ACTIVITY 5
SALT AND PEPPER
Aim: This activity aims to promote communication and mutual understanding between participants. It helps them to develop social skills, build trust and friendships in a new environment. Through the game, participants learn the basics of non-verbal and verbal communication, learn to ask questions and get to know the other members of the group better, which contributes to their integration and sense of belonging.
Material: Annex 1 - pairs of established linguistic links
Number of participants: 12-14 (always an even number of participants)
Time: 30 minutes
Variation of implementation: physical only
Material: Annex 1 - pairs of established linguistic links
Number of participants: 12-14 (always an even number of participants)
Time: 30 minutes
Variation of implementation: physical only
- PREPARATIONThe teacher will provide a room or a confined outdoor space with plenty of room to move around, and if possible a comfortable environment for conversation.
The teacher prepares cards in advance with pairs of related words, e.g. 'salt and pepper', 'milk and honey', 'sail and wind', etc.). Download the cards, Annex 1.
Each word from the chosen pair will be written on a separate self-adhesive smaller sheet of paper, e.g. A7 size.
The number of cards must correspond to the number of participants. Each participant gets one word.
The teacher sticks the cards on the participants' backs so that they cannot read them themselves.
PROCESS
- Introduction and explanation of the rulesThe teacher explains the rules of the game to the participants. Each participant has a word stuck on his/her back which is part of a word pair. Everyone's task is to find out what word is on their back by asking closed questions (yes/no answers) to the other participants.
Participants are not allowed to say or show the word on their back.01 - Finding your wordParticipants move freely around the room and ask questions of others to find out what their word is. These may be questions such as:
_ "Am I eating something?"
_ "Is it used in the kitchen?"
_ "Am I part of a pair with the word pepper?"02 - Pair searchOnce a participant has identified their word, their next task is to find the person who has a word that belongs to the same pair (e.g., whoever has "pepper" is looking for the person who has "salt"). Participants can ask additional questions to determine who their correct pair is.03
- InterviewWhen participants find their pair, they move on to the second phase of the activity. They must ask each other questions to learn three new things about their partner. The questions can be open or closed and can be about personal interests, family situation, hobbies, goals or current feelings.
For example:
_ "What do you most enjoy doing in your spare time?"
_ "What have you learned lately?"
_ "What country would you like to visit?"04
Sharing in a circle
After the interviews are finished, all participants return to the circle. Each pair can share some interesting information they have found out about each other. This part of the activity helps to strengthen the bonds between the group members and deepen the understanding between the participants.
After the interviews are finished, all participants return to the circle. Each pair can share some interesting information they have found out about each other. This part of the activity helps to strengthen the bonds between the group members and deepen the understanding between the participants.
REFLEXE
- 1How did you feel when you had to ask questions and find your pair?(This question helps participants reflect on the process of communication and their comfort in interacting with others.
- 2Was it easy for you to figure out what word was on your back? What was helpful to you in doing this?(Participants can reflect on their strategies for asking questions and how they interacted with others.)
- 3What did you learn about your partner? Did anything surprise you?(The question directs participants to reflect on the new information they learned and think about how they can better connect with others
because of it.) - 4How did this activity help you to better engage with the group?(This question encourages reflection on feelings of belonging and integration within the group.)
- 5How important is it for you to work with others in your new community?(Participants can reflect on the importance of cooperation and support in an environment where they are adapting to a new living context.)