The ability to actively listen is important in university, personal, and professional life. Active listening involves more than just hearing - it includes understanding, analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating what you hear. While recorded listening can be helpful, live listening is crucial for improving thinking skills. It's not just about listening to teachers; you should also listen to colleagues and even those who aren't speaking. Obstacles to active listening include distractions and lack of focus. However, not all listening needs to be active; empathetic listening is important in relationships.