{
  "id": 9092921,
  "title": "Have we really been listening? — Wan Afiqah Anis Wan Ahmad",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/have-we-really-been-listening-wan-afiqah-anis-wan-ahmad",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T05:41:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/what-you-think/2026/09/22/have-we-really-been-listening-wan-afiqah-anis-wan-ahmad/236085"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On September 22, English lecturer Wan Afiqah Anis Wan Ahmad received an unexpected birthday gift from her students: singing and bouquets. The flowers caught her attention the most, as she had always placed emphasis on listening in her lectures, believing that it was essential for student success. She pondered whether she had truly noticed how much her students were listening not just to the subject, but to her as their teacher.\n\nWhile grading and teaching are her primary responsibilities, the students' gesture reminded her that empathy and acknowledgment are equally important. She realized that often, we evaluate attention based on what can be seen in a classroom, such as a student looking up or answering first. However, the real measure of attention is how someone makes another person feel valued.\n\nThe author reflects on the importance of listening beyond just accuracy, which is typically measured by grades and transcripts. She believes that true listening involves remembering and acting upon what makes someone happy, even if it may seem trivial or insignificant. In this case, the students had worked out that a bouquet would make their lecturer happy, demonstrating that they had picked up on her preferences and preferences for small gestures of kindness.\n\nWhile the author acknowledges that the students' gift may not have been intended to address every aspect of her teaching, she felt appreciated and seen as an individual, rather than just a student. This experience made her question whether she had been attentive enough to her students' individual needs and emotions, not just their academic performance. Ultimately, the author emphasizes that the small, thoughtful gestures we receive from others can carry just as much weight as more substantial displays of affection.",
  "summary": "SEPTEMBER 22 — I spend much of my working life telling students to listen.Listen to the instructions. Listen for t...",
  "key_points": [
    "Wan Afiqah Anis Wan Ahmad received singing and bouquets from students on her birthday.",
    "Students noticed she emphasized listening in lectures, questioning if she truly listened.",
    "True listening involves remembering and acting on what makes someone feel valued."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The author's reflection on her students' thoughtful gift reveals that truly listening involves acknowledging and valuing individuals beyond just their academic performance, a crucial but often overlooked aspect of teaching.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}