Small-Scale Marine Fisheries - A Training Manual (Peace Corps, 1983, 631 p.): Week 2: Training: Session T-5: Non-verbal communication

Small-Scale Marine Fisheries - A Training Manual (Peace Corps, 1983, 631 p.)

Week 2: Training

		Session T-1: Introduction to technical training
		Session T-2: The oceans, rivers, streams of the world an overview of world wide fisheries
		Session T-3: Special projects
		Session T-4: Introduction to nets
		Session T-5: Non-verbal communication
		Session T-6: Introduction to net construction and repair
		Session T-7: Introduction to outboard engines
		Session T-9: Values clarification
		Session T-10: Outboard engine trouble shooting
		Session T-11: Tropical photography - extension

Session T-5: Non-verbal communication

Time: 8:30 PM

Goals:

· To identify ways we communicate verbally and non-verbally
· To identify patterns of non-verbal communication
· To look at perceptions one has about one's non-verbal message
· To identify some implications of non-verbal communication for cross cultural effectiveness
· To develop non-verbal communication skills

Overview:

This session explores communication as a process. Trainees will have received some non-verbal communications training previously. This session will reinforce those learnings and concentrate on building nonverbal skills.

Exercises:

1. "Messages" and lecture

2. Reflections on non-verbal communications and observations of another.

EXERCISE 1 - Messages Total Time: 30 Minutes

Overview:

We communicate our likes and dislikes; actually, we communicate more non-verbally about relationships than we do in any other way. In this exercise we are going to communicate non-verbally only.

Procedures:

Time	Activities
5 Minutes	1. Trainer announces that "we are going to try a game, the meaning of which we will discover later, trust me." The game is structured rather like charades except that one may not use charade-like signals (such as spelling with the fingers or using word conventions). Even if you have played this game before, it is fun to see if you are becoming skillful at it.
10 Minutes	2. In pairs, give each person a message on a piece of paper (see list below); then tell the group that they have three minutes to try to get the message across without using words. They cannot write, spell or talk. Trainer keeps track of time. After first three minutes, switch so that the other person can try it out also. A sample list of messages follows (you may add your own but the message should include either an emotion or communicate something about a relationship, as well as try to give a message about a thing).
	Messages (have them written out on slips of paper):	a. "I'm angry because the goats ate my garden."
		b. "I'm happy because your crew arrived to work today."
		c. "I'm frustrated because you never listen to me."
		d. "You can't understand me, and this frightens me."
		e. "I'm surprised at your youthful appearance."
		f. "I like you and want to be your friend."
		g. "I'm weak (and submissive)and you are strong(and dominant)."
5 Minutes	3. After the non-verbal experience, gather group reactions:	o What was that like for you?
		o What was easy about it (i.e., what part of the message could you get)?
		o What was difficult (i.e., what part of the message couldn't you get)?
10 Minutes	4. Build a lecture out of group experience:	o How many of you know about non-verbal communication?
		o What is it? Give some examples.
		o What does non-verbal communication communicate?
		o How aware are you of your own non-verbal message?
	As trainees answer these questions, write down the answers on a flip chart and examine them with the group. At the end, the group and the trainer should arrive at a working definition of non-verbal communication which they can test out during the next week with each other.

EXERCISE 2 - Reflections on Non-Verbal Communications and Observations Of Another

Total Time: 30 Minutes

Overview:

The purpose of this exercise is to give individuals time to think about how they communicate non-verbally. They can then decide if there is perhaps some new or different non-verbal behavior they would like to try out during training.

Procedures:

Time	Activities
15 Minutes	1. Trainer lists on newsprint the following:	o Body Bearing
		o Appearance
		o Tone of Voice
		o Use of Space
		o Content of Language
		o Gestures
		o Ornaments
		o Touching
		o Facial Expressions
		o Smells
		o Colors
		o Signs
		o Grooming
		o Manners
		o Eye Contact
		o Clothing
		o Actions
		o Sounds
		o Others
	Asks participants to take a few minutes to write down how and what they think they communicate non-verbally in each one of these categories.
5 Minutes	2. Ask participants to look over responses to the non verbal categories. Determine if there is some area of non-verbal communication they want to strengthen or perhaps change.
5 Minutes	3. Ask participants to choose partners which will be for the purpose of "observing each other" for a one week period in order to learn more about non-verbal communication and the way we are perceived by another. The task is to "watch each other" during the week whenever possible, and to notice how the other person uses non-verbal communication. At this point, they may want to share with each other their responses to the non-verbal categories-to check-out their perceptions of how and what they communicate non-verbally.
5 Minutes	4. Trainer says that at the end of the week, the same pairs will meet to both provide each other feedback on how they communicated non-verbally and to draw some generalizations from the experience about how people from our culture communicate non-verbally. Also, participants will be able to check their own non-verbal images with their partners.