How Listening Changed Lami’s Game

It was the finals of the inter-class spelling challenge, and the room buzzed with excitement. Lami sat at her desk, feeling confident. She knew she could win—after all, she was one of the best spellers in her class. The teacher, Mr. Ade, explained the rules: “Listen carefully. You will hear each word only once, and then you must spell it correctly.” Lami smiled. Easy.

The first round went smoothly. “Basket,” “Elephant,” “Chocolate”—Lami got them all right. But then Mr. Ade called out, “Discipline.” Lami heard ‘Display’ and quickly wrote it down. When the results for that round were announced, her heart sank—she had gotten it wrong. “You didn’t listen closely,” Mr. Ade reminded her gently.

In the next round, Lami decided to slow down and really focus. She sat up straight, looked at Mr. Ade, and repeated each word silently in her head before writing it down. This time, she got them all right. She realised that winning wasn’t just about knowing the words—it was about listening carefully to what was being said.

As the challenge went on, Lami noticed something else. Her classmates who listened closely often did better, even if they weren’t the best spellers. Listening gave them an advantage because they understood exactly what was asked before acting.

By the final round, Lami was in second place. Her last word was “Achievement.” She took a deep breath, replayed the sound of the word in her mind, and spelled it correctly. The class erupted in cheers—she had won!

Later, Mr. Ade smiled at her. “You see, Lami, good communication isn’t just about talking well—it’s about listening well, too.” Lami nodded, realising that listening had been her secret superpower all along.

From that day, Lami made a promise to herself: whether in class, at home, or with friends, she would always listen carefully before responding. And she soon discovered that good listening didn’t just help her win games—it helped her understand people better, make more friends, and avoid mistakes.

So the next time you’re talking to someone, remember Lami’s big lesson. Don’t just hear—really listen. You can listen better by:

• Focusing fully on the person speaking and avoiding distractions.

• Making eye contact to show that you’re paying attention.

  
  

•  Asking questions if you’re not sure you understand.

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