Welcome students to the session. Explain that today's focus is on having courageous conversations, which are essential for personal and academic growth. Highlight that these conversations help build empathy and improve communication skills.

Discuss the importance of setting ground rules to ensure a safe and respectful environment. Encourage students to contribute their own rules to foster a sense of ownership and commitment.

Introduce active listening as a key component of effective communication. Explain the techniques using the Empathy Building Techniques Handout. Conduct a brief exercise where students practice these techniques in pairs.

Divide students into small groups and assign each group a challenging topic to discuss. Encourage them to use the active listening and empathy techniques during their discussions.

Bring the class back together for a group reflection. Ask students to share their experiences and insights from the dialogue session. Discuss how these skills can be applied in everyday situations.