In this blog post, we will explore an essential social-emotional learning skill for students in special education: showing interest in conversations, even when the topic isn’t personally appealing. By practicing this skill, students can demonstrate empathy and help others feel heard and valued.

Introduction

Everyone has different interests and preferences, which is part of what makes us unique. In conversations, it’s essential to show that we’re listening and engaged, even if the topic isn’t of personal interest. Demonstrating active listening and interest in what others are saying helps build positive relationships, fosters empathy, and encourages open communication. In this post, we will discuss a no-prep activity to help students practice this skill, followed by discussion questions, related skills, and next steps.

No-Prep Activity: The Interest Switch

This simple, no-prep activity requires no materials or advanced preparation from the educator. It’s designed to help students practice showing interest in conversations, even when the subject matter doesn’t align with their personal preferences.

1. Divide students into pairs. If necessary, you can have one group of three.
2. Instruct each pair to take turns sharing a personal interest or hobby with their partner.
3. When one student is speaking, their partner should practice active listening skills such as maintaining eye contact, nodding, and offering verbal affirmations (e.g., “That sounds fun!”).
4. Encourage the listener to ask questions about the topic, even if it’s not something they personally enjoy. This will help demonstrate their interest in their partner’s experiences and feelings.
5. After a few minutes, have the pairs switch roles and repeat the process.
6. Once all pairs have had a chance to practice both roles, bring the group together for a discussion about their experiences and the importance of showing interest in conversations.

Discussion Questions

1. How did it feel to talk about something you’re interested in? How did your partner’s reaction make you feel?
2. How did it feel to listen to your partner talk about something that doesn’t interest you? What strategies did you use to show interest in their topic?
3. Why do you think it’s important to show interest in conversations, even if the topic isn’t personally appealing?
4. Can you think of a time when someone didn’t show interest in what you were saying? How did that make you feel?
5. What are some ways we can practice showing interest in conversations in our daily lives?

Related Skills

In addition to showing interest in conversations, there are several related social-emotional learning skills that students can benefit from practicing:

• Active listening: Paying close attention to the speaker, offering verbal and non-verbal feedback, and avoiding interrupting or dominating the conversation.
• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, even if their experiences are different from our own.
• Respect: Valuing others’ opinions and feelings, even if we don’t agree with them or share their interests.
• Communication: Effectively expressing thoughts and feelings, and understanding the perspectives of others.

Next Steps

To help your students develop their social-emotional learning skills further, consider signing up for free samples of Everyday Speech’s resources. These materials cover a wide range of topics, including showing interest in conversations and many other essential skills. To access these resources, please visit https://everydayspeech.com/sample-materials/.