Sample Lesson Plan

COMMUNICATION STYLES ACTIVITY (English) Overview: Teaching and modeling communication is a key competency developed in virtual exchange. In this lesson, students explore various communication styles and how cultural backgrounds influence communication. This is an interactive exercise for students to experience what it is like to communicate with someone who doesn’t have the same communication style or norms.

Objectives: ● Students will gain a better understanding of different cultural practices, values, and perspectives. ● Students will develop effective communication skills, including active listening, verbal, and non-verbal communication. ● Students will reflect on their own cultural identity and how it influences their interactions.

Time: 30 minutes Preparation: ● Printed rule cards - 1 per student ● Set up the classroom in a way that allows students to walk around and create small groups ● Prior to class review different communication styles and cultural differences: https://thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/assets/pdfs/resource-library/communication-styles. pdf Instructions: Introduction ○ Briefly discuss the importance of cultural awareness and the benefits of understanding different cultures. ○ Explain that culture plays a role in the way that we interact and communicate.

Around the world, there are different norms that people follow when communicating and they differ from country to country. ○ In virtual exchange, it is important to understand that each culture has a different style and cultural norms for communication. It’s important to reflect on that during your interactions.

Activity ○ Share with the students that they will be participating in an activity that is focused on communication. Each student will be given a piece of paper with one rule on it. They are to follow this rule for the entirety of the activity but no one else should know what their rule is. If someone violates your rule, you should raise a finger to let them know they have violated your rule and then continue the conversation. ○ Pass out one to each student. ○ Set a timer for 5 - 10 minutes and allow students to walk around the room and talk with each other. If it is helpful, you can give the students a prompt to discuss.

They should talk to multiple people during this time. ○ When the timer goes off, bring the class back together as a group.

Group Discussion ○ Ask the following questions to debrief the activity: i. How did you feel when participating in this activity? ii. How did it feel to break someone else’s rule? How did this change the way you continued to interact? iii. How can understanding cultural differences improve our interactions in real life? iv. What strategies can we use to be more culturally sensitive and aware in our interactions? v. How can this relate to your interactions with peers during the virtual exchange? ○ Students should leave the conversation understanding that culture impacts the way people communicate and appreciate how their communication style and preferences may differ from others. We may not always know the norms of another culture and it’s important to reflect before making judgments or assumptions.

PRINT OUT

You stand far away from people when talking and do not like when people get too close.

Raise a finger if someone gets close.

You do not make direct eye contact. When talking to someone avoid making eye contact with them. If someone makes eye contact with you raise a finger.

You do not like silence in a conversation. If there is a moment of silence jump into the conversation. Raise a finger if someone leaves a pause or silence in the conversation.

You use your hands when talking to show expression. If someone does not use their hands when talking raise a finger.

You use a lot of filler words such as um, like, you know, so, er in the conversation.

You do not use filler words when talking. You dislike when someone uses filler words when talking. If someone uses a filler word raise a finger.

You put a lot of pauses in the conversation and talk slowly. You dislike it if someone jumps in to fill the silence or interrupts you. Raise a finger if someone interrupts you or fills the silence.

You speak quietly and are not very expressive. You dislike when someone speaks loud or is very expressive. If someone is speaking loudly raise a finger.

You speak loudly and are expressive. If someone is not speaking loudly raise a finger.

You do not stand still when talking. You like to move, play with your hair, and sway side to side. If someone is standing still raise a finger.

You do not move or fidget when talking with someone. If someone is moving a lot or fidgeting raise a finger.