Activity: Live Chat

Practice good communication skills and have fun while getting to know each other better.

Start by briefly discussing good listening and communication skills, such as making eye contact, speaking clearly, and paying attention to the other person’s responses. If needed, demonstrate both good and bad examples of these skills.

Invite youth to sit in two rows facing each other. Introduce a discussion topic, and have the youth discuss it with the person sitting across from them. After a short time, change topics and have one row of youth shift over a seat so that everyone has a new discussion partner.

Depending on the size of your group and which skills you want to practice, the time spent with each person could be 30 seconds to 5 minutes.

Possible discussion topics or questions could include:

• What are your hobbies?
• What is your favorite family tradition?
• What goals or plans do you have for the future?
• If you could have a super power, what would it be and why?
• What is your favorite scripture story and why?
• Where have you always wanted to visit and why?
• What is something you’ve accomplished that you’re proud of?
• What was the last book you read? Tell me about it in 30 seconds or less.
• Name five things you wouldn’t want to live without.

Please adapt activities as necessary to ensure all individuals are able to participate, belong, and contribute.

• Instead of having one question for the whole group, allow each pair to choose their own questions from a list or come up with their own ideas.
• If you want this activity to emphasize building friendships between young men and young women, you could have young women and young men sit across from each other.

Encourage youth to talk about how what they are learning can help them and others grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Discussions can take place before, during, or after the activity and should last just a few minutes. You could ask questions like the following:

• How can learning positive communication skills help you build stronger friendships? work through differences with friends?
• How can learning good communication skills help you minister to others? How can it help you prepare for a mission and other callings?
• How does in-person conversation feel different from phone calls, text messages, or other electronic forms of communication? What are some situations in the Church and in other areas of your life where in-person conversations would be more effective than electronic communication?

How can relying on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ help you improve your conversation skills?

• “Communication,” Gospel Topics, topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org
• Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Tongue of Angels,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 16–18
• “Language,” For the Strength of Youth (booklet, 2011), 20–21
• “Friends,” For the Strength of Youth, 16–17