Life Skills and Leadership Manual - Peace Corps

Life Skills & Leadership: Unit 2, Session 2: Positive Communication | Page 26 of 127

A. Are You a Listener?
Participants rate their own abilities as an active listener.

1. Post Room Signs around the learning space and ask participants to stand under the appropriate sign in
   response to your statements. Say:

“I’d like to give you a chance to think about what you have learned about listening and communication

in this class and the last time we met. I’ll read a statement and you can stand under the sign that best

describes your response to the statement.”

2. Read the statements below, allowing time for participants to make their choice and move.

I am careful about where I look when listening to someone.

I have trouble understanding what the person is feeling as they speak.

I am aware of the position of my body when I am listening.

I try not to interrupt the person when I am listening.

I have difficulty identifying my own feelings when I am listening to someone.

I pay attention to the facial expressions of the person speaking.

It’s not easy to use my voice, without words, to show I am listening.

I know how to encourage someone to talk more.

I get confused when I try to summarize what someone says.

3. Distribute paper and pens or pencils to participants. Say:

“You just made an evaluation about yourself as a listener. On your paper, please write one listening skill

that you do well and are happy about. Also write one listening skill you would like to improve.”

Note: The activity “Are You a Listener” serves as an assessment of Learning Objectives 1 and 2 and as a review of Learning

Objectives 1 and 2 in Session 1: Listening Skills.

B. Summary
Ask participants to sign their paper and conclude by saying:

“You all have learned a lot about positive communication and have had a chance to improve your skills.

I’ll be interested to hear what happens when you use those skills outside of our class! Remember that

direct communication, indirect communication, and I Statements are ways to make sure your message

gets across and lessens the chance that strong emotions will get in the way. ”

References:
(None)

Facilitator Notes for Future Improvement

Date & Facilitator Name: [What went well? What would you do differently? Did you need more/less time for certain
activities?]