Kayla Weis
FL 665
Instructional Activity #1
April 6, 2014
Cross-Cultural Encounter
An Experience in Kinesics and Paralinguistic Features
Target Language: Spanish
Grade Level: 8th grade, Spanish I
Proficiency Level: Novice High
ACTFL World-Readiness Standard: Learners use the language to investigate, explain, and reflect
on the concept of culture through comparisons of the cultures studied and their own.
Learning Objectives: Students will discover how culture norms (in addition to language) can
affect communication.
Materials: Etiquette sheets and discussion questions
(Computers for follow-up activity)
Integration of the Activity in the Course:
This would be a good activity to do at the very beginning of the year when teaching basic
greetings in Spanish I. Students would already be familiar with the Spanish custom of kissing
one another on the cheek.
Teacher Instructions:
For the activity, each student will receive a piece of paper, an “etiquette sheet,” which
will tell them how they should behave in the coming group interaction. The etiquette sheets
(located at the end of the document) incorporate a gamut of different cultural behaviors, mostly
from opposite ends of the spectrum relating to volume, proxemics, touching, eye contact,
smiling, and high and low involvement. This activity is inspired by a lesson plan entitled
“Chatter” from The Peace Corps World Wise Schools website, with some of my own additions
and changes. Each student must adhere to the rules of his or her etiquette sheet while students
mingle and talk with each other about an interesting topic of the teacher or class’s choosing, but
they must not share what is written on their etiquette sheet.
Since the object of the activity is to see how factors other than language can affect
communication, the topic may be discussed in the students’ native language. Here are some ideas
for possible topics: What is the best way to learn vocabulary? Which is better, block scheduling
or a traditional schedule? Should schools move to standards-based grading? Who is more
responsible for learning, the teacher or the student? How involved should parents be in school?
The topic need not be school related. Anything will work as long as it provides for a wide
breadth of extended discussion.
When the students have received their etiquette sheets and the discussion topic has been
set, let the students mingle, interact, and talk for 10-15 minutes. Encourage students to move
between groups every five minutes. When mingling time is up, arrange the desks in a circle, and
have everyone reveal what their etiquette instructions were. You may also ask students to guess
what behaviors other people had. Then use the discussion questions below to process what
happened in the activity and how they felt about it.
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Discussion Questions
How did you feel about this exercise? Were you relieved or disappointed when it came to an
end? Why?
What happened during the simulation? Did any of you feel embarrassed or frustrated during
the conversations? What made you feel that way? Was it the way your etiquette sheet asked
you to behave? Or the way someone else was instructed to behave? Why do you think you
reacted the way you did?
Did you consider any of the behavior patterns in this exercise rude or offensive? If so, was it
one of your behaviors or someone else's? Why did this behavior bother you?
What were the differences between your conversations in different groups? Why do you think
these differences occurred? Does this happen in real-life situations?
Discuss the following statements. Ask students whether they agree or disagree with each
statement. Ask them to use examples of their experiences from the game and from real life to
support their opinions.
There is more to a conversation than just the words and sentences.
We tend to judge other people based on what we think is "normal."
Behaviors that we consider to be bizarre or rude may be acceptable or polite in other cultures.
Sometimes you may feel negative about another person because his or her conversational
style seems strange.
After time, people get used to unusual behaviors and begin paying more attention to the topic
of the conversation.
What real-world situations are represented in this game? What do the etiquette sheets
represent?
Can you think of any conversational behaviors you exhibit that others might find distracting
or strange? (Hint: Do teenagers have ways of communicating that adults don't understand?)
What might have happened if the conversations had lasted for 45 minutes instead of 10?
What would have happened if you had been asked to solve a homework problem with the
other members of your group?
What advice would you give a friend who is about to participate in this activity for the first
time?
What if you were to visit a foreign country? Based on your experiences during this activity,
what are some things you could do to make communication easier?
Pre-Activity:
Ask students to share with a partner a time when you misunderstood someone, not because of the
words they used, but the way in which they said it or the actions they used.
Student Instructions for the Activity:
You will have 10-15 minutes to discuss the topic of _____________ with your classmates. Get
up, mingle with your classmates, and exchange your opinions. However, while doing so, you
must adhere to the rules of the etiquette sheet you have received. Do not share what the rules of
this etiquette sheet are with anyone. Observe what happens and how you feel during the
discussion.
Possible Assessment:
Ask student to respond in written form to the bulleted points in the discussion questions above.
Possible Follow-up Activity:
Ask each student to research which culture(s) were represented by the etiquette sheet he or she
received.
Etiquette Sheets
It is impolite to shout, so talk softly. Whisper. Even if people cannot hear you, do not raise your
voice.
It is important to speak clearly and confidently. When you are talking, make sure everyone in the
room can hear you.
It is impolite to talk to more than one person at the same time. Always talk to a single person
standing near you so that you can have a private conversation. Do not address your remarks to
the group as a whole.
It is polite to greet people with a kiss on each cheek when joining a group. Make sure you get
everybody in the group.
It is polite to greet people before you begin a conversation. Make sure you verbally greet
everyone in the group and make inquiries about how they are, how their families are doing, ask
about their opinions on the weather, etc. before you participate in any real topic of conversation.
It is important to get others’ attention before you speak, so loudly clear your throat and make eye
contact with everyone before you begin to speak. That’s the polite way to get everyone’s
attention.
It is impolite to crowd people, so maintain your distance. Stand away so that there is at least an
arm’s length between you and the nearest person. If anyone gets too close to you, back off until
you have achieved the required distance.
It is polite to make eye contact. Make sure you look people in the eye when you are addressing
them, and when listening, make eye contact with the speaker.
It is impolite to stare at people, so avoid eye contact. Look at the floor or the speaker’s shoes. Do
not look at the speaker’s face.
It is polite and reassuring to reach out and touch someone. Touch people on the arm or the
shoulder when you speak to them.
It is important to show your enthusiasm, so jump in before other speakers have finished their
sentences and add your ideas. Remember, it is rude to hold back your thoughts.
It is rude to interrupt or speak impulsively. Before speaking, make sure to silently count four
seconds of silence to make sure the last person speaking is done talking. Whenever somebody
asks you a question, silently count to seven before you give an answer.
It is impolite to be aloof from others. Stand close to others until you nearly touch them. If
someone backs off, keep moving closer.
It is polite to show you’re friendly by smiling. Greet everyone with a smile, and make sure to
have a pleasant expression on your face when listening and speaking.
Sincerity is key. Smiling too much betrays insincere feelings. In order to show that your feelings
are genuine, do not smile unnecessarily.
Be yourself! Behave as you would normally behave at an informal party.