Relationships: Communication Skills: Active listening, assertiveness, “I” statements, body language

Clear Communication: Building Stronger Relationships

Learning Goals:

• Learn new words about communicating effectively.
• Talk about how we communicate with others.
• Read about a friendship that was improved through good communication.
• Listen to an expert talk about communicating in relationships.
• Write about a time when you had trouble communicating.

Key Words:

• Active listening: Paying close attention to what someone is saying and how they are saying it.
• Assertive: Expressing your feelings and thoughts in a direct and respectful way.
• “I” statements: Talking about how you feel without blaming others. (Example: “I feel sad when you don’t listen to me.”)
• Body language: The way we move our bodies and faces to express how we feel.

Let’s Talk About It!

1. What makes a good listener?
2. How do you feel when someone doesn’t seem to be listening to you?
3. Can you give an example of using an “I” statement?
4. How can you tell what someone is feeling by looking at their body language? (Crossed arms, smiling, making eye contact)

Let’s Read a Story!

Alex and Jordan were best friends, but they started having problems. They didn’t listen to each other, and their feelings got hurt. One day, they decided to talk. They listened carefully to each other and tried to understand how the other person felt. They apologized and made up, and their friendship became stronger than ever.

Questions About the Story:

1. Why did Alex and Jordan have problems?
2. How did they solve their problems?
3. What can we learn from this story?

Listen and Learn!

(Teacher plays a short clip of a relationship expert talking about the importance of listening, being assertive, and using “I” statements.)

Talk with a Partner!

One of you is having a disagreement with a friend. Practice having a conversation using active listening, “I” statements, and paying attention to body language.

Example:

• Person 1: “I feel hurt when you don’t include me in your plans.”
• Person 2: “I’m sorry you feel that way. I didn’t realize you wanted to be included. Next time, I’ll definitely ask you.”

Homework:

Write a short paragraph about a time when you had trouble communicating with someone. What happened? How did you feel? Could you have done anything differently?

Extra Fun:

Watch a video of people talking. Try to guess how they feel by watching their body language.