Cultural Encounter Simulation
An Alternative Pedagogy

1. divide the class in half;
2. move one half of the class outside or to another room;
3. distribute the text of the below material on Agitanians and Solidarians, with each group getting information only on their own culture, behavior and goals;
4. clarify cultural ideas by having students practice being Agitanian or Solidarian
5. have the two groups exchange observers to take notes on what happens;
6. exchange "ambassadors" two or three at a time to interact with the other culture;
7. bring the whole group back together;
8. put feelings, reactions, etc. on the board, e.g., ask members from one group what people in the other group are like;
9. evaluate and discuss together the concepts of ethnocentrism revealed in the game;
10. assign written response to the game for a journal or log (this can tie in with readings of literature).

You like to touch people as much as possible and to stand and sit very close to people. When you greet a person, you give a long, warm, two-handed handshake. When you greet people or talk to them, you look them in the eye for a long time. You are very selfish. You like to talk a lot about yourself and the things that interest you. You don't really pay attention to the person you're talking to because he or she is not as important as you are; therefore, you don't want to understand him or her better. You feel that you are right and the other person is always wrong. However, you are very nosy, and you like to find out things about other people because you feel this gives you more power. You like to argue so that people will pay attention to you, so you often disagree with people. Time is very important to you; you are always punctual and you expect everyone else to be on time also. You always set time limits to the minute for completing your activities.

Your task is to find out from the people in the other group their parents' names and how much money they earn (or get from their parents) each month, without letting them find out too much about you.

You do not like to touch people at all, and when you talk to someone, you do not stand or sit close to them. When you greet someone, you do not give a handshake; you merely nod your head. You do not look at the person you are talking to and you do not like to be looked at either. You are very shy and do not like to talk about yourself. In fact, you will go to great lengths to avoid giving out any personal information. Although you are shy, you are interested in other people, so you ask them questions about their interests rather than talk about yourself. You never interrupt; instead you listen carefully and let a person finish what he is saying before you speak. You never argue, even if you disagree with someone. You want to avoid conflict situations. While you dislike giving out personal information, you want to help other people as much as possible. Time is not important to you; you arrive when it is convenient, meaning that you're usually the last person to show up. You never set time limits for completing tasks because you feel that it's more important to enjoy what you're doing than to reach a goal.

Your task is to find out as much as possible about the people in the other group (especially what they think of you) without giving away information about yourself.