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TRAMP – Transnational Mobility of Older People in Europe
154 Part II
Method: “Warm up” and Approach to the Topic; Final Conclusion
Goals/Options:
The role play is a simulation exercise that re-enacts an encounter of people of different
cultural backgrounds. It raises the awareness for frequently occurring cultural differences
and, with the coaches’ elaboration, draws the attention to their underlying cultural
norms, values and ideas.
Brief description:
During the two-culture-exercise, two groups with different cultural customs meet. Each
group presents its own culture with its values and rules of conduct, which have to be taken
into account and implemented during negotiations between the two groups. This reveals
cultural differences, which also frequently occur in real situations.
Preparation in the plenum
• The role play provides answers to the question as to what happens, when people of
different cultures meet.
• The participants receive a brief description of the fictitious situation for the role play
(see necessary materials below: slide 1)
Tasks for the group session
• The participants are divided into two groups (men and women together), which are
members of one “culture“.
• Each group separately reads the rules of its suggested culture and memorises them as
much as possible (see necessary materials below: task sheets 1 and 2). It is essential
that the groups have no knowledge of the rules of the other group.
• Each group devises a detailed strategy for the negotiation meeting, which pursues the
negotiation objective and during which the participants should adhere to their own
cultural rules as accurately as possible.
Analysis
• The analysis of the role play can take place on the basis of different questions in the
plenum. The coach is challenged here, as he/she should propose his own knowledge of
intercultural communication (see necessary materials below: questions for analysis).
To be determined beforehand:
Translation of task sheets into the respective languages.
Starting point:
The role play should be conducted at the beginning of the intercultural training following
a brief introductory exercise. That way it can sharpen the awareness for differences, which
may still emerge during the course of the exchange.
Timeframe:
Depending on the level of detail, the overall exercise will take approximately 1 to 2 hours.
The role play itself will take 15 to 30 minutes, preparation time in both work groups
another 15 to 30 minutes.
Group size: Between 12 and 25 participants.
Group composition:
If possible, each work group should include men and women.
The role play does not require the same commitment from all participants. Therefore the
inhibition threshold is usually rather low, even for participants who are not used to role
plays. Whoever still doesn’t want to take part may observe the game and deliver a corresponding
evaluation during the analysis.
In order to avoid time-consuming translations into two or three languages, the work
groups can be divided in such a way that one language is spoken within one group.