Intercomprehension (IC) Icebreaker Activity (BETA version)
· Organizers / hosts of international events – Group A
· Participants of international events (conferences, training seminars, etc) – Group B
Face-to-face training session (about 3 hours) with hand-outs, practical assignments, etc…
· to introduce IC and its relevance for communicating in a multilingual environments,
· to give initial training and guidance in IC as a means to facilitate first contacts in professional multilingual environment (user manual)
· to introduce activities designed for Ice-Breaking Events and provide methodological support – how to use, possible problems, etc (resource bank)
When working in international teams, the outcome of their efforts is related to the quality of their internal communication. If that communication can be improved it is most likely worth the cost it might take to do it. At no point in the life cycle of such a team are the odds as good as at the time of the first meeting. Therefore that is when a well designed ice breaker activity should take place.
An Intercomprehension icebreaker has the advantage of putting the languages of the participants in focus. Why is that an advantage? That is because language is the unique code system that links the internal world of a person to the external world (which is shared by all). So, by knowing something about a person’s language one knows something about how that person expresses herself. Hence, a person’s language is also the main vehicle of her identity. By speaking another language s/he will tune her being into another key. And good communication requires good knowledge of who one communicates with.
In order to benefit from the time spent on the icebreaker activities, it is important to have the right expectations and to be prepared to provide something that is unique and meaningful from one’s own culture. A brief text should be sent out in advance explaining the purpose and the rules of the icebreaker. The following should be considered:
· There is a risk of abuse of stereotypes
· Activities may be slightly adjusted to Groups A and B
· Each activity is followed by reflection and conclusion (strategy and tactics)
· The more interaction the better
· Video or any other animation is very needed
· We should try to make it different from a standard course in communication
At the outset of the session the purpose needs to be restated and something simple said about communication across cultures. The iceberg simile could be used.
Focus will be on why it is important (data on people’s mobility: international companies, labour force migration, international events, etc). It could deal with general psychology – confidence in making contacts in one’s own language, personal features (reserve, shy etc); “alien” environment… as well as basic communication skills.
The team is divided into subgroups of 3-5 people so as to ensure maximum individual activity level, i.e. listening and speaking. Some documentation materials are to distributed, underlining the value of the words and phrases that will be circulated.
Related to some “general knowledge” first-contacts situations – we can find some “funny”/ amusing facts, use multiple choice or such like:
· How many times do people use other people’s names in the first three minutes of conversation?
· What’s in a name? – How pupils address teachers (for example, never by name in LT schools, more)
· Some questions about “origin of names” (What does it mean? – with an option to choose, or is it a man’s or woman’s name, or name of a country….)
· Most popular names , common surnames, longest, shortest, geography + name, profession + name, etc
· Body language (video, cartoons or pictures) – what does it mean?
· + + +
· Structure: name, country / nationality, profession, purpose of being here, likes / dislikes,
· Discourse: pauses, question / answer, length, interruptions etc.
· Video – to illustrate and reflect (different languages etc)
· Practice in introducing themselves or creating a character (name, country, likes / dislikes (favourite food etc) – the more languages the better
· Re-arranging “first contact” conversations – correct order
· Find “response” to a question/ or What was the question (you know the response)
· Gap-fillers (in different languages)
· “Intelligent” noise / sounds (in different languages)
· Sorting out names / second names / surnames; also titles (in different languages)
All participants should bring a little song to teach the others. It could be recorded if singing it feels out of place.
Holidays are celebrated differently in all countries and regions. In addition there is local food and other habits of great symbolic value. They are understood by those who practise them as carriers of deep meaning – hard for outsiders to grasp. Moreover, many local habits are quite similar across continents, which is quite surprising, but also natural.
· National food / dishes – ingredients (matching, guessing etc)
· Finding / guessing names in different languages (jamon, cucumber, couscous ….
· Drinks and social gatherings
· Something with various ABCs and scripts
Proverbs are vehicles of deep cultural values and are very economically and beautifully phrased. It is very valuable to be able to say a proverb in a language one knows badly otherwise. It reaches the hearts of the speakers of that language. Likewise tongue twisters are of great social value and are useful for practising pronunciation of phonemes.
Cool expressions with fashionable words are fun to teach and learn. It is necessary to write them down so as to be able to recall them and practise them.
Short dialogues are rehearsed in the workgroups. These should have been prepared beforehand by all participants and cover situations that are likely to come up in the course of the teamwork.
It is everybody’s duty to mention and describe one hero and one villain of one’s own culture. These people personify important values inherent in that culture. Why is it important for the culture to condemn or extol a person in that way?
Each of the team members is important for the social climate and hence for the success of the teamwork. It is therefore everybody’s duty to dig up some interest in the other people’s personal background. A few pictures (photographs) from their home towns and of their homes, pets and families are invaluable for an icebreaker activity. To be able to recall and to pronounce the names is a courtesy and a good language training activity at the same time.
GAMES
Social games are often not very demanding as to linguistic content, but all the more rich with non-verbal and cultural cues. In addition to training understanding each other's languages, trust is built, it is a good change from sitting too long, and it is good fun for awhile.
BLINDFOLDED: A member of the group is guided with the words "forward, backward, left, right, 12345 steps" through a "track" made of materials readily available (e.g. books, pens, coffee cups, etc.).
TWISTER: The popular gymnastics game where one is to place left and right hand or foot on a spot with a special colour on the purpose-painted mat.
Modern rituals are no less “unnecessary” than old-fashioned ones. Moreover, differences in the use of rituals such as small talk, greetings, presents, offering drinks, and tips cause enormous difficulties in communication between cultures and stop people from liking each other. What is wrong in one culture is right in another. As part of the ICEBREAKER participants can be offered to teach a few phrases that will create good-will to the other group members.
It is tricky to discuss values and there is a risk that an attempt to do so might back-fire. However, the starting point needs to be that value differences must be accepted. Attitudes to authorities is one stumbling stone. Pictures of kings, queens, or presidents might be useful to bring up this type of discussion. This is important for the work on correct expectations on the project leadership anyway.
Religious symbols might best be avoided, as well as political or gender issues. However, the UN Declaration on Human Rights is available in all languages…
Since there is a little chance that the mentioning of stereotypes could be scathing to people and relationships, it is better to avoid them. However, since they are often funny, it can be OK to take the opportunity of enjoying them if they come up anyway.
There are five types of gestures: signs with verbal translations, illustrators, expressive movements, conversation management, and fidgeting. In addition there is proxemics, haptics, eye behaviour, etc. that it is extremely rewarding and fun to explore. Is there a word that goes with any of these signs?