In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of teaching high school students to choose conversation topics based on their audience. This skill is essential for developing strong social-emotional relationships and effective communication. We will provide a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to help educators teach this valuable skill.

Introduction

Conversations are a fundamental aspect of our daily lives. The topics we choose to discuss can greatly impact our relationships and the way others perceive us. It’s essential for high school students to learn how to consider their audience when selecting a conversation topic. By doing so, they can build stronger connections, avoid misunderstandings, and develop better social-emotional skills.

No-Prep Activity

This no-prep activity helps students practice choosing conversation topics based on their audience. The activity requires no additional materials or preparation from the educator.

1. Divide the class into pairs.
2. Ask each pair to take turns playing the roles of the “Speaker” and the “Audience.”
3. The “Speaker” should choose a conversation topic based on what they know about the “Audience.”
4. After a few minutes of conversation, have the pairs switch roles.
5. After both students have had a chance to be the “Speaker” and the “Audience,” have a group discussion about the experience and the importance of considering the audience when choosing a conversation topic.

Discussion Questions

1. How did it feel to choose a conversation topic based on what you knew about your partner? Did you find it challenging or easy?
2. How did the conversations change when you considered the interests of the other person? Did you notice any differences in the way you both engaged in the conversation?
3. Can you think of a time when someone chose a conversation topic that didn’t interest you? How did it make you feel?
4. Why is it important to consider the other person’s interests and background when choosing a conversation topic?
5. How can considering the audience help improve our social-emotional skills and relationships?

Related Skills

Teaching students to choose conversation topics based on their audience is just one aspect of developing strong social-emotional skills. Other related skills include:

• Active listening
• Empathy and understanding
• Respect for others’ opinions and perspectives
• Effective communication
• Building and maintaining relationships

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about the importance of choosing conversation topics based on the audience, we encourage you to explore more social-emotional learning resources. To get started, sign up for free sample materials from Everyday Speech, which offers a variety of resources to help educators teach essential social-emotional skills to their students.