Soft-Skills Lingo-Bingo Lesson

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo
Lesson Author
Julie Kornegay, senior education program manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Birmingham Branch
Lesson Description
In this lesson, students hear from industry experts why soft skills are important and what skills they are looking for
from job candidates. Once students understand why these skills are important, they will then participate in a
matching game that will allow them to examine various soft skills mentioned. Students then complete an assessment
to self-evaluate strengths and weaknesses and identify strategies to develop skills that need improvement. Students
will then apply the vocabulary they have learned to determine the correct answers in a bingo game.
Standards and Benchmarks (see page 17)
Grade Level
7–12
Concepts
Attitude Communication Criticism Ethics Hard skills

Initiative Interpersonal skills Leadership Listening Motivation
Negotiation Networking Patience Perceptiveness Perseverance
Problem solving Productivity Professionalism Resilience Self-awareness
Soft skills Teamwork
Objectives
Students will be able to:
• Identify the difference between hard skills and soft skills.

• Identify what soft skills are important to employers.
• Examine various soft skills.
• Scrutinize their own soft skills using an evaluation tool.
• Evaluate personal soft skills mastered and those skills needing improvement.
Time Required
90 minutes
Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

Permission is granted to reprint or photocopy this lesson in its entirety for educational purposes provided the user credits the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
https://www.frbatlanta.org/education.aspx
1
Essential Question
How can I prepare for my dream career?
Materials
• Handout 1: Matching Cards cut into individual word and definition cards
• Copies of Handout 2: Soft Skills Self-assessment for each student
• One copy of Handout 3: Bingo Card for each student
• Handout 3.1: Bingo Vocabulary and Terms cut apart to draw for bingo
• Handout 4: Soft Skills Matching
• Internet access and audio/video to show webinar clips
• Optional: Small prize(s) for bingo winner(s)
Procedure
1. Tell students that as they prepare to go into the world of work, potential employers will want them to possess a
variety of skills. Discuss these different types of skills while emphasizing the following information.
• Some skills are technical, or hard skills. These skills are often directly related to the tasks of the job. They
might include familiarity with software, the ability to analyze data, or the skill to develop computer code.
• Other skills are called soft skills. Soft skills are the nontechnical skills, abilities, or traits that workers need to
function in a specific employment environment.
2. In our first video clip, we will hear from industry experts Darren Mott, supervisory special agent with the
Counterintelligence Program at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and David Umphress, director of the Auburn
Cyber Research Center. Play the clip from the Maximum Employment Matters webinar on cybersecurity using
the link below. https://www.frbatlanta.org/education/maximum-employment-matters/2018/exploring-careers-
in-cybersecurity-part-1
Play the segment from 44:10 to 49:00, which begins, “Of the important qualities I just mentioned, analytical
skills, detail oriented, ingenuity, problem solving, communication, and teamwork, which would you say is the
most important?”
Ask the students, “What soft skills were identified by the speakers?” Possible answers include:
• Analysis and problem solving are very important. Being able to deal with problems and quickly resolve
them is critical in the security industry.
• The ability to communicate effectively to your audience using interpersonal skills when conveying your
message; in other words, the ability to judge how to phrase your message so your audience will
understand without talking down to them.
• Continuously practice soft skills and provide feedback on progress.
3. In the next video clip, we hear from three industry experts: Nancy Donahue with the Atlanta Fed’s Retail
Payments Risk Forum and project manager of the Federal Reserve Payment Study; Michael Levine, CEO and
managing director of executive recruiting at Advantage Talent Inc.; and Gary Warner, director of research in
computer forensics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Play the clip from the second Maximum
Employment Matters webinar on cybersecurity using the link below.
https://www.frbatlanta.org/education/maximum-employment-matters/2018/exploring-careers-in-
cybersecurity-part-2

2
Play the segment from 56:08 to 59:50, which begins, “Of the important qualities I just mentioned, analytical
skills, detail oriented, ingenuity, problem solving, communication, and teamwork, which of these skills would
you say is the most important?”
Ask the students what soft skills were identified by the speakers. Possible answers include:
• An ability to pivot (change direction) and be resilient are valuable in a changing work environment.
• Problem solving skills are in high demand. Showing leadership and initiative in identifying problems,
communicating the problem to management, and persevering to resolve the issue are invaluable.
• Teamwork, attitude, and communication are critical in a professional environment.
4. Tell students that they will be participating in a matching game to learn about different soft skills. Using the
cards cut out from Handout 1, distribute “word” cards to half the class. Distribute “definition” cards to the other
half. Have students move around the classroom to find their match. After all pairs are together, have each pair
teach the word and definition to the class, then explain why the skill would be important in the workplace.
5. Distribute Handout 2. Explain that it is critical for job candidates to evaluate their own progress on soft skills.
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses in this area. Tell students to identify three soft skills they feel they are
very strong in and two they would like to improve. Then, they should use the space provided to plan ways to
strengthen in the areas they identified for improvement. If desired, students could work in pairs or small groups
to brainstorm ways they can work on the skills identified.
6. Distribute Handout 3. Have students place the terms randomly on the bingo card. Tell students that you will
read the definition of each term, and they should mark the word on their bingo card. Use the definition strips
from Handout 3.1 to call definitions randomly until a student has four correct answers either vertically or
horizontally. When a student does, he or she should call “bingo.” Verify students’ answers by asking them the
term they marked and then reread the definition to reinforce the content. When you have a winner, you can
stop there or keep going and let a few more students get bingo.
Assessment
7. Distribute a copy of Handout 4. Either individually or in groups, have the students complete the worksheet and
review the terms. Once the worksheet is complete, use the answer sheet to review with students and make sure
their answers are correct.
Closure
8. Ask students to think back to the industry experts. Using the suggested remarks above, remind students what
the experts identified as important soft skills. Use the following questions to close the lesson.
• Do you think the soft skills that are important in cybersecurity would be important in other industries?
• How can a job candidate demonstrate on a résumé or in an interview that he or she possesses these
important skills?

3
Handout 1: Matching Cards
Attitude A behavior a person adopts toward other people,

things, incidents, or happenings.
Communication The ability to convey information to another

person effectively and efficiently.
The expression of disapproval of someone or

Criticism
something on the basis of perceived faults or
mistakes.
Ethics Moral principles that govern a person’s behavior

or the conducting of an activity.
Human capital The skills, knowledge, and experience possessed

by an individual or population.

4
Initiative The power or ability to begin or to follow through
energetically with a plan or task.
The skills people use to interact and

Interpersonal skills
communicate with individuals in an
organizational environment.
A person who guides or directs a group by

establishing a clear vision, sharing that vision with
Leadership
others so that they will follow willingly, and
providing the information and knowledge and
methods to realize that vision.
Listening The active process of receiving and responding to

spoken messages.
Motivation To stimulate interest in or enthusiasm for doing

something.

5
Discussions between people who have different
Negotiation
aims or intentions, during which they try to reach
an agreement.
The action or process of interacting with others

Networking
to exchange information and develop
professional or social contacts.
Patience The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble,

or suffering without getting angry or upset.
Perceptiveness Having or showing an ability to understand or

notice something easily or quickly.
Perseverance Doing something despite difficulty or delay in

achieving success.

6
Problem solving The process of finding solutions to difficult or
complex issues.
The effectiveness of effort, especially in industry,

Productivity
as measured in terms of the rate of output per
unit of input.
The attitudes, characteristics, or behaviors that

Professionalism are not explicitly part of the profession’s core of
knowledge and technical skill, but that are
required for success.
Resilience
The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.
Self-awareness Conscious knowledge of one’s own character,

feelings, motives, and desires.

7
Workers who do not possess the current skills to
Skills mismatch
meet the demands of new industry technology or
advancements.
The nontechnical skills, abilities, and traits that

Soft skills
workers need to function in a specific
employment environment.
A collaborative effort of a group to achieve a

Teamwork
common goal or to complete a task in the most
effective and efficient way.

8
Handout 2: Soft Skills Self-Assessment
Attitude Listening Perseverance
Communication Motivation Problem solving
Ethics Negotiation Professionalism
Initiative Networking Resilience
Interpersonal skills Patience Self-awareness
Leadership Perceptiveness Teamwork
Identify three soft skills that you believe are areas of strength for you. Think about traits that your employer, your
teachers, or your coaches have mentioned as a starting point.
1.
2.
3.
Now identify two soft skills that you know you could improve. Everyone has areas where they can develop. Then, for
each skill you identify, list some ways that you could develop that skill.
Skill to Improve My Plan for Improvement

9
Handout 3: Bingo Card
Use the word bank to fill out your bingo card. Write one word in each space. There will be an additional space left over.
Allow students to use an additional FREE space to complete the card.
Attitude Listening Perseverance Skills mismatch

Communication Motivation Problem solving Productivity
Ethics Negotiation Professionalism Human capital
Initiative Networking Resilience Soft skills
Interpersonal skills Patience Self-awareness Criticism
Leadership Perceptiveness Teamwork FREE
FREE

10
Handout 3.1: Bingo Vocabulary Terms and Definitions
Attitude A behavior a person adopts toward other people, things, incidents, or

happenings.
Communication The ability to convey information to another person effectively and efficiently.
Criticism The expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of

perceived faults or mistakes.
Ethics Moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an

activity.
Human capital The skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by an individual or

population.
Initiative The power or ability to begin or to follow through energetically with a plan or
task.
Interpersonal The skills people use to interact and communicate with individuals in an
skills organizational environment.
Leadership A person who guides or directs a group by establishing a clear vision, sharing
that vision with others so that they will follow willingly, and providing the
information and knowledge and methods to realize that vision.
Listening The active process of receiving and responding to spoken messages.
Motivation To stimulate interest in or enthusiasm for doing something.
Negotiation Discussions between people who have different aims or intentions, during
which they try to reach an agreement.
Networking The action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and
develop professional or social contacts.

11
Patience The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting
angry or upset.
Perceptiveness Having or showing an ability to understand or notice something easily or

quickly.
Perseverance Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
Problem solving The process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues.
Productivity The effectiveness of effort, especially in industry, as measured in terms of the

rate of output per unit of input.
Professionalism The attitudes, characteristics, or behavior that are not explicitly part of the
profession’s core of knowledge and technical skill, but that are required for
success
Resilience The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.
Self-awareness Conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires.
Skills mismatch Workers who do not possess the current skills to meet the demands of new
industry technology or advancements.
Soft skills The nontechnical skills, abilities, and traits that workers need to function in a
specific employment environment.
Teamwork A collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a

task in the most effective and efficient way.

12
Handout 4: Soft Skills Matching
Match the terms below with the best description. Each word is used only once.
Criticism Perceptiveness Perseverance Communication Attitude

Resilience Self-awareness Negotiation Networking Patience
Initiative Interpersonal skills Leadership Ethics Human capital
Listening Problem solving Motivation Productivity Professionalism
Soft skills Teamwork Skills mismatch
1. A behavior a person adopts toward other people, things, incidents, or happenings.
2. The ability to convey information to another person effectively and efficiently.
3. The expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived faults or

mistakes.
4. Moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an activity.
5. The skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by an individual or population.
6. The power or ability to begin or to follow through energetically with a plan or task.
7. The skills people use to interact and communicate with individuals in an organizational
environment.
8. A person who guides or directs a group by establishing a clear vision, sharing that vision
with others so that they will follow willingly, and providing the information and
knowledge and methods to realize that vision.
9. The active process of receiving and responding to spoken messages.
10. To stimulate interest in or enthusiasm for doing something.
11. Discussions between people who have different aims or intentions, during which they try
to reach an agreement.
12. The action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop
professional or social contacts.
13. The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or
upset.
14. Having or showing an ability to understand or notice something easily or quickly.

13
15. Doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
16. The process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues.
17. The effectiveness of effort, especially in industry, as measured in terms of the rate of
output per unit of input.
18. The attitudes, characteristics, or behaviors that are not explicitly part of the profession’s
core of knowledge and technical skill, but that are required for success.
19. The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.
20. Conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires.
21. Workers who do not possess the current skills to meet the demands of new industry
technology or advancements.
22. The nontechnical skills, abilities, and traits that workers need to function in a specific
employment environment.
23. A collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the
most effective and efficient way.

14
Handout 4 Answers: Soft Skills Matching
Match the terms below with the best description. Each word is used only once.
Criticism Perceptiveness Perseverance Communication Attitude

Resilience Self-awareness Negotiation Networking Patience
Initiative Interpersonal skills Leadership Ethics Human capital
Listening Problem solving Motivation Productivity Professionalism
Soft skills Teamwork Skills mismatch
Attitude 1. A behavior a person adopts toward other people, things, incidents, or happenings.
Communication 2. The ability to convey information to another person effectively and efficiently.
3. The expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived faults or

Criticism mistakes.
Ethics 4. Moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an activity.
Human capital 5. The skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by an individual or population.
Initiative 6. The power or ability to begin or to follow through energetically with a plan or task.
Interpersonal 7. The skills people use to interact and communicate with individuals in an organizational
skills environment.
8. A person who guides or directs a group by establishing a clear vision, sharing that vision
with others so that they will follow willingly, providing the information and knowledge
Leadership and methods to realize that vision.
Listening 9. The active process of receiving and responding to spoken messages.
Motivation 10. To stimulate interest in or enthusiasm for doing something.
11. Discussions between people who have different aims or intentions, during which they try
Negotiation to reach an agreement.
12. The action or process of interacting with others to exchange information and develop
Networking professional or social contacts.
13. The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or
Patience upset.
Perceptiveness 14. Having or showing an ability to understand or notice something easily or quickly.
Perseverance 15. Doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
Problem solving 16. The process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues.
15
17. The effectiveness of effort, especially in industry, as measured in terms of the rate of
Productivity output per unit of input.
18. The attitudes, characteristics, or behavior that are not explicitly part of the profession’s
Professionalism core of knowledge and technical skill, but that are required for success.
Resilience 19. The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.
Self-awareness 20. Conscious knowledge of one’s own character, feelings, motives, and desires.
21. Workers who do not possess the current skills to meet the demands of new industry
Skills mismatch technology or advancements.
22. The nontechnical skills, abilities, and traits that workers need to function in a specific
Soft skills employment environment.
23. A collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the
Teamwork most effective and efficient way.

16
National Standards for Financial Literacy
Standard 1: Earning Income: Income for most people is determined by the market value of their labor, paid as wages
and salaries. People can increase their income and job opportunities by choosing to acquire more education, work
experience, and job skills. The decision to undertake an activity that increases income or job opportunities is affected by
the expected benefits and costs of such an activity. Income also is obtained from other sources such as interest, rents,
capital gains, dividends, and profits.
• Benchmark 8.1: Careers are based on working at jobs in the same occupation or profession for many years.
Different careers require different education and training.
• Benchmark 8.2: People make many decisions over a lifetime about their education, jobs, and careers that affect
their incomes and job opportunities.
• Benchmark 8.3: Getting more education and learning new job skills can increase a person’s human capital and
productivity.
Return to Page 1

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Soft Skills Lingo Bingo

Standards and Benchmarks (see page 17)

Attitude Communication Criticism Ethics Hard skills

Students will be able to:

• Identify the difference between hard skills and soft skills.

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

How can I prepare for my dream career?

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

Attitude A behavior a person adopts toward other people,

Communication The ability to convey information to another

The expression of disapproval of someone or

Ethics Moral principles that govern a person’s behavior

Human capital The skills, knowledge, and experience possessed

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

The skills people use to interact and

A person who guides or directs a group by

Listening The active process of receiving and responding to

Motivation To stimulate interest in or enthusiasm for doing

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

The action or process of interacting with others

Patience The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble,

Perceptiveness Having or showing an ability to understand or

Perseverance Doing something despite difficulty or delay in

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

The effectiveness of effort, especially in industry,

The attitudes, characteristics, or behaviors that

Self-awareness Conscious knowledge of one’s own character,

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

The nontechnical skills, abilities, and traits that

A collaborative effort of a group to achieve a

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

Skill to Improve My Plan for Improvement

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

Attitude Listening Perseverance Skills mismatch

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

Attitude A behavior a person adopts toward other people, things, incidents, or

Criticism The expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of

Ethics Moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an

Human capital The skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by an individual or

Motivation To stimulate interest in or enthusiasm for doing something.

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

Perceptiveness Having or showing an ability to understand or notice something easily or

Perseverance Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

Problem solving The process of finding solutions to difficult or complex issues.

Productivity The effectiveness of effort, especially in industry, as measured in terms of the

Teamwork A collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)

Criticism Perceptiveness Perseverance Communication Attitude

1. A behavior a person adopts toward other people, things, incidents, or happenings.

2. The ability to convey information to another person effectively and efficiently.

3. The expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived faults or

4. Moral principles that govern a person’s behavior or the conducting of an activity.

5. The skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by an individual or population.

9. The active process of receiving and responding to spoken messages.

10. To stimulate interest in or enthusiasm for doing something.

14. Having or showing an ability to understand or notice something easily or quickly.

Soft Skills Lingo Bingo (2019)