Distractions often stand in the way of effectively listening to another person, whether in a one-on-one conversation or in a lecture hall. To be an effective listener, you should learn to eliminate both external and internal distractions.
Eliminate external distractions by sitting away from doors and windows through which you may hear outside noise and putting away electronics, such as phones or laptops. Also, avoid sitting near distracting students, such as those who talk during the lecture.
Internal distractions may be harder to eliminate, because you may not be aware of them. These are distractions in your mind, such as an argument you had with your significant other. Clear your mind as best you can and focus on what's in front of you; you can deal with arguments, weekend plans and other internal distractions after class.
One of the best listening skills for a college student is the ability to think critically about the information he receives. To think critically about information, you must listen to it and absorb it into your mind. Write down critical thinking questions you can think of during a lecture or interview. These might be notes about things you don't understand ("Why did object A move toward object B?"), points for clarification ("Did you mean that ...") or even points of contention ("I disagree with the assessment that ...").
When you are able to pick out pieces of information and reflect critically on them, your brain has effectively listened to and processed the information.
One of the most effective listening skills, especially regarding lectures, is the ability to listen for cues. When speakers present information, they present both verbal and nonverbal cues indicating important information. Some of these are more obvious, such as "To recap ..." or "Most important ...." However, there are more subtle indications, such as the volume of the presenter's voice (it will tend to go up when something is important) or her tone (emphasis on important words).