Objectives of the exercise:
- to practise active listening skills,
- to develop the ability to paraphrase and summarize information,
- to increase attention to factual details during a conversation,
- to strengthen interpersonal communication and mutual understanding,
- to encourage respectful listening without judgment or interpretation.
Procedure:
Participants work in pairs. The instructor explains that the purpose of the exercise is not to evaluate the content of the conversation but to practise listening carefully and accurately conveying information shared by another person.
Each pair engages in a conversation on a topic of their choice. Possible topics may include:
- hobbies and interests,
- favorite places or activities,
- recent experiences,
- future plans,
- a memorable event.
Participants are encouraged to ensure that both partners have an opportunity to speak and listen. While one person is talking, the other focuses on:
- maintaining attention,
- observing key facts and details,
- avoiding interruptions,
- asking clarifying questions if necessary.
The conversation continues for a predetermined amount of time (typically 5–10 minutes), allowing participants to gather enough information about their partner.
After the conversations are completed, the group reconvenes. One at a time, each participant presents a single sentence about their partner to the whole group.
The sentence should summarize one factual piece of information learned during the conversation. Examples include:
- “Anna enjoys hiking in the mountains.”
- “Michael recently started learning Spanish.”
- “Sara likes spending her free time reading novels.”
Participants listen to each statement without commenting, correcting, or expanding on the information provided.
Once everyone has shared their sentence, the instructor may facilitate a brief reflection on the experience of listening, remembering information, and presenting it accurately.
Methodological guidelines:
- The sentence presented to the group should be neutral, factual, and based on information shared during the conversation.
- Participants may write notes during the conversation and read their sentence from a piece of paper if this helps them feel more comfortable.
- No corrections, confirmations, or disputes regarding the statements should be made by the person being described.
- Emphasize accuracy rather than creativity or interpretation.
- Encourage participants to focus on listening with curiosity and attention rather than preparing their own responses.
- Ensure that all participants have equal speaking and listening opportunities during the pair conversation.
- Create a supportive atmosphere in which participants feel comfortable sharing information at their own level of openness.
- During the reflection, focus on the listening process rather than the content of the conversations.