Listening and being listened to : insights from environmental communicators

Abstract

By virtue of listening to texts, to Silence, to self, and to the experiences of four environmental communicators from the Master of Arts in Environmental Education and Communication program at Royal Roads University, this thesis exposes how highly valued yet absent listening has been within environmental discourse and general approaches to communication. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews, along with personal journal entries, using an orientation of Appreciative Inquiry and Constructivist Grounded Theory Methodology. Findings indicated that listening is highly complex, with internal and external factors influencing the caliber of dialogue. Findings also revealed how the fruit of authentic listening can be insightful for both the listener and the speaker. Participants voiced a desire for greater emphasis and more training to be placed on listening in communication programs and places of employment, including developing skills of self-awareness, learning to ask strong questions, and building confidence as a listener.