Effective Communication • Grade 11 • Quarter 1 • Lesson 2 (Day 1 of 5)
Day 1 Lesson: Shark vs. Dolphin Thoughts
A reader-friendly classroom lesson and printable worksheet on intrapersonal communication—how your inner voice shapes your confidence, clarity, and choices.
Why this lesson matters
Before you speak to other people, you speak to yourself. That inner conversation is called intrapersonal communication. It includes your thoughts, self-talk, self-reminders, and silent interpretations about what is happening. It happens fast—sometimes in seconds—yet it can decide whether you will raise your hand, share your idea, present confidently, or stay quiet.
In Effective Communication, we practice messages you send to others (words, tone, posture, and clarity). But today, we strengthen the “first message” you send—your message to yourself. This is not about pretending everything is perfect. It is about learning a practical skill: replacing harsh, exaggerated, and discouraging self-talk with balanced, realistic, and action-oriented self-talk.
Quick reminder: This lesson is about communication skills—how inner thoughts affect speaking, listening, and online behavior. Share only what you are comfortable sharing. You can write in English, Filipino, or a mix, as long as your meaning is clear.
1) Short Concept Capsule
What is intrapersonal communication?
Intrapersonal communication is communication within yourself. It includes your thoughts, self-talk, inner reactions, internal planning, and the “voice in your head” that comments on what you do. This inner voice can help you succeed—or it can sabotage you.
Shark thoughts vs. dolphin thoughts
Today we use a simple metaphor:
- Shark thoughts are aggressive, negative, and often exaggerated. They attack your confidence and usually push you toward fear, silence, avoidance, or angry reactions.
- Dolphin thoughts are supportive, realistic, and action-oriented. They do not deny problems; they help you respond better and move forward.
Common signs of “shark thoughts”
- All-or-nothing: “I always fail,” “I never get it.”
- Mind-reading: “They think I’m stupid” (no evidence).
- Catastrophizing: “If I mess up, it’s over.”
- Labeling: “I’m a loser” (instead of “I made a mistake”).
- Overgeneralizing: one error becomes “everything is bad.”
Common signs of “dolphin thoughts”
- Specific: focuses on the exact situation.
- Evidence-based: “I studied,” “I improved before.”
- Balanced: acknowledges feelings but avoids exaggeration.
- Action-oriented: “Next step is…”
- Respectful: firm but kind to the self.
The communication chain (why your thoughts matter)
Your inner voice affects your communication through a simple chain:
If your thought is “I will embarrass myself,” you may feel anxious, avoid participation, and then never practice. The result is weaker communication. But if your thought is “I’m nervous, but I can try one part,” you are more likely to participate, practice, and improve.
Today’s skill: Reframing. This means converting a shark thought into a dolphin thought that is:
- Realistic (not pretending),
- Respectful (not self-attacking),
- Useful (leads to a next step).
2) Flagship Worksheet: Shark → Dolphin Reframe Table
Use the table below as your main activity for Day 1. Your goal is not to “think positive” all the time. Your goal is to build a dolphin voice that helps you communicate effectively—especially when you feel pressure, fear, or embarrassment.
| Situation | Shark Thought (harsh / exaggerated) | Dolphin Thought (balanced / realistic) | Evidence Check (What facts support it?) | Next Action (What will I do now?) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Called to recite unexpectedly | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ |
| 2) Mispronounced a word while reading aloud | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ |
| 3) Groupmate corrected me in front of others | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ |
| 4) Low quiz score in a subject I struggle with | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ |
| 5) “Seen” but not replied to in chat | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ |
| 6) I forgot an assignment at home | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ |
| 7) Negative comment on my post | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ |
| 8) I compare myself to someone “better” at speaking | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | ______________________________ |
How to write a strong dolphin thought
If you get stuck, use this sentence pattern:
- “I feel ___, but…” (name the feeling, then balance it)
- “The facts are…” (evidence check)
- “My next step is…” (action)
Example (for mispronouncing a word): “I feel embarrassed, but it’s one word and I can correct it. The facts are: I’m still learning and I’ve improved before. My next step is to repeat the word correctly and continue reading.”
3) Processing Questions (Analysis → Abstraction)
After completing the worksheet table, answer these questions. Write in complete sentences. Be honest, but keep your answers respectful.
- Which situations triggered the strongest shark thoughts for you? Explain why those situations feel high-pressure.
- Which shark thought used exaggeration (e.g., “always,” “never,” “everyone,” “no one”)? Rewrite it without exaggeration.
- Which dolphin thought felt hardest to believe? What evidence could help you accept it more?
- How can shark thoughts affect your message delivery (voice, tone, confidence, and clarity) when speaking in class?
- How can shark thoughts affect your interpretation of feedback (corrections, facial reactions, online comments)?
- Choose one dolphin thought that can help you communicate better this week. How will you practice it during class activities?
- In online communication, how can dolphin thoughts help you respond more responsibly (e.g., not posting when emotional, not replying aggressively, protecting your image)?
- What is the difference between “dolphin thought” and “pretending”? Give one example showing the difference.
Key takeaway: Dolphin thoughts do not remove challenges. Dolphin thoughts help you respond with better communication choices.
4) Exit Ticket + Rubric
Complete this quick check before the class ends. Keep it short, but make your dolphin thought strong and realistic.
Exit Ticket (Learner Copy)
-
In your own words, define
intrapersonal communication in 1–2 sentences:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
-
Write one shark thought you experienced (or commonly
experience) in class or online:
______________________________________________________________
-
Convert that into a dolphin thought that is balanced
and action-oriented:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
-
Evidence check: What fact(s) support your dolphin thought?
______________________________________________________________
-
Next step: What will you do after thinking the dolphin thought?
______________________________________________________________
Rubric (4-point scale)
| Criteria | 4 (Excellent) | 3 (Proficient) | 2 (Developing) | 1 (Beginning) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concept clarity | Definition is accurate, clear, and in own words | Definition mostly accurate; minor gaps | Partly accurate; confusing or incomplete | Incorrect or missing |
| Reframe quality | Dolphin thought is balanced, realistic, and respectful | Dolphin thought is helpful but slightly vague | Dolphin thought is mostly “positive” but not realistic | No real reframe; repeats shark thought |
| Evidence check | Uses concrete facts; avoids assumptions | Some facts included; partly general | Evidence is weak or unclear | No evidence given |
| Next action | Specific, practical step that improves communication | Reasonable step; somewhat general | Step is unclear or not actionable | No next step |
5) Link to Day 2: Nature Walk Journaling
Day 2 will focus on journaling—not just writing random thoughts, but tracking how situations affect your inner voice and your communication choices. To prepare, you must choose one shark thought from today’s worksheet that you want to reduce this week.
Your Day 2 Starter (Required)
Copy this into your notebook and complete it. Bring it next meeting.
Chosen Shark Thought (from Day 1):
My Dolphin Replacement Thought:
When do I usually hear this shark thought? (specific situations)
How will I practice the dolphin thought tomorrow? (one action)
When you arrive for Day 2, you will use this chosen thought as your first journaling topic. That means Day 1 is not “just an activity.” It becomes a real personal communication tool you can practice daily—especially in speaking, collaborating, and posting online.
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