50 Activities for Achieving Cultural Competence

−

47−

9

Who am I? Who are you?

EricLynn,LCTConsultants

Nümberg,Germany

Purposeandlearningobjectives

This activity is designed to facilitate understanding of one’s business counterparts, based on

the principle “Let them talk.”

At the end of the activity, participants will have

• actively examined their personal needs in relation to working with a new set of

colleagues;

• obtained a better understanding of their new colleagues.

Targetaudience

This activity targets international groups of up to 12 people who will be working together.

Time

60 minutes (plus an optional 30 minutes). For additional rounds, allow 30 minutes for stage 2.

Materialsandenvironment

• One leaflet (Handout 1) per participant

• Pens or pencils

• Flipcharts and markers

• This works best when participants are seated close together, on chairs arranged in a circle

(without tables)

Procedure

1. Distribute leaflets to participants. Ask them to individually make notes (20 minutes). In an

event held over several days, you can save time by distributing the leaflets as “homework”

on the first evening and running the activity on the second day. This has the added benefit

of allowing the participants more time to reflect.

2. For small groups of three to four participants, have the groups use their notes as a basis for

exchanging information. Group members concentrate on one person at a time, asking

questions related to the leaflets as they see fit (30 minutes).

50ActivitiesforAchievingCulturalCompetency



−48 −

Option

During a training program lasting two or three days, this exchange round can be repeated

when the participants form new groups (30 minutes per round). Reflection: On flipcharts,

participants record their responses to “What I learned about working with my colleagues

from culture X” (10 minutes).

Debrief

Optional: The trainer can facilitate a group discussion, pointing out the effects these differ-

ences can have on cooperation and how participants can use their diversity for the benefit of

the team (30 minutes).

WhoamI?Whoareyou?



−49−

[Handout1]

Who am I? Who are you?

Name _________________________________________

What I want you to know about me:

− 1 −

Reproducedfrom50ActivitiesforAchievingCulturalCompetence,

byJonamayLambert,SelmaMyers,andGeorgeSimons,editors.

Amherst,MA:HRDPress,2000,2008



− 8 −

Reproducedfrom50ActivitiesforAchievingCulturalCompetence,

byJonamayLambert,SelmaMyers,andGeorgeSimons,editors.

Amherst,MA:HRDPress,2000,2008

50ActivitiesforAchievingCulturalCompetency



−50 −

What I would like others to understand about my culture:

− 7 −

Reproducedfrom50ActivitiesforAchievingCulturalCompetence,

byJonamayLambert,SelmaMyers,andGeorgeSimons,editors.

Amherst,MA:HRDPress,2000,2008

Why I am here:

− 2 −

Reproducedfrom50ActivitiesforAchievingCulturalCompetence,

byJonamayLambert,SelmaMyers,andGeorgeSimons,editors.

Amherst,MA:HRDPress,2000,2008

WhoamI?Whoareyou?



−51−

When I work on projects, these things are important to me:

− 3 −

Reproducedfrom50ActivitiesforAchievingCulturalCompetence,

byJonamayLambert,SelmaMyers,andGeorgeSimons,editors.

Amherst,MA:HRDPress,2000,2008



− 6 −

Reproducedfrom50ActivitiesforAchievingCulturalCompetence,

byJonamayLambert,SelmaMyers,andGeorgeSimons,editors.

Amherst,MA:HRDPress,2000,2008