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Navigating Difficult Conversations

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Lesson Plan

Difficult Conversations Lesson Plan

Equip the student with strategies for conflict resolution through improved active listening, empathy, and assertive communication to navigate tough conversations confidently.

Difficult conversations can be anxiety-provoking; this lesson supports personalized practice to build confidence and develop effective communication techniques for sensitive topics.

Audience

11th Grade Student

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Step-by-step guided practice with discussion, role-play, and reflection.

Materials

Difficult Conversations Lesson Plan, Navigating Conversations Slides, and Conversation Scripts

Prep

Preparation and Material Review

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Grounding

10 minutes

  • Welcome the student and outline the session objectives.
  • Discuss the importance of handling difficult conversations effectively.
  • Set ground rules for respectful communication and active listening.

Step 2

Strategy Discussion

15 minutes

  • Present the key strategies (active listening, empathy, assertive expression) using the Navigating Conversations Slides.
  • Provide real-life examples to illustrate each strategy.
  • Encourage the student to ask clarifying questions.

Step 3

Role-Play & Script Practice

15 minutes

  • Use the Conversation Scripts for a structured role-play exercise.
  • Practice a set conversation scenario, switching roles if needed.
  • Provide immediate feedback and discuss feelings during the role-play.

Step 4

Reflection & Wrap Up

10 minutes

  • Ask the student to reflect on what they learned during the role-play.
  • Discuss potential improvements and personal takeaways.
  • Summarize the strategies and encourage practice in real-life scenarios.
  • Address any questions or concerns the student may have.
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Slide Deck

Navigating Difficult Conversations

Overview of session objectives:

  • Understanding conflict resolution
  • Active listening
  • Empathy
  • Assertive communication

Introduce the session by welcoming the student. Emphasize that the goal is to gain confidence in handling difficult conversations and discuss the key objectives of the lesson.

Active Listening

Key Points:

  • Stay focused on the speaker
  • Avoid interruptions
  • Reflect and clarify

Discuss the importance of active listening. Share real-life examples and stress the role of paying full attention to the speaker.

Empathy

Key Points:

  • Understand the speaker's emotions
  • Validate feelings
  • Respond appropriately

Talk about empathy and how it supports understanding different perspectives. Provide scenarios where empathy changes the conversation's tone.

Assertive Communication

Key Points:

  • Share personal opinions confidently
  • Use 'I' statements
  • Set boundaries effectively

Introduce assertive communication tactics. Explain how to express thoughts clearly while respecting both oneself and others.

Summary & Reflection

Review:

  • Active Listening
  • Empathy
  • Assertive Communication

Use these tactics to navigate difficult conversations successfully.

Provide a summary of all key strategies. Reinforce the importance of integrating these tactics into real-life conversations and address any remaining questions.

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Script

Navigating Difficult Conversations: Role-Play Script

Welcome to the role-play session. The following conversation script is designed to help you practice handling difficult conversations using active listening, empathy, and assertive communication. Follow along with the role-play scenarios and feel free to switch roles as needed.

Scenario 1: Addressing a Misunderstanding

Situation: You and a friend have had a misunderstanding about your group project, and tensions are high. You want to resolve the conflict by understanding their perspective and expressing your own feelings clearly.

Role A (Student):

  • Start the conversation by calmly stating the issue.
  • Use "I" statements to express how you feel.

Example Script:
"I noticed that we both seemed frustrated during our last meeting, and I feel hurt by some of the things that were said. I want to understand your side of the story and share how I felt too."

Role B (Partner):

  • Use active listening skills by reflecting what was said and asking clarifying questions.
  • Acknowledge the feelings expressed by Role A.

Example Script:
"I hear that you're feeling hurt, and I apologize if my words made you feel that way. Can you help me understand exactly what part upset you?"

Teacher Prompt: Ask the student what they observe about their tone and body language during this exchange.





Scenario 2: Expressing Boundaries in a Respectful Manner

Situation: You need to set a personal boundary with a peer who often interrupts you during group discussions, making it hard for you to express your ideas.

Role A (Student):

  • Use assertive communication to set clear boundaries.
  • Express your feelings directly without blaming.

Example Script:
"I feel overwhelmed when I'm interrupted during discussions, and it makes me anxious about sharing my ideas. I would appreciate it if we could both have a chance to speak fully before responding."

Role B (Partner):

  • Validate Role A’s feelings and commit to trying out the new boundary.
  • Seek clarification if needed.

Example Script:
"Thank you for sharing your feelings. I understand that interruptions can be disruptive, and I'll make a conscious effort to let you finish speaking before I respond."

Teacher Prompt: After the role-play, ask the student how this approach might change the conversation compared to previous experiences.





Reflection After Role-Play

After practicing these scenarios, reflect on the following questions:

  1. What techniques did you feel most comfortable using: active listening, empathy, or assertive communication? Why?
  2. How did changing your language from accusatory to empathetic impact the conversation?
  3. What was challenging about maintaining a calm and respectful tone?

Feel free to rehearse these scripts several times, switching roles, until you feel confident with the strategies. Remember, the goal is to build confidence and effective communication skills to handle difficult conversations in real life.

Teacher Note: Use this script as a guide for structured role-play. Provide immediate, constructive feedback to support the student's growth and encourage a discussion about personal takeaways.





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Navigating Difficult Conversations • Lenny Learning