What I Gained From Listening More in Class

For most of my academic life, I was the student who raised their hand, asked questions, and offered opinions. I prided myself on being vocal, engaged, and actively participating in discussions. I thought that was what learning looked like — speaking up, being heard, asserting my ideas.

But then, one semester, I decided to take a different approach. Instead of speaking more, I decided to listen more. It wasn’t easy. At first, it felt like I was holding myself back, silencing my voice, and fading into the background. But the more I leaned into listening, the more I began to realize just how much I had been missing.

Here’s what I gained from listening more in class — and why it became one of the most transformative learning experiences of my life.

1. I Learned That Everyone Has a Unique Perspective
When I was always the one talking, I was only hearing my own voice. I was reinforcing my own perspective, recycling my own thoughts, and missing out on the insights of those around me.

A New Lens on Familiar Concepts: By listening more, I began to notice that different people saw the same topic from completely different angles.

One student connected a history lesson to their family’s immigrant experience.

Another framed a debate through the lens of environmental ethics.

Someone else linked a philosophical concept to a personal struggle.

Each perspective was a reminder that no two people experience the world in exactly the same way. And each new perspective broadened my understanding of the subject in ways I couldn’t have anticipated.

2. I Became More Comfortable With Silence
For someone who thrived on speaking up, silence felt awkward, uncomfortable — like a void that needed to be filled. But by choosing to listen more, I began to sit with that silence and embrace it as part of the learning process.

Reflective Silence: Instead of jumping in to answer a question or share my thoughts, I waited, observed, and reflected. What were others thinking? How were they processing the information? What connections were they making?

Room for Deeper Thinking: In that silence, I found space to think more deeply, ask myself questions, and reconsider my assumptions before speaking.

Creating Space for Others: By resisting the urge to fill the silence, I also made space for quieter classmates to step forward and share their thoughts — voices that I hadn’t fully heard before.

Silence, I learned, isn’t empty. It’s a rich space for reflection, observation, and deeper listening.

3. I Became a Better Listener — and a Better Learner
Listening is not the same as hearing. Listening is an active, intentional practice that requires focus, presence, and openness.

Active Listening Techniques: I started practicing strategies to stay fully present during discussions:

Nodding, making eye contact, and leaning forward to signal engagement.

Paraphrasing what others said to ensure I understood correctly.

Asking follow-up questions to dive deeper into their points.

Connecting the Dots: As I listened more, I began to notice patterns and connections between what different people were saying. Someone’s comment in one class connected to a discussion from another class or a book I was reading outside of school.

Learning From Diverse Minds: I started to appreciate the diversity of thought in the room. There were students who thought analytically, creatively, or empathetically — each bringing a unique lens to the subject matter.

By listening more, I wasn’t just taking in information; I was actively engaging with it, processing it, and integrating it into my own understanding.

4. I Became Less Defensive and More Open-Minded
When you’re focused on talking, it’s easy to become defensive, to cling to your own ideas, and to feel the need to “win” a discussion. But when you’re focused on listening, the dynamic changes.

Detaching From My Ego: By listening more, I began to separate my identity from my ideas. I didn’t need to defend every opinion or prove myself right. Instead, I became more curious about what others thought and why.

Learning From Disagreement: Rather than dismissing opposing viewpoints, I started to ask questions to understand the reasoning behind them.

Letting Go of Certainty: The more I listened, the more I realized that my perspective wasn’t the only valid one — and that admitting I didn’t know something wasn’t a sign of weakness but a step toward growth.

Listening taught me that learning isn’t about being right; it’s about being open to the possibility that you might be wrong — and that’s okay.

5. I Became a More Thoughtful Speaker
Ironically, by speaking less, I became a better speaker. When I did choose to speak up, I was more intentional and thoughtful about what I said.

Quality Over Quantity: Instead of filling space with words, I waited until I had something meaningful to contribute.

Building on Others’ Ideas: Rather than launching into my own point, I started by acknowledging what others had said, building on their insights, and connecting their points to my own.

Asking Thoughtful Questions: Rather than making statements, I began to ask open-ended questions that invited further discussion.

Speaking less didn’t mean fading into the background. It meant using my voice more effectively, strategically, and purposefully.

What I Gained From Listening More in Class
When I first decided to listen more and speak less, I thought I was giving up my voice, my presence, my participation. But in reality, I gained far more than I lost.

I gained a deeper appreciation for diverse perspectives and ways of thinking.

I became more self-aware and reflective, able to step back, process, and absorb information more effectively.

I developed a greater sense of empathy and respect for my classmates, seeing them as collaborators in learning rather than competitors for airtime.

And I became a more thoughtful, intentional communicator, able to contribute meaningfully without dominating the conversation.

The Takeaway: Listening Is an Act of Learning
In a culture that often equates speaking with power, presence, and intelligence, it can feel counterintuitive to sit back, stay silent, and just listen. But the truth is, listening isn’t passive. It’s an active, engaged, and deeply powerful way to learn.

Listening more in class didn’t mean disappearing or fading into the background. It meant immersing myself fully in the learning experience, absorbing more, connecting more deeply, and gaining insights I would have missed if I had been too busy talking.

So, the next time you’re in a classroom, a meeting, or a conversation, consider listening more and saying less. You might be surprised by how much you learn — not just about the subject matter, but about the people around you, the world you live in, and yourself.