Introduction

Starting a conversation is an essential social skill that high school students need to develop in order to build lasting relationships, engage in meaningful discussions, and navigate various social situations. By teaching students the steps involved in starting a conversation, we can equip them with the tools they need to foster connections, express their thoughts, and understand others. This blog post will explore an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity that educators can use to help students practice initiating conversations, along with discussion questions and related skills to further enhance their social-emotional learning.

No-Prep Activity: The Conversation Relay

This activity requires no preparation or materials and can be conducted during a regular class session. The Conversation Relay is designed to give students a chance to practice initiating conversations with their peers in a structured, supportive environment.

1. Have students form two lines facing each other.
2. Explain the steps to start a conversation (as outlined in the prompt): plan a topic, greet the person, make a comment or ask a question, watch for interested clues, and either end or continue the conversation.
3. Ask the students to practice initiating conversations with the person directly across from them. Give them a few minutes to engage in a short conversation.
4. After a few minutes, have the students in one line move down one position, so that each student is now paired with a new partner.
5. Repeat the process, allowing students to practice starting conversations with various partners.

Throughout the activity, encourage students to be mindful of their conversation partner’s body language and verbal cues, as these are important indicators of interest and engagement.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Conversation Relay activity, use the following questions to stimulate further discussions and help students reflect on their experiences:

1. How did it feel to initiate conversations with different people? Were there any challenges you faced?
2. What strategies did you use to plan a topic or decide on small talk for each conversation?
3. How did you determine if your conversation partner was interested in continuing the conversation? What cues did you look for?
4. Can you think of a situation outside of the classroom where you might need to start a conversation with someone? How would you approach it?
5. What other social skills do you think are important to develop in order to have successful conversations?

Related Skills

In addition to initiating conversations, there are several other social skills that high school students can benefit from developing. Some of these related skills include:

• Active listening: Paying close attention to what the other person is saying and responding appropriately.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, which can help create more meaningful connections during conversations.
• Nonverbal communication: Interpreting and using body language, facial expressions, and gestures effectively.
• Conflict resolution: Navigating disagreements or misunderstandings during conversations in a respectful and constructive manner.
• Assertiveness: Expressing thoughts and feelings in a clear, confident, and respectful way.

Next Steps

Teaching high school students the art of starting conversations is an important component of their social-emotional learning journey. To further enhance your students’ skills and explore additional resources, sign up for free samples of related skill-building materials at Everyday Speech. By incorporating these valuable resources into your curriculum, you can help your students develop the skills they need to thrive in their social lives and beyond.