Assertiveness - Social Emotional Learning

Help Your Students Communicate with Confidence

A ready-to-teach ESL lesson on assertiveness

Assertiveness helps learners express their needs, opinions and feelings clearly and respectfully.

This practical lesson provides 90 minutes or more of speaking, listening and reflection activities. Students explore different communication styles, learn a simple four-step approach to difficult conversations and practise using it in realistic role plays.

What students will learn

Students will:

• compare passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive and assertive communication
• complete an assertiveness quiz
• learn practical strategies for speaking more confidently
• listen to examples of assertive communication
• practise difficult conversations through role play
• reflect on how to use these skills in real life
• The lesson includes an interactive presentation, video and listening activities, role cards, a reflection task and optional dictation and speaking practice.

Practical and easy to teach

The clear eight-stage structure guides students from discussion and awareness to listening, speaking practice and reflection.

Give students language for the conversations that matter

Clear communication can support stronger relationships, reduce stress and help learners feel more prepared for personal, academic and professional situations. This lesson gives them a practical framework they can continue using after the class has finished.