and Communicate Respect<\/strong><br \/><strong>(using empathetic annotations)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-679\" src=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/A-300x288.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"42\" height=\"40\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/A-300x288.jpg 300w, https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/A.jpg 331w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 42px) 100vw, 42px\" \/><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p>This letter represents the word &#8220;Ask&#8221; in english.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Ask Productive Questions<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-678\" src=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/FF-300x289.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"41\" height=\"39\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/FF-300x289.jpg 300w, https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/FF.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 41px) 100vw, 41px\" \/><\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p>These letters represent the words &#8220;Focus&#8221; and &#8220;Find&#8221; in english.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Focus on what has been shared (by paraphrasing)<\/strong><br \/><strong>&amp; Find a first step<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<p><strong>\r\n\r\n<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Focusing on the \u201cLAFF\u201d Technique<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/L-300x286.jpg\" width=\"53\" height=\"51\" \/><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Listen, Empathise and Communicate Respect (using empathetic annotations)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Starting with &#8220;L&#8221;, adults should listen, empathise, and convey respect to children<\/strong>. This involves attentively hearing out concerns and responding with Empathy. Demonstrating respect entails thanking children for reaching out, focusing on them, and using appropriate body language and facial expressions. Some useful expressions that we could use in this particular step are the following: \u201cWhat would you like to talk about?\u201d, \u201cI can understand why you are concerned, this is a serious problem\u201d, \u201cI appreciate that you came to talk with me\u201d, etc.<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/A-300x288.jpg\" width=\"56\" height=\"54\" \/><\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Ask Productive Questions <\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><strong>The &#8220;A&#8221; step involves asking questions and gathering insights on the issue shared by children<\/strong>. This respectful inquiry helps understand the children\u2019s viewpoint. As gaining insight can only happen by advancing the conversation, it is advised to avoid asking closed-off questions that only require a \u201cYes\u201d or \u201cNo\u201d answer during this step. Instead, follow-up questions such as \u201cWhat more can you tell me to help me understand?\u201d, \u201cWhat would I see if I was there?\u201d, \u201cLet\u2019s talk more about &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. (a person\/a situation\/a specific action); how did make you feel?\u201d, or \u201cWhy do you think &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. (a person\/a situation\/a specific action) turned out\/acted\/reacted\/spoke this way?\u201d, or \u201cDid it turn out how you thought it would? Why or why not?\u201d are more useful choices at this step. Even if children can&#8217;t answer these questions, they are encouraged to think more about what they&#8217;re trying to tell us and organise their thoughts so that it\u2019s easier for them to open up .<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-678 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/FF-300x289.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"60\" height=\"58\" srcset=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/FF-300x289.jpg 300w, https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/FF.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 60px) 100vw, 60px\" \/><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Focus on what has been shared (by paraphrasing) &amp; Find a first step<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:post-content -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p><strong>Moving to two \u201cF\u2019s\u201d, with the first &#8220;F&#8221;, adults focus on reviewing the issue by paraphrasing shared information to ensure accuracy, while displaying evidence of Active Listening<\/strong>. A good starting point is to use a signal phrase, such as \u201cSo, if I understand this correctly, what you are saying is\u2026\u201d. It&#8217;s important to keep the paraphrase brief and accurate, without leaving out any crucial details and at the same time making sure not to insert our own opinions, interpretations, or assumptions. To conclude the paraphrase, a question like \u201cAm I on the right track?\u201d is useful for adults to confirm if they&#8217;ve captured the intended meaning accurately.<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph \/-->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\r\n<p><strong>The second \u201cF\u201d directs adults to find a starting point for addressing the issue<\/strong>. Immediate action is needed if the situation is dangerous, but most issues benefit from gathering more details and careful consideration. At this point, it is OK for adults to take some time to think about the next steps instead of taking action immediately. However it is important to communicate to the children that we will indeed take steps in helping them. For this reason it is very useful to use phrasing that involves the words \u201cfirst step\u201d, such as \u201cI think the first step is to get more information and then we will start to think about possible solutions together\u201d, or \u201cAs a first step, I\u2019d like to meet with &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. (your teacher \/ your friends\u2019 parents\/ the school\u2019s principal, etc.). I want to find out what they &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; (see\/saw\/hear\/heard\/know). After this, we will make a plan for next steps\u201d .<\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\r\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; width: 100%;\">\r\n<div style=\"width: 33.333%;\"><a style=\"display: inline-block; padding: 12px;\" href=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=269\">\u2039\u00a0Previous<\/a><\/div>\r\n<div style=\"width: 33.333%; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"display: inline-block; padding: 12px;\" href=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=484\">Back to index<\/a><\/div>\r\n<div style=\"width: 33.333%; text-align: right;\"><a style=\"display: inline-block; padding: 12px;\" href=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=296\">Next\u00a0\u203a<\/a><\/div>\r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EMPATHETIC ANNOTATIONS &#8211; PRODUCTIVE QUESTIONS &#8211; PARAPHRASING (THE \u201cLAFF\u201d TECHNIQUE) A few widely recognised techniques of Active Listening involve a) using empathetic annotations, b) asking productive questions, and c) paraphrasing the speaker&#8217;s statements to exhibit attentiveness and confirm understanding [27]. In the context of this Guide, we have selected to showcase one specific technique, namely the \u201cLAFF\u201d Technique, because it is easy to remember and put into practice in daily interactions. The \u201cLAFF\u201d technique, introduced and tested by McNaughton et al., offers a practical way for two people to engage while valuing their perspectives. This strategy was tested on teacher-parent relationships but can be applied in various relationships, including that of adults-children. The four letters L-A-F-F stand for the four steps the technique involves: This letter represents the word &#8220;Listen&#8221; in english. Listen, Empathise and Communicate Respect(using empathetic annotations) This letter represents the word &#8220;Ask&#8221; in english. Ask Productive Questions These letters represent the words &#8220;Focus&#8221; and &#8220;Find&#8221; in english. Focus on what has been shared (by paraphrasing)&amp; Find a first step &nbsp; Focusing on the \u201cLAFF\u201d Technique Listen, Empathise and Communicate Respect (using empathetic annotations) Starting with &#8220;L&#8221;, adults should listen, empathise, and convey respect to children. This involves attentively hearing out concerns and responding with Empathy. Demonstrating respect entails thanking children for reaching out, focusing on them, and using appropriate body language and facial expressions. Some useful expressions that we could use in this particular step are the following: \u201cWhat would you like to talk about?\u201d, \u201cI can understand why you are concerned, this is a serious problem\u201d, \u201cI appreciate that you came to talk with me\u201d, etc. &nbsp; Ask Productive Questions The &#8220;A&#8221; step involves asking questions and gathering insights on the issue shared by children. This respectful inquiry helps understand the children\u2019s viewpoint. As gaining insight can only happen by advancing the conversation, it is advised to avoid asking closed-off questions that only require a \u201cYes\u201d or \u201cNo\u201d answer during this step. Instead, follow-up questions such as \u201cWhat more can you tell me to help me understand?\u201d, \u201cWhat would I see if I was there?\u201d, \u201cLet\u2019s talk more about &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. (a person\/a situation\/a specific action); how did make you feel?\u201d, or \u201cWhy do you think &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. (a person\/a situation\/a specific action) turned out\/acted\/reacted\/spoke this way?\u201d, or \u201cDid it turn out how you thought it would? Why or why not?\u201d are more useful choices at this step. Even if children can&#8217;t answer these questions, they are encouraged to think more about what they&#8217;re trying to tell us and organise their thoughts so that it\u2019s easier for them to open up . &nbsp; Focus on what has been shared (by paraphrasing) &amp; Find a first step Moving to two \u201cF\u2019s\u201d, with the first &#8220;F&#8221;, adults focus on reviewing the issue by paraphrasing shared information to ensure accuracy, while displaying evidence of Active Listening. A good starting point is to use a signal phrase, such as \u201cSo, if I understand this correctly, what you are saying is\u2026\u201d. It&#8217;s important to keep the paraphrase brief and accurate, without leaving out any crucial details and at the same time making sure not to insert our own opinions, interpretations, or assumptions. To conclude the paraphrase, a question like \u201cAm I on the right track?\u201d is useful for adults to confirm if they&#8217;ve captured the intended meaning accurately. The second \u201cF\u201d directs adults to find a starting point for addressing the issue. Immediate action is needed if the situation is dangerous, but most issues benefit from gathering more details and careful consideration. At this point, it is OK for adults to take some time to think about the next steps instead of taking action immediately. However it is important to communicate to the children that we will indeed take steps in helping them. For this reason it is very useful to use phrasing that involves the words \u201cfirst step\u201d, such as \u201cI think the first step is to get more information and then we will start to think about possible solutions together\u201d, or \u201cAs a first step, I\u2019d like to meet with &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. (your teacher \/ your friends\u2019 parents\/ the school\u2019s principal, etc.). I want to find out what they &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; (see\/saw\/hear\/heard\/know). After this, we will make a plan for next steps\u201d . \u2039\u00a0Previous Back to index Next\u00a0\u203a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-281","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Practical Strategies of Active Listening - E-safety counselling center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Practical Strategies of Active Listening - E-safety counselling center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"EMPATHETIC ANNOTATIONS &#8211; PRODUCTIVE QUESTIONS &#8211; PARAPHRASING (THE \u201cLAFF\u201d TECHNIQUE) A few widely recognised techniques of Active Listening involve a) using empathetic annotations, b) asking productive questions, and c) paraphrasing the speaker&#8217;s statements to exhibit attentiveness and confirm understanding [27]. In the context of this Guide, we have selected to showcase one specific technique, namely the \u201cLAFF\u201d Technique, because it is easy to remember and put into practice in daily interactions. The \u201cLAFF\u201d technique, introduced and tested by McNaughton et al., offers a practical way for two people to engage while valuing their perspectives. This strategy was tested on teacher-parent relationships but can be applied in various relationships, including that of adults-children. The four letters L-A-F-F stand for the four steps the technique involves: This letter represents the word &#8220;Listen&#8221; in english. Listen, Empathise and Communicate Respect(using empathetic annotations) This letter represents the word &#8220;Ask&#8221; in english. Ask Productive Questions These letters represent the words &#8220;Focus&#8221; and &#8220;Find&#8221; in english. Focus on what has been shared (by paraphrasing)&amp; Find a first step &nbsp; Focusing on the \u201cLAFF\u201d Technique Listen, Empathise and Communicate Respect (using empathetic annotations) Starting with &#8220;L&#8221;, adults should listen, empathise, and convey respect to children. This involves attentively hearing out concerns and responding with Empathy. Demonstrating respect entails thanking children for reaching out, focusing on them, and using appropriate body language and facial expressions. Some useful expressions that we could use in this particular step are the following: \u201cWhat would you like to talk about?\u201d, \u201cI can understand why you are concerned, this is a serious problem\u201d, \u201cI appreciate that you came to talk with me\u201d, etc. &nbsp; Ask Productive Questions The &#8220;A&#8221; step involves asking questions and gathering insights on the issue shared by children. This respectful inquiry helps understand the children\u2019s viewpoint. As gaining insight can only happen by advancing the conversation, it is advised to avoid asking closed-off questions that only require a \u201cYes\u201d or \u201cNo\u201d answer during this step. Instead, follow-up questions such as \u201cWhat more can you tell me to help me understand?\u201d, \u201cWhat would I see if I was there?\u201d, \u201cLet\u2019s talk more about &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. (a person\/a situation\/a specific action); how did make you feel?\u201d, or \u201cWhy do you think &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. (a person\/a situation\/a specific action) turned out\/acted\/reacted\/spoke this way?\u201d, or \u201cDid it turn out how you thought it would? Why or why not?\u201d are more useful choices at this step. Even if children can&#8217;t answer these questions, they are encouraged to think more about what they&#8217;re trying to tell us and organise their thoughts so that it\u2019s easier for them to open up . &nbsp; Focus on what has been shared (by paraphrasing) &amp; Find a first step Moving to two \u201cF\u2019s\u201d, with the first &#8220;F&#8221;, adults focus on reviewing the issue by paraphrasing shared information to ensure accuracy, while displaying evidence of Active Listening. A good starting point is to use a signal phrase, such as \u201cSo, if I understand this correctly, what you are saying is\u2026\u201d. It&#8217;s important to keep the paraphrase brief and accurate, without leaving out any crucial details and at the same time making sure not to insert our own opinions, interpretations, or assumptions. To conclude the paraphrase, a question like \u201cAm I on the right track?\u201d is useful for adults to confirm if they&#8217;ve captured the intended meaning accurately. The second \u201cF\u201d directs adults to find a starting point for addressing the issue. Immediate action is needed if the situation is dangerous, but most issues benefit from gathering more details and careful consideration. At this point, it is OK for adults to take some time to think about the next steps instead of taking action immediately. However it is important to communicate to the children that we will indeed take steps in helping them. For this reason it is very useful to use phrasing that involves the words \u201cfirst step\u201d, such as \u201cI think the first step is to get more information and then we will start to think about possible solutions together\u201d, or \u201cAs a first step, I\u2019d like to meet with &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. (your teacher \/ your friends\u2019 parents\/ the school\u2019s principal, etc.). I want to find out what they &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; (see\/saw\/hear\/heard\/know). After this, we will make a plan for next steps\u201d . \u2039\u00a0Previous Back to index Next\u00a0\u203a\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"E-safety counselling center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-06T17:34:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4-1024x318.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281\",\"name\":\"Practical Strategies of Active Listening - E-safety counselling center\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4-1024x318.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-07-13T20:45:50+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-06T17:34:43+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4.jpg\",\"width\":1711,\"height\":532},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Practical Strategies of Active Listening\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/\",\"name\":\"E-safety counselling center\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#organization\",\"name\":\"E-safety counselling center\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/logo-e1717752606151.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/logo-e1717752606151.png\",\"width\":207,\"height\":88,\"caption\":\"E-safety counselling center\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Practical Strategies of Active Listening - E-safety counselling center","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Practical Strategies of Active Listening - E-safety counselling center","og_description":"EMPATHETIC ANNOTATIONS &#8211; PRODUCTIVE QUESTIONS &#8211; PARAPHRASING (THE \u201cLAFF\u201d TECHNIQUE) A few widely recognised techniques of Active Listening involve a) using empathetic annotations, b) asking productive questions, and c) paraphrasing the speaker&#8217;s statements to exhibit attentiveness and confirm understanding [27]. In the context of this Guide, we have selected to showcase one specific technique, namely the \u201cLAFF\u201d Technique, because it is easy to remember and put into practice in daily interactions. The \u201cLAFF\u201d technique, introduced and tested by McNaughton et al., offers a practical way for two people to engage while valuing their perspectives. This strategy was tested on teacher-parent relationships but can be applied in various relationships, including that of adults-children. The four letters L-A-F-F stand for the four steps the technique involves: This letter represents the word &#8220;Listen&#8221; in english. Listen, Empathise and Communicate Respect(using empathetic annotations) This letter represents the word &#8220;Ask&#8221; in english. Ask Productive Questions These letters represent the words &#8220;Focus&#8221; and &#8220;Find&#8221; in english. Focus on what has been shared (by paraphrasing)&amp; Find a first step &nbsp; Focusing on the \u201cLAFF\u201d Technique Listen, Empathise and Communicate Respect (using empathetic annotations) Starting with &#8220;L&#8221;, adults should listen, empathise, and convey respect to children. This involves attentively hearing out concerns and responding with Empathy. Demonstrating respect entails thanking children for reaching out, focusing on them, and using appropriate body language and facial expressions. Some useful expressions that we could use in this particular step are the following: \u201cWhat would you like to talk about?\u201d, \u201cI can understand why you are concerned, this is a serious problem\u201d, \u201cI appreciate that you came to talk with me\u201d, etc. &nbsp; Ask Productive Questions The &#8220;A&#8221; step involves asking questions and gathering insights on the issue shared by children. This respectful inquiry helps understand the children\u2019s viewpoint. As gaining insight can only happen by advancing the conversation, it is advised to avoid asking closed-off questions that only require a \u201cYes\u201d or \u201cNo\u201d answer during this step. Instead, follow-up questions such as \u201cWhat more can you tell me to help me understand?\u201d, \u201cWhat would I see if I was there?\u201d, \u201cLet\u2019s talk more about &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. (a person\/a situation\/a specific action); how did make you feel?\u201d, or \u201cWhy do you think &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. (a person\/a situation\/a specific action) turned out\/acted\/reacted\/spoke this way?\u201d, or \u201cDid it turn out how you thought it would? Why or why not?\u201d are more useful choices at this step. Even if children can&#8217;t answer these questions, they are encouraged to think more about what they&#8217;re trying to tell us and organise their thoughts so that it\u2019s easier for them to open up . &nbsp; Focus on what has been shared (by paraphrasing) &amp; Find a first step Moving to two \u201cF\u2019s\u201d, with the first &#8220;F&#8221;, adults focus on reviewing the issue by paraphrasing shared information to ensure accuracy, while displaying evidence of Active Listening. A good starting point is to use a signal phrase, such as \u201cSo, if I understand this correctly, what you are saying is\u2026\u201d. It&#8217;s important to keep the paraphrase brief and accurate, without leaving out any crucial details and at the same time making sure not to insert our own opinions, interpretations, or assumptions. To conclude the paraphrase, a question like \u201cAm I on the right track?\u201d is useful for adults to confirm if they&#8217;ve captured the intended meaning accurately. The second \u201cF\u201d directs adults to find a starting point for addressing the issue. Immediate action is needed if the situation is dangerous, but most issues benefit from gathering more details and careful consideration. At this point, it is OK for adults to take some time to think about the next steps instead of taking action immediately. However it is important to communicate to the children that we will indeed take steps in helping them. For this reason it is very useful to use phrasing that involves the words \u201cfirst step\u201d, such as \u201cI think the first step is to get more information and then we will start to think about possible solutions together\u201d, or \u201cAs a first step, I\u2019d like to meet with &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. (your teacher \/ your friends\u2019 parents\/ the school\u2019s principal, etc.). I want to find out what they &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; (see\/saw\/hear\/heard\/know). After this, we will make a plan for next steps\u201d . \u2039\u00a0Previous Back to index Next\u00a0\u203a","og_url":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281","og_site_name":"E-safety counselling center","article_modified_time":"2025-04-06T17:34:43+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4-1024x318.jpg","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281","url":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281","name":"Practical Strategies of Active Listening - E-safety counselling center","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4-1024x318.jpg","datePublished":"2024-07-13T20:45:50+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-06T17:34:43+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Picture4.jpg","width":1711,"height":532},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?page_id=281#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Practical Strategies of Active Listening"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#website","url":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/","name":"E-safety counselling center","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#organization","name":"E-safety counselling center","url":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/logo-e1717752606151.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/logo-e1717752606151.png","width":207,"height":88,"caption":"E-safety counselling center"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=281"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":878,"href":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/281\/revisions\/878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/e-counselling.e-safety-network.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}