High school English was a good time.  There weren't many classes where someone could get a negative grade for handing something in.  Which is, a really great message to send to anyone.  "Hey, honestly.  Next time you have an essay, just don't do it.  You'll get a better grade."  I'm going to suggest English teachers start giving advice on life too instead of just grammar.  "Great sentence, really beautiful imagery, have you applied to McDonald's yet?"  Or how about, "This isn't really coherent and I'm unsure as to the main thrust of your argument.  Politics would be great for you."

I'll always remember that time in 9th grade English when a student politely raised their hand.((They didn't.  They just said shit.)) Then asked if they could, "Give a hint." Then, proceeded to hint away, "When answering questions, just say the question in your answer."  She was being helpful.  At the time I considered myself pretty adept at answering questions.  So what you ask?  So what I'm trying to say is that I don't think her hint was necessary for me, it just makes the person who does it seem like they don't really understand communication.  She probably turned into a big supporter of "active listening."

Active listening is when, instead of communicating in a way that humans do, you don't listen to what a person says.  You parrot back to them what they just said, and nod at appropriate intervals.  Because that's what science tells us is the best way to communicate.  "My husband is leaving me and I'm sad."--"So what you're saying is your husband is leaving you, and that makes you feel sad?"((Just wait for them to melt into your reassuring arms after a few insightful comments like that.))  It speaks highly of someone's intelligence when they say everything you just said before moving on in a conversation.  There's a difference between paying attention to what someone means and listening, and being very dumb.  Active listening takes that line out back and beats it to death.  Then it wears it around town as a hat to show everyone what it can do.

The problem with those things is that instead of teaching people do to well, it teaches people to look for tricks and loopholes to get them through the day.  Don't worry about why you're repeating what someone said and then responding.  Just do it, you'll be "better."