Debate training – Active listening
Objective:
Students learn and practise active listening skills in order to engage in constructive and respectful debate. They reflect on the importance of this skill for exchanging arguments and promoting mutual understanding.
Contents and methods:
The worksheet introduces the basics of active listening and illustrates its importance in debates and everyday life. Using a mini-debate on a selected topic, pupils practise listening attentively to arguments, summarising them and building on them. They use predefined sentence starters to create a flowing dialogue.
Skills:
- Active listening and empathy
- Ability to argue and change perspectives
- Reflection and self-awareness
- Structured documentation of arguments
Target group and level:
Grade 7 and above
90 other teachers use this template
Target group and level
Grade 7 and above
Subjects
Debate training – Active listening

Introduction
Active listening is an important skill for conducting constructive and respectful debates. It is not just about hearing the other person's words, but also about truly understanding the message and responding appropriately. In this exercise, you will learn to listen to your conversation partners attentively and appreciatively.
📝 What do you think about this statement? Write down your thoughts.
📝 Reflection
