Introduction

Effective communication is a key component of social-emotional learning, and teaching students how to express interest in conversations is essential for building strong interpersonal relationships. In this blog post, we will explore an engaging no-prep activity that helps middle school students practice expressing interest through tone of voice, body language, and maintaining a conversation. We will also provide discussion questions and related skills to enhance the learning experience.

No-Prep Activity: Expressing Interest Role Play

This activity is designed to help students practice expressing interest in conversations without the need for any additional materials or preparation. The educator simply pairs students and assigns them a topic of conversation. One student will play the role of the speaker and the other will play the role of the listener.

1. Pair students and assign a conversation topic. Topics can be related to hobbies, interests, or current events.
2. Ask the listener to practice expressing interest using an excited tone of voice, maintaining eye contact, using appropriate body language, and asking follow-up questions.
3. After a few minutes, have the students switch roles and repeat the process with a new topic.
4. Once both students have had a chance to practice both roles, bring the class back together for a group discussion.

This activity encourages students to be mindful of their tone of voice, body language, and engagement in conversations, helping them develop strong communication skills.

Discussion Questions

After completing the activity, use these questions to facilitate a group discussion and deepen students’ understanding of expressing interest and effective communication:

• How did it feel to be the speaker when your partner was expressing interest? How did it feel when they were not expressing interest?
• What specific body language or tone of voice changes did you notice in your partner when they were expressing interest?
• Why is it important to express interest in conversations with others? How does it impact our relationships and communication?
• Can you think of a situation where you struggled to express interest? How could you apply what you learned today to that situation?

Related Skills

Beyond expressing interest, there are many other social-emotional learning skills that can help middle school students improve their communication abilities:

• Active listening: Focusing on the speaker and providing feedback by nodding, summarizing, or rephrasing what they said to ensure understanding.
• Empathy: Developing the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, creating a deeper connection in conversations.
• Conflict resolution: Learning to navigate disagreements and finding mutually beneficial solutions in a respectful manner.
• Assertiveness: Expressing one’s thoughts, feelings, and needs in a clear and respectful way, without being aggressive or passive.

Next Steps

Now that you have an engaging no-prep activity to teach middle school students how to express interest and improve their communication skills, it’s time to explore additional resources. We encourage you to sign up for free samples of social-emotional learning materials, including activities, videos, and lesson plans, to help your students develop essential life skills. Happy teaching!