Table 1 Items of the self-perception rating (students)

1.) … answer sympathetically to the verbal and non-verbal cues and needs of my counterpart (empathy)

1 = completely disagree;

2 = rather disagree;

3 = partly accept;

4 = rather agree;

5 = agree;

6 = completely agree

2.) … organize a conversation coherently and direct the flow of the conversation (structure)

3.) … adapt my manner to my counterpart in wording, voice modulation, speech rate etc. (verbal expression)

4.) … motivate my counterpart in the conversation by using non-verbal techniques (non-verbal expression)