Let's Talk Together Script

Introduction

"Good morning everyone! Today, we’re going to learn how to have great conversations where everyone gets a chance to speak and listen. This is called reciprocal communication."

"Reciprocal communication means that both people in a conversation share ideas, listen carefully, and respond kindly. It helps us understand each other better and build strong friendships."

Explaining the Concept

"Let’s start by thinking about what happens when we have a chat with a friend. I might say something, and then you reply. This back-and-forth is what makes a conversation fun and interesting."

"For example, if I say, 'I love drawing pictures,' you might say, 'That sounds wonderful! What do you like to draw the most?' Notice how we both share and listen. That’s reciprocal communication!"

Modeling a Conversation

"Now, I'm going to model a short conversation with a pretend friend. Listen closely to how I speak and respond."

(Teacher models a conversation, adjusting tone and pace, ensuring clear enunciation and encouraging expressions.)

Teacher: "Hi there! How are you today?"

Teacher (as Friend): "I’m doing great, thank you! I enjoyed reading a new story."

Teacher: "That sounds exciting! What was the story about?"

Teacher (as Friend): "It was about a brave knight who explored a magical forest."

Teacher: "Wow, that sounds like a wonderful adventure. I love stories about magical places!"

"Did you notice how both speakers took turns and asked questions? That’s exactly how we want our conversations to work!"

Guided Practice

"Now, it's your turn! I want you to turn to your partner. One of you will start by sharing something special about your day, and the other will listen and ask a follow-up question. Remember to wait for your turn and speak clearly."

"Try to use phrases like 'That sounds interesting!' or 'Can you tell me more about…?' These phrases help the conversation flow."

(Provide time for students to practice. Walk around the room, offer guidance, and encourage positive interactions.)

Reflection & Feedback

"Great job, everyone! Let’s pause and share how it felt to practice talking and listening. Who would like to share one thing they enjoyed about our conversation activity?"

(Allow for a few student responses, validate their inputs, and ask additional follow-up questions as necessary.)

"Remember, practicing these skills helps us become better friends and makes our conversations more fun and engaging. Keep the ideas of sharing, listening, and asking questions in mind, not only here in class but also when you're chatting with family and friends."

Conclusion

"Before we finish, I want to remind you that every time you converse, you are using and building these communication skills. I’m proud of how everyone participated today."

"If you have any questions or if something isn’t clear, feel free to ask at any time. Let’s keep practicing, and I’ll see you in our next session where we’ll explore more fun activities to strengthen our communication even further!"

"Thank you for being such excellent listeners and speakers today. See you next time!"

Let's Talk Together Activity

Overview

In this activity, students will work in pairs to practice reciprocal communication. They will take turns sharing personal stories or ideas, while their partners listen carefully and ask follow-up questions. This helps everyone practice both speaking and listening skills, integral to effective communication.

Instructions

1. Pair Up:

   • Find a partner and sit facing each other in a quiet, comfortable area.

2. Round 1: Sharing Time

   • Student A starts by telling a short story or sharing an idea about something interesting that happened (e.g., a favorite hobby, a recent adventure, or something they enjoy doing).
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Student B listens carefully and then asks one follow-up question to learn more about the story. Use phrases like "That sounds interesting! Can you tell me more about...?"
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Switch roles: Now Student B shares, and Student A listens and asks a follow-up question.

3. Round 2: Scenario Practice

   • The teacher will provide a scenario or prompt that both students can relate to. For example:
     • "Imagine you're planning a fun day at the park. One of you must describe the plans, and the other asks questions about details like what activities will be there, what you need to bring, or what makes the day special."
   • Follow the same turn-taking process as in Round 1.

4. Discussion:

   • After finishing these rounds, each pair will discuss how it felt to share and listen actively. What was easy? What was challenging?

Reflection Questions

• How did it feel when your partner asked a follow-up question?
• What did you learn about your partner's interests or ideas that you hadn't known before?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How can you use these communication skills outside the classroom?

Teacher Tips

• Walk around the room to provide support and encourage positive interactions.
• Remind students to maintain eye contact and use positive body language.
• If a student seems hesitant, help by suggesting a follow-up question they might ask.
• Praise students for both sharing and listening efforts.

Enjoy the activity and remember: Effective communication is about both speaking and listening!

Let's keep practicing and having fun together!

Let's Talk Together Game

Overview

In this game, students will have fun practicing reciprocal communication in a dynamic, fast-paced setting. The game is designed to encourage quick thinking, active listening, and thoughtful responses, reinforcing the skills learned throughout the three sessions.

Game Setup

1. Group Formation:

   • Divide the class into small groups (ideally 4-6 students per group).
   • Each group should have a designated 'Moderator' for each round (rotated each round).

2. Materials Needed:

   • A timer or stopwatch.
   • Cards or slips of paper with conversation prompts (optional, can be verbal as well).

Game Rules

Round 1: Quick Exchange

• The moderator starts by giving a conversational prompt, such as: "Tell us about your favorite hobby," or "Describe a fun day you had recently."
• The student to the left of the moderator begins by answering the prompt. They have 30 seconds to share their story or idea.
• After the answer, the next student must ask a thoughtful follow-up question related to the prompt within 10 seconds. For example, "What made that hobby fun for you?"
• The student who answered then has 20 seconds to reply to the follow-up question.
• The moderator ensures that everyone in the group gets a turn during each round.

Round 2: Communication Challenge

• In this round, a new prompt is given, and the challenge is to build on the previous speaker's statement.
• The first student starts by saying one sentence related to the prompt (for example: "I love playing outside," when the prompt is about outdoor activities).
• Then, the next student must add to the story or idea with a new sentence that also includes a follow-up question related to what the previous student said.
• This process continues until every student has contributed. Keep the flow quick - no student should take longer than 10 seconds per turn.

Scoring (Optional)

• Teachers can choose to use a scoring system to make the game competitive. Points can be awarded based on:
  • Relevance of the response (1-5 points).
  • Clarity of the follow-up question (1-5 points).
  • Overall participation (1-3 points per round).
• Emphasize that the focus is on friendly practice rather than strict scoring.

Teacher Tips for Facilitating the Game

• Rotate the role of moderator so each student has a chance to guide the conversation.
• Keep the atmosphere light, ensuring that all contributions are validated.
• Offer gentle reminders if a student takes longer than the allotted time to keep the game moving.
• Encourage creativity and genuine curiosity with every exchange.

Reflection

After the game, gather the students together for a debrief session. Ask questions such as:

• Which prompt was the most interesting to discuss and why?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How did it feel to both share and ask questions quickly?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What strategies helped you think of a good follow-up question on the fly?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• How can you use these skills in everyday conversations with friends or family?

Encourage open discussion and acknowledge the effort everyone made in practicing reciprocal communication.

Enjoy the game and keep the conversation flowing!