What is the difference between hearing and listening?

Answer 1

I hear birds chirping, a dog barking, and the geese honking. I don't pay attention and don't remember.

I listen to what people say, and I listen to music. I pay attention when I listen and remember.

Answer 2

Boiled down, in every communication, there is a sender, a message and a receiver. Listening is an active thing. Hearing is passive. I just heard my air-conditioner click on while I was typing this. Had it not been on and I got up to lower the thermostat, I might listen to see if it would go on.