Showing up to class unprepared does not assist you in the listening process. If you are trying to figure out where you put your pen or what notebook you brought, you will ultimately be less focused on the lecture. Come to class with note taking materials ready and accessible. Ensure that you get a good night's rest and come to class energized rather than exhausted.
Students that sit up front in a classroom will be able to engage more with an instructor than those that sit toward the back. This is because the instructor engages, keeps eye contact and focuses on individuals sitting closest to her during the lecture.
Not everyone can remember everything that they hear. This is why it is essential that you learn how to take good notes. Use your notes to write down words to look up later, major points brought up in the lecture to further research and comments or evaluations on the information that was presented to you.
According to Southern Nazarene University, the average human thinks about 400 words per minute; which is faster than the average lecturer. Rather than allowing your mind to drift off to other things during a lecture, reiterate what the speaker is presenting or summarize the lecture to yourself over and over to prevent your mind from drifting elsewhere.
The biggest reason you choose to not retain information is because you tell yourself or think to yourself that the topic is boring. Rather than find the topic boring, even if it is, convince yourself that the topic is interesting.
Keeping your mind focused on a lecture can be difficult when you are thinking about your car payment, what you have to do after class or the boy sitting in front of you. Rather than allow your mind to wander, pull yourself completely into the classroom. Remain focused on the material being presented to you and keep your eyes in contact with the lecturer or your notepad at all times. Do not allow your eyes to focus on other items or people in the classroom while a lecture is being presented.