Teacher Conversation Script

This script provides word-for-word language for selected key sessions. Teachers can adapt this format for other lessons.

Session 1: Icebreaker & Goal Setting

Teacher: "Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome to our first Conversation Champs session. Today, we're going to get to know each other and set our group goals. Let's start with a quick icebreaker called 'Two Truths and a Lie.'

1. "First, I’ll model with you: My first statement is 'I have a pet turtle.' My second is 'I can juggle three balls.' My third is 'I hate chocolate.' Guess which one is the lie!"
2. (Pause for guesses, reveal.)
3. "Now, I want you to turn to a partner. Share your three statements. I’ll give you two minutes each, then we’ll come back as a group and share one interesting fact you learned. Ready?"

Teacher (after 5 minutes): "Wow—great job! Who wants to share something fun they learned about their partner?"

(Collect 2–3 responses.)

Teacher: "Fantastic! Finally, let's set our group goal for these 40 sessions. On your worksheet, write down one thing you hope to learn or improve in our conversations. I'll give you one minute."

Session 3: Active Listening & Eye Contact

Teacher: "Hi, Conversation Champs! Today’s objective is to learn how to show our conversation partners we’re listening—using eye contact, nodding, and body language. First, why do you think eye contact matters?"

(Wait for student ideas.)

Teacher: "Yes! It shows respect and interest. Watch me: I’ll turn to Sam and ask a question while making eye contact. Sam, tell me about your favorite movie."

Teacher (to Sam): "What’s your favorite movie and why do you like it?"

(Sam responds as teacher models active listening: nodding, leaning in.)

Teacher: "Did you notice how I kept my eyes on Sam and nodded? Now, turn to your partner. Ask: 'What’s one thing that made you smile this week?' Then practice nodding and keeping eye contact. You have two minutes."

Session 7: Open-Ended Questions

Teacher: "Welcome back! Today we learn about open-ended questions—questions that can’t be answered with just 'yes' or 'no.' Why might open-ended questions keep a conversation going?"

(Collect answers.)

Teacher: "Exactly—they invite details! Here’s an example: Instead of asking 'Did you have fun this weekend?' try 'What was the most fun part of your weekend, and why?'"

Teacher: "Now, I’ll hand out some Role-Play Cards. In pairs, take turns asking each other the open-ended questions on your cards. After four minutes, we’ll debrief on which questions got the best responses. Begin now!"

Session 12: Expanding Responses

Teacher: "Hello, champs! Our goal today is to add more detail when we answer. Details make a conversation richer. For example, instead of 'I like basketball,' you could say, 'I like basketball because shooting three-pointers gives me a thrill and I enjoy playing with my friends on weekends.' That’s three details: shooting three-pointers, it’s thrilling, playing with friends."

Teacher: "Pair up. I’ll give you a simple statement: 'I enjoy art.' Your job is to expand it with three details. On my signal, share your expanded sentence. Ready—go!"

(After two minutes.)

Teacher: "Who would like to share their expanded response?"

(Collect 2–3 responses.)

Teacher: "Great work! Details help your partner ask better follow-up questions. Keep that in mind as we move on next time."

Session 17: Talking Token Game

Teacher: "Today we play the 'Talking Token' game to practice fair turn-taking. This token can only be held by the current speaker. When you have it, you speak; when you finish, you pass it."

Teacher: "I’ll demo: I hold this token and ask Maria, 'What hobby would you recommend trying, and why?' After Maria answers, she’ll pass the token back, and I’ll respond. Notice how the token keeps us from interrupting."

Teacher: "Now, in your groups of four, start your game. Group A, your topic is 'favorite foods.' Group B, you choose from your prompt cards. You have five minutes. Go!"

Session 27: Empathy & Emotion Checks

Teacher: "This week, we focus on empathy—putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes. When someone shares feelings, we can ask emotion-check questions like, 'How did that make you feel?' and 'What do you wish had happened instead?'"

Teacher: "I’ll model: Jenna, you tell me about a time you felt proud. Jenna: 'I felt proud when I finished my first science project.' Teacher: 'That’s awesome! How did it feel to see your work displayed?'"

Teacher: "In pairs, one partner shares a recent proud moment. The other asks two emotion-check questions. Then switch roles. You have three minutes each. Begin now."

Session 34: Digital Conversation Practice

Teacher: "Conversations online use the same skills, but we rely on tone and clarity in writing. Today, you’ll practice a chat scenario: inviting a friend to your birthday party over text."

Teacher: "Here’s an example: 'Hey Maya! I’m turning 14 next Saturday and I’d love for you to come to my party at 3 pm. We’ll have pizza and games—can you make it?' Notice the friendly greeting, clear details, and a question at the end."

Teacher: "Now, in pairs, open your chat template and write your invitation. After two minutes, I’ll call pairs to read aloud and we’ll give positive feedback. Start writing!"

Session 40: Celebration & Certificates

Teacher: "We’ve made it to our final session! I’m so proud of how much you’ve grown as Conversation Champs. First, I’ll hand out these certificates to recognize your hard work. (Distribute certificates.)"

Teacher: "Next, we’ll play our Relay Game one more time to celebrate. Remember the rules: pass the token, answer the prompt, and keep the conversation flowing! Let’s get in our game groups. You have eight minutes. Ready? Go!"

(After game.)

Teacher: "Give yourselves a round of applause! You’ve developed skills that will help you in class, with friends, and beyond. Thank you for your energy and participation. Keep conversing and stay confident!"

Conversation Starter Worksheet

Section 1: Icebreaker – Two Truths and a Lie

1. Write your three statements (two truths, one lie):
   1. _______________________________
      
      
   2. _______________________________
      
      
   3. _______________________________
      
      
2. Turn to a partner and exchange your statements. Write your partner’s statements here:
   1. _______________________________
      
      
   2. _______________________________
      
      
   3. _______________________________
      
      
3. Which one was the lie? _______________________________
   
   
   

Section 2: Reflection Journal

1. Today I practiced: _______________________________
   
   
   
2. Something I did well: _______________________________
   
   
   
3. Something I want to improve: _______________________________
   
   
   
4. My next conversation goal: _______________________________
   
   
   

Section 3: Topic Mapping

1. In the center, write “My Interests”: _______________________________
   
   
2. List three topics connected to your interest:
   • Topic 1: _______________________________
   
   
   • Topic 2: _______________________________
   
   
   • Topic 3: _______________________________
   
   
3. For each topic, write two open-ended follow-up questions:
   Topic 1 Questions:
   a. _______________________________
   
   
   b. _______________________________
   
   
   Topic 2 Questions:
   a. _______________________________
   
   
   b. _______________________________
   
   
   Topic 3 Questions:
   a. _______________________________
   
   
   b. _______________________________
   
   
   

Section 4: Conversation Practice

Partner’s Name: ____________________

1. Write an open-ended question to start a conversation:
   _______________________________
   
   
   
2. Record your partner’s response:
   _______________________________
   
   
   
3. Write two follow-up questions you could ask:
   1. _______________________________
      
      
      
   2. _______________________________
      
      
      
4. Reflection – How did asking follow-up questions help keep the conversation going?
   _______________________________
   
   
   

Feel free to use this sheet during icebreakers, partner interviews, or journal time to build strong conversation skills!

Discussion Prompt Cards

Use these cards to spark conversation in small or large groups. Each student or group can draw a card and discuss the prompt.

1. What’s a hobby you wish you had more time for, and why?
   
   
   
2. Describe a movie you recently watched and what you liked about it.
   
   
   
3. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
   
   
   
4. What is your favorite way to spend a weekend day?
   
   
   
5. Share a book you’ve read and one thing you learned from it.
   
   
   
6. What’s a skill you’d like to learn and how would you start?
   
   
   
7. Describe a time you helped someone. How did it feel?
   
   
   
8. What’s your favorite food, and what makes it special?
   
   
   
9. If you could meet one famous person, who would it be?
   
   
   
10. What’s a challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?
    
    
    
11. Describe your dream job and what you’d do there.
    
    
    
12. What’s one thing that made you smile this week?
    
    
    
13. Share a favorite childhood memory.
    
    
    
14. If you had a time machine, which era would you visit?
    
    
    
15. What’s your go-to song when you need an energy boost?
    
    
    
16. Describe a goal you have for this year.
    
    
    
17. What’s your favorite way to relax after school?
    
    
    
18. If you could invent something, what would it be?
    
    
    
19. Who is someone you admire and why?
    
    
    
20. Share an interesting fact you recently learned.
    
    
    
21. What’s your favorite season and what do you enjoy about it?
    
    
    
22. Describe a game or sport you enjoy playing.
    
    
    
23. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?
    
    
    
24. What’s a tradition your family has?

1. If you could learn a new language, which one would you choose?
   
   
   
2. Share one thing you’re grateful for today.
   
   
   
3. What’s your favorite app or website, and why?
   
   
   
4. Describe a time you felt proud of yourself.
   
   
   
5. If you had unlimited free time, what would you do?
   
   
   
6. What’s a topic you could talk about for hours?
   
   
   
7. Describe a place in your town that you like to visit.
   
   
   
8. If you could swap places with someone for a day, who would it be?
   
   
   
9. Share a favorite family recipe or meal.
   
   
   
10. What’s a fun fact about your culture or background?
    
    
    
11. Describe a recent accomplishment at school.
    
    
    
12. If you could change one rule at school, what would it be?
    
    
    
13. What’s your favorite outdoor activity?
    
    
    
14. Share a time when you tried something new.
    
    
    
15. What’s an ideal way to spend a rainy day?
    
    
    
16. If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Role-Play Activity Cards

Use these scenario cards to practice conversational skills in pairs. Shuffle and draw one card per pair. Act out the situation, focusing on topic introduction, follow-up questions, and turn-taking.

1. You bump into a new student in the hallway. Introduce yourself and ask about their hobbies.
2. You and a classmate are assigned to work on a science project. Start the conversation by picking a topic you both enjoy.
3. You see a friend looking upset. Ask how they’re feeling and practice an empathy question.
4. You want to invite someone to join your after-school club. Explain what the club does and ask if they’d like to join.
5. You and a peer just watched a movie for class. Share your thoughts and ask a follow-up question about their favorite scene.
6. You’re at a school fair and meet someone at the same booth. Ask what they like about this activity and keep the dialogue going.
7. You need to ask a teacher for clarification on homework. Model respectful opening and ask your questions.
8. You and a partner are comparing favorite books. Begin by stating your choice and ask an open-ended question about theirs.
9. You notice your classmate has a new backpack. Ask about it and use follow-up prompts to learn more.
10. You’re planning a weekend outing with a friend. Suggest options and take turns deciding on an activity.
11. You see a peer listening to music. Ask about their favorite song and practice summarizing their response.
12. You want to practice turn-taking. Use a pretend ‘talking token’ and discuss your weekend plans one sentence at a time.
13. You overhear someone talking about sports. Join politely and ask two follow-up questions to maintain the dialogue.
14. You’re role-playing a job interview for a part-time school position. Ask and answer common interview questions.
15. You need help studying for a test. Ask a classmate for their study tips and practice active listening cues.
16. You’re creating a holiday card. Interview your partner about their favorite holiday traditions.
17. You’re in a debate club. Start the discussion on a current event and practice smooth transitions between points.
18. You see someone using a new app on their phone. Ask about it and practice clarifying questions when you don’t understand.
19. You and a friend are planning a surprise birthday. Discuss ideas and reflect back what your partner suggests.
20. You’re practicing digital etiquette. Text your partner an invitation and then role-play reading it aloud, focusing on tone and clarity.

Conversation Relay Game

Overview

A fast-paced relay activity where small teams practice shifting topics smoothly and taking turns speaking. Ideal for reinforcing topic identification, follow-up questions, and respectful turn-taking.

Materials

• A “Talking Token” (any small object)
• Discussion Prompt Cards
• Timer or stopwatch
• Whiteboard or chart paper for scorekeeping

Setup (5 minutes)

1. Divide students into teams of 4–5.
2. Give each team one Talking Token.
3. Place a shuffled deck of Discussion Prompt Cards face down at each team’s station.
4. Assign one recorder per team to track turns and points.

Rules & Procedure (20 minutes)

1. On “Go,” Team A draws a prompt card and the first student holds the Talking Token and reads the prompt aloud.
2. That student shares a 15-second response, then passes the token to the next teammate.
3. The next student must ask an on-topic follow-up question or smoothly transition to a related subtopic, then pass the token again after responding.
4. Continue around the team until each member has spoken at least once.
5. When the token returns to the team’s starting player, the team draws a new prompt and repeats.
6. Rotate through as many prompts as time allows.

Scoring

• +2 points for each clear, on-topic follow-up question.
• +1 point per successful topic transition that links to the previous idea.
• -1 point if a student interrupts or speaks out of turn.
• Teams tally points after each card; record on the whiteboard.

Debrief & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Have each team share their highest-scoring prompt and explain the follow-up or transition that earned points.
• Discuss strategies that helped maintain flow and fairness.
• Record one group takeaway on chart paper: e.g., “Link new ideas by asking ‘How did that make you feel?’”

Variations

• Speed Round: Give only 10 seconds per turn (great for advanced groups).
• Silent Cues: Allow nonverbal turn cues (nods, hand signals) instead of the token.
• Digital Version: Teams type responses in a shared doc, practicing written tone and rapid topic shifts.

Use this game at the end of sessions to celebrate progress or as a quick warm-up to focus on specific skills.

The rubric has been created with clear criteria, performance descriptors, and a 4-point scoring scale for consistent, objective assessment of student conversation skills. You can now integrate it into your materials for peer-, self-, and teacher-led evaluations.