Communication Skills
What is one polite way to say no to a friend?
"Thank you for the invitation, but I can't make it"
What does it mean to advocate for yourself?
to speak up for your own needs, wants, and rights, and to take action to ensure those are met
What is the first step in making a decision?
Clearly identify and define the problem you need to solve or the goal you want to achieve.
A friend wants to copy your homework—what could you say?
Politely but firmly let them know that you're not comfortable with them copying your work.
Name two ways you can show someone you’re listening.
maintaining eye contact, nodding, and leaning slightly forward to signal interest and engagement
Who could you ask for help if you felt treated unfairly at school?
Teacher, father, mother
Name one thing to think about before making a quick choice.
Consider the potential consequences of each option
Your parent says no to going out. How could you respectfully respond?
First acknowledge their decision without arguing and then ask for a brief explanation to understand their concerns, such as safety or responsibilities
Role-play: Say “I feel ___ when ___” about someone taking your things without asking
sad, you take something from me without asking, next time you should ask me
True/False: Advocating for yourself always means arguing.
False: You can advocate in a calm way without raising your voice or arguing
You’re invited to hang out, but you have homework. How do you decide what to do?
Assess the homework's difficulty and urgency, then communicate with your friends, and finally propose a compromise, such as doing homework first or hanging out for a shorter period.
You feel nervous speaking up in class. What’s one strategy you could try?
Practice slow, deep "belly breaths" before speaking to calm your heart rate and relax
What’s the difference between assertive, aggressive, and passive communication?
assertive communication is expressing your needs and feelings while acknowledging others' rights
passive communication involves suppressing your own needs to please others or avoid conflict
aggressive communication prioritizes your needs at the expense of others through hostile or demanding interactions
Give an example of how to tell a teacher you need extra time on an assignment.
Politely ask the teacher in person or send an email
What are the pros and cons of saying yes to peer pressure?
Pros: You might feel included or liked by peers. You may learn something new
Cons:You may engage in actions that are unsafe, illegal, or unhealthy. You may feel bad afterwards
You disagree with a coach’s feedback—what’s the best way to handle it?
Take a moment to understand
Then ask clarifying questions to ensure you grasp their perspective.
Next, find common ground by acknowledging what you can agree with.
Then, calmly state your perspective and why you see things differently, maintaining respect and a constructive tone.
Finally, work together to find a course of action, even if it involves agreeing to disagree.
Role-play: Pretend you need to ask for help with something important.
Yay
Describe a time you had to explain your point of view clearly—what worked well?
Share your answer
ou feel your opinion isn’t being heard in a group project—how do you handle it?
Stay calm and listen actively before speaking, then clearly and confidently articulate your viewpoint with supporting reasons and evidence.
Share a decision you made recently. Looking back, would you do anything differently?
Free answer
You have to choose between two fun opportunities happening at the same time—how do you decide?
Make a pros and cons list, assess your priorities and core values, visualize the future outcome of each option, consider the potential long-term impact
Decision Dilemma: Pick between two tough choices and explain your reasoning.
Yay!