ice-breakers

[Othersideofthechannel]

suggestions for ice-breakers for a language conversation group please

I have currently got:

a mini-questionnaire to ask your neighbour eg name, job, favourite colour, etc then introduce the neighbour to the rest of the group

err, that's it so far. We will be meeting in a café so won't be able to rearrange the furniture or stand in a circle

Is this an English-French group?

• Describe your perfect weekend/holiday

Hijack!quick question for all you french speakers:
what does 'gros bisous' mean?

a french friend always ends her email with this!

Big kisses

thanks Anna!

Anything with an "information gap" like your mini-questionnaire. i.e. people talking to each other but having to find out something which only the other person knows. This means they a) have to practise the language (which I assume is the idea?) but also b) have a genuine need (OK, within the context of the situation!) to find out the information.

Introducing your neighbour to the group is also more interesting than getting people to talk about themselves as immediately you've got two people involved. Otherwise you have a group of people spouting about themselves and you have to hope that the others will listen

I would go with your idea! (Is a classic, by the way)

I was once asked as part of a group to give my 'biggest achievement in life' - to which I answered 'getting both girls into bed by 7pm so I could come to this meeting on time' - both girls were under age 2 at the time so believe me that's an achievement!

and 'biggest failure' - to which I answered 'not driving'.

JaneHH - I understand your point.

However, not asking questions is a good way of avoiding embarrassment when you know very little about the other people.

Like your idea OthersideoftheC

Yes, you're right, Anna, but I think if you keep the questions simple and innocuous (where do you come from? do you have any brothers or sisters?) as opposed to embarrassing (how's your sex life? ) then I think most people who've actively joined a language conversation group would be able to deal with them, no?

I just think given my experience of showing off sessions introduction rounds on training courses at work it's better to a) keep the introduction "scope" contained (i.e. the pre-prepared list of questions, not a monologue on someone's granny's cats) and b) let others introduce you. You then get the added "conversational opportunities" (for want of a better phrase) when the interviewer/introducer has got something slightly wrong and the interviewee has to correct them. Can be quite funny, too! (Also, just thought - people who are shy at introducing themselves don't actually have to do so!)

"Do you have any brothers or sisters" is the question my partner dreads (his brother died of AIDS).

See what I mean? I think asking personal questions is a minefield in these situations. Better to "break the ice" by letting people have free rein over what they say.

Yes, I was thinking it would avoid the shyness thing.

It is for French speakers who want to improve their English. I have no idea if there will be any interest other than the one person who asked me to start something who has a v. busy job and won't be able to commit to anything regular because of work committments. I also have no idea what level of English language anyone who does turn up will have.

I thought I'd give them a list of ideas for questions but encourage them to vary from the list in order to avoid v repetitive presentations.

OK, avoid questions about the family.

I'll get them to find out how long they've been learning English, whether they've been to an English speaking country etc.

oh absolutely Anna, I see your point sorry to hear that

Good luck with it, otherside, hope it takes off.

Thanks