But when it interferes with your ability to sustain concentration in class, well you know the problem. Perhaps a little understanding of why we can so easily go off on a mini mental vacation will help you turn your day dreaming time into productive time. Our brains, however, can process words at 400 to 800 wpm. This difference in speech speed and thought speed allows a huge amount of time for other brain activity such as day dreaming. We literally think between words.
Good students work to control what happens during their extra time differential.
Anticipate the speaker's point. Predict the direction of the talk. Mentally summarize what the speaker has been saying. With a little practice you will learn to refocus your attention quickly and sustain your ability to concentrate for a longer period of time. All of this adds up to listening effectively.