Season 3-143 聞く人が会話をつくる - Be a Better Listener

English Summary : In this episode, Noriko talks about the importance of listening in communication, inspired by the bestselling book 人は聞き方が９割 by Shigehisa Nagamatsu.

Many language learners feel pressure to speak well, say smart things, or avoid mistakes. But this episode shifts the focus from speaking to listening. According to the book, good communicators are not those who talk the most, but those who make others feel comfortable and heard.

Noriko reflects on her own experiences in Japanese, English, and podcast conversations, and explains why the listener is the true main character of a conversation. She introduces the idea of “魔法の傾聴 （まほうのけいちょう）” and shares five key listening behaviours.

Finally, Noriko encourages Japanese learners to stop worrying so much about perfect grammar or vocabulary and to focus on listening with genuine interest and asking simple, thoughtful questions. By doing so, conversations can become more natural, relaxed, and enjoyable.

• 聞き方｜ききかた｜way of listening

• 聞く力｜きくちから｜listening skills

• 会話の主役｜かいわ の しゅやく｜main character of a conversation

• 聞き手｜ききて｜listener

• 安心感｜あんしんかん｜sense of security, feeling of safety

• うなずき｜nodding

• 相づち｜あいづち｜verbal listening responses

• 否定しない｜ひていしない｜not to deny, not to reject

• 受け止める｜うけとめる｜to accept, to take in

• 質問を投げかける｜しつもん を なげかける｜to ask questions, to prompt with questions