Introduction

Conversations are an essential part of everyday life, and engaging in meaningful conversations is a crucial skill for high school students to develop. In this blog post, we will discuss how to teach students to drive or keep a conversation going by asking questions, making comments, and shifting to new topics. These skills not only help students have an active role in conversations but also enhance their listening and observation abilities. By developing these skills, students can build stronger connections with their peers and foster a positive social environment.

No-Prep Activity

Here is a simple, no-prep activity that educators can use to help students practice driving conversations forward:

Role-Play Scenarios

1. Divide students into pairs.
2. Provide each pair with a conversation starter (e.g., “Have you seen the latest movie?”).
3. Have the students take turns to practice the three conversation-driving techniques (asking questions, making comments, and shifting topics) in a role-play scenario.
4. After a few minutes, ask the students to switch roles and repeat the process with a new conversation starter.
5. Once all pairs have completed the activity, gather everyone together to share their experiences and discuss the strategies they used to drive the conversation forward.

This activity allows students to practice their conversation skills in a safe and structured environment, making it an effective way to reinforce their learning.

Discussion Questions

Here are some discussion questions to spark further conversations about driving conversations forward:

1. Why is it important to have an active role in conversations, and how can it positively impact our relationships with others?
2. What challenges might you face when trying to drive a conversation forward, and how can you overcome them?
3. How can we become better listeners and observers in conversations to know when and how to drive them forward?
4. What are some strategies you can use to shift to a new topic when the current topic has run its course?
5. How can we practice driving conversations forward in our everyday lives?

Related Skills

As students develop their conversation-driving skills, it’s essential to consider other related skills that can enhance their social-emotional learning. Some of these skills include:

• Active listening: Focusing on the speaker, understanding their message, and providing feedback.
• Nonverbal communication: Understanding body language, facial expressions, and gestures to improve conversations.
• Empathy: Putting oneself in another person’s shoes and understanding their feelings and perspectives.
• Conflict resolution: Using effective communication strategies to resolve disagreements and maintain healthy relationships.

Next Steps

Teaching students to drive conversations forward by asking questions, making comments, and shifting topics is an essential skill for fostering healthy social interactions. Encourage your students to practice these skills in their daily lives to build stronger connections with their peers and create a positive social environment.

To access free sample materials on these skills and others, sign up at Everyday Speech. These resources are designed to help educators effectively teach social-emotional learning skills and support students in their personal and academic growth.