Communication skills · lesson 9 of 24 · free

Taking turns without interrupting — Communication skills for students

A conversation is like a game of catch: one person holds the ball at a time. Interrupting — talking over someone, finishing their sentence, shouting the answer — snatches the ball. Polite turn-taking waits for a pause, raises a hand in class, keeps turns short and lets everyone speak once. If you must cut in, do it politely: “Sorry to cut in — may I add one point?” The only time to interrupt at once is danger, like smoke from the lab. Sharing time fairly is simple maths: 20 minutes for 4 children is 5 minutes each.

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Communication tip

One voice at a time — “wait for a pause — interrupt only for danger”

  1. Polite turn-taking: waiting for a pause, raising your hand, saying “Sorry, go on”, letting all speak once, keeping your turn short.
  2. Interrupting: talking over someone, finishing their sentence, shouting the answer, cutting in with a joke, hogging the whole talk. Polite way in: “Can I say something when you finish?”
  3. Fair talking time: share equally = minutes ÷ children (24 minutes, 4 children → 6 minutes each); time left = total − time used.

Use it for: Class discussions, family dinners, circle time, group chats and games with friends.

Worked example: ✋ A polite way in, or a rude interruption? “Sorry to cut in — may I add one point?” → a polite way in

  1. The speaker says sorry and asks before adding a point.
  2. So it is a polite way in.

Check: Try it: at dinner, count to two in your head after someone stops before you speak — every time, for one evening ✓

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✏️ Practice

Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.

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🏁 Lesson 9 test

20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.

🏅 Sign in with Google to earn the ✋ Turn Taker badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 6 lessons of Part 2 · Listening. You can still take the test without signing in.

🖨️ Taking Turns and Interrupting Worksheet

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