Holbery,+Martin

media type="file" key="Holbery, Martin.mov" width="300" height="300" align="center"



** What are the unique features of Rafa'Rafa'? **  Rafa'Rafa' talks about the specific differences in cultures and groups, it focuses on the feelings, attitudes and reactions generated whenever one experiences another culture of any kind. Many teachers find it valuable to introduce their students to the idea of culture using Rafa'Rafa' and then study specific cultures. ** What are the goals of Rafa'Rafa'? **  With Rafa'Rafa', the emphasis is on the process of interacting with another culture. Specifically, it emphasizes the importance of listening, of asking questions, of observing with an open mind, and of understanding the likely mistakes one will make if one makes assumptions and evaluates the other person's behavior based on values, assumptions and practices of one's own culture. All of this serves to build awareness of how cultural differences can profoundly impact the way people live, think and behave. More specifically, it is used: ** 1. ** To illustrate the difficulties and problems one may encounter when interacting with persons who are different. Including: ** a. ** The tendency to disparage anything another person or group does which we don't understand. This realization gives the teacher an opportunity to help students examine their own biases. ** 2. ** To introduce the importance of speaking in descriptive rather than evaluative terms when talking about other individuals or groups. ** 3. ** To serve as a beginning point for studying certain characteristics, values and qualities in different cultures. Specifically: ** a. ** the importance of understanding social distance in understanding other cultures. ** 4 ** . To point out the importance, value and effectiveness of non-verbal communication. ** 5. ** To help students identify ways of behaving that make everyone feel as though they belong. ** Where does it fit in the curriculum? **  Rafa'Rafa' can be used in any unit or course concerned with multi-cultural education, how to get along with others, how to resolve conflicts, or to prepare for an international setting. ** What happens in Rafa'Rafa'? **  The participating pupils are divided to two groups. Each group is instructed in a new and different way of living. One group is called the # Alpha Culture, the other group the # Beta Culture. The people in the Alpha Culture are fun loving, superstitious and honor their elders. People in the Beta Culture are hard working, businesslike, foreign speaking, and do not like to be close to one another. The cultures are initially separated. Once the members of each group have learned the rules of their new culture, observers are exchanged. Observers (three children) ‘travel’ to the other culture and try to learn about it by listening and watching. The visitor (observer) is generally bewildered and confused by the strangeness of the foreign culture. Bewilderment often turns to recounts of intolerance once the visitor returns home. "They're strange, real strange, that's all I can say. They're making funny sounds and weird gestures. Just be careful when you go over there!" ..observers report. The interest and involvement reaches a climax in the discussion __after the simulation__ rather than during the simulation itself. It is during the discussion that the mysteries of each of the cultures are unraveled and the participants compare perceptions of one another's culture. As they discuss the experience, they come to understand that there were reasons behind the behavior they observed. With this realization, their attitudes change from one of hostility to understanding. The discussion then moves from the simulated experience to examining attitudes towards other groups in the real world. ** How long does it take? **  It can be played in one period and discussed the next. ** How many participants does Rafa'Rafa' accommodate? **  Up to 40 participants at a time. Twenty-four to 35 is the ideal number of participants. The lowest limit at which the simulation can successfully be played is 6 persons in each culture. The maximum number is less fixed, but it would probably become unmanageable when the number gets larger than 40. ** How much preparation time is required? **  Approximately thirty to forty minutes the first time through. Five to ten minutes on subsequent runs. It is necessary to have two spaces, one for the introduction and the Alpha culture and another space for the Beta culture. The Beta culture space could be a hallway or a breakout room. The people in the Alpha Culture are: Each time they are involved in a greeting they must give up some of their Note: If you initiate a greeting members are obliged to honor it and exchange bones. (Any amount…remember you can go to your elders for more) If the person you greet does not reciprocate the exchange a chant is begun. Everybody stops their activity and huddles together and holds hands and chants “Umm Bally Wally” over and over again three times… joyously. Materials: Each participant needs 9 finger-sized bones and the giving elder needs 40 – 50 pieces Beta Culture: The people in Beta culture are: They are foreign speaking: “atrad?” means “do you wish to trade? Materials: Each participant needs three hand-sized bones
 * b.** The tendency of some people to rush into a new situation without observing or trying to figure what the values and attitudes of the people are and, on the other hand, the tendency of others to never try to learn by interacting.
 * c.** The tendency to rely on stereotypes to explain behavior we don't understand and how these stereotypes are formed and can lead to misunderstanding.
 * b**. the way one's language affects one's thoughts.
 * c.** the way attitudes towards kin vary from culture to culture.
 * d.** the way different cultures treat in-group and out-group members.
 * e.** the different attitudes toward work and play and how such attitudes affect the culture and one's personal outlook.
 * Alpha Culture: **
 * 1) fun loving: they smile a great deal at each other ..nod their heads from side-to-side and
 * 2) greet each other by touching an elbow and laughing for 2 seconds.
 * 3) Otherwise they are a quiet and gentle culture.
 * 1) bones. An individual can decide the amount. You start the game with three bones each. Once you have more than 5 bones you must give some to your elders…you decide. You must greet your Elders by touching their elbow and laughing for 2 seconds
 * 2) Elders: select two children to sit in an exulted position. One elder receives the bones and the other elder gives them out. __More bones are circulated then are received__.
 * 3) Alpha culture enjoy group worship / communication and bow to their elders before greeting them.
 * 1) hard working and business-like ..they are a little aggressive in their demeanor and stand-offish. They don’t easily tolerate their time being wasted. They are in competition with each other.
 * 2) they don’t like being touched and prefer to keep an arms length away when doing any sort of business.
 * 3) They want to sell their large bones for a high price and don’t easily do business, as they are greedy