Conversation Skills Worksheet

Audience: High School Special Education Life Skills Class

Part 1: Definitions (In your own words)

Write each definition as it applies to real-world situations (school, work, community).

1. Active Listening:
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Open-Ended Questions:
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Empathy:
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Identify the Skill

For each statement below, write AL for Active Listening, OE for Open-Ended Question, or EM for Empathy.

1. “I hear that you found the new job training challenging.” (___)
2. “How did you decide which college fair sessions to attend?” (___)
3. Maintaining eye contact and nodding while someone explains their weekend plans. (___)
4. “What made you choose that café order today?” (___)
5. “It sounds like moving to a new school felt overwhelming.” (___)

Part 3: Practice Writing

Write an open-ended question you could ask in each situation below:

• You need extra help with a class assignment. You ask your teacher:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• You’re ordering lunch at a café and want to learn more about the specials. You ask the barista:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• You start a part-time job and want feedback. You ask your supervisor:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Part 4: Reflection

Think of a recent conversation where you used one of these skills. Describe:

1. The situation (who you spoke with and where)
   
2. The skill you used (AL, OE, or EM)
   
3. How it improved the conversation
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 5: Personal Action Plan

List two strategies you will use this week to strengthen your conversation skills in school or community settings.

1. Strategy One:
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Strategy Two:
   
   
   
   
   
   

Use this worksheet alongside our Role-Play Scenario Cards and Reflection Journal Template to practice and record your progress.

Role-Play Scenario Cards

Use these cards in pairs to practice Active Listening, Open-Ended Questions, and Empathy in real-life high-school contexts. Each pair selects two cards and spends 5 minutes on each scenario, swapping roles halfway through.

1. Teacher Help Request
   Your partner wants guidance on a tough assignment. Ask what part they find challenging and how they’d like support.
   
   
   
   

2. Part-Time Job Planning
   Your partner just started a part-time job. Ask about their training, daily tasks, and how they’re balancing work and school.
   
   
   
   

3. Ordering at the Café
   You’re at a school café. Ask the barista about today’s specials and why they recommend them.
   
   
   
   

4. College Fair Interests
   Your partner attended a college fair. Ask which sessions caught their attention and what steps they’ll take next.
   
   
   
   

5. Group Project Coordination
   You need to plan a group presentation. Ask your partner for ideas on roles, research topics, and timeline.
   
   
   
   

6. Conflict Resolution
   Your partner had a disagreement with a classmate. Ask how it happened and what they could do to resolve it positively.
   
   
   
   

7. Budgeting for a Trip
   Your partner is saving for a school trip. Ask how they plan to budget their money and what expenses they anticipate.
   
   
   
   

8. Community Service Reflections
   Your partner volunteered at a local event. Ask what they did, how it felt, and what impact they saw.
   
   
   
   

Instructions:

• Partner A starts as the “Speaker” and shares while Partner B listens.
• Partner B uses Active Listening and Empathy, then asks at least two Open-Ended Questions.
• After 2½ minutes, switch roles and continue.
• Repeat with a second card.

Reflection Journal

Name: __________________________ Date: __________________________

Part 1: Self-Assessment

1. One strength I showed in today’s conversation practice was (e.g., I asked clear questions when talking to my teacher):
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. One area I want to improve is (e.g., listening without interrupting a classmate):
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Skill in Action

3. Describe a time today when you used Active Listening, Open-Ended Questions, or Empathy. For example: “When my supervisor explained my tasks, I reflected back their instructions (Active Listening) and asked, ‘What should I focus on first?’ (Open-Ended).” Which skill did you use and how did it help?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Application Goal

4. This week, I will apply what I learned by (be specific about when, where, and with whom, e.g., asking a peer “How did you prepare for the math test?”):
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 4: Tips for Others

5. Write a short message to a friend giving them two tips on how to be a better conversational partner based on today’s lesson (e.g., “Tip 1: Ask open-ended questions like ‘What inspired you?’”):
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Use this journal with our Conversation Skills Worksheet and Role-Play Scenario Cards to track your growth.

Simple Conversation Worksheet

Audience: High School Special Education Life Skills (Lower-Functioning)

Part 1: Match Words to Pictures

Look at each picture from Simple Conversation Picture Cards. Write the right word under each picture.

Ear: _______

Question Mark: _______

Heart: _______

Part 2: Fill in the Blanks

Use your words: listen, ask, care

When my friend talks, I ____________.

I ask, “___________?”

To show I care, I say, “___________.”

Part 3: My Plan

This week, I will practice my conversation skills.

I will _________________.

Use this worksheet with our Role-Play Scenario Cards and Reflection Journal Template.

Simple Conversation Picture Cards

Audience: High School Special Education Life Skills (Lower-Functioning)

Print and cut out each card. Each shows one simple symbol and its meaning:

Ear
📌 Picture: An ear symbol
Word: listen

Question Mark
📌 Picture: A question mark symbol
Word: ask

Heart
📌 Picture: A heart symbol
Word: care

How to use:

• Show one card at a time to prompt the skill.
• Learners say the word, make the gesture, and practice the corresponding action.
• Use these cards during Warm-Up, Practice, and Reflection activities.