Non-verbal communication alternatives

This method provides a good opportunity to start a discussion or challenge. Announce a topic and give learners the choice of four nonverbal communication alternatives for presenting it, for example: through drawings, non-alphabetic marks, hand gestures and body language.

Individual choice
Learners choose individually the option they find the most interesting, noting the choice made on a piece of paper, without talking to each other or showing other classmates.

Communication corners
Four corners will be marked in the classroom, one for each communication channel. Learners will go to the chosen corner showing the paper where they noted their choice on to their classmates; by this time, learners are unable to change the choice made.

Sharing ideas and prepare the presentation
The group in each corner will discuss the announced topic. Each learner will propose how to present it through the chosen type of communication. The group will decide together how to present the topic to the rest of the class. Make sure learners explore the topic creatively. Also, arrange an empty poster in each corner, on which learners can share within their own group the ideas for the presentation.

Moving around corners
After 15-20 minutes stop the activity of the groups. Each group will have to decide which members are in charge of the topic presentation (reporters). The other group members will go to another corner where the designed reporters of that corner will explain the topic using their chosen nonverbal communication. Make sure learners actually use that type of communication for their presentation, and that they do not all move around the same corner and at the same time.

Exchanging roles and moving to the other corners
After 5 minutes, clap your hands and everyone returns to the home group. Now two other members of the group will be the reporters, while the other members will go to different corners to receive explanations about the topic. This process will take place until all learners receive explanations from all corners of the class.

Evaluating time
Evaluate with learners with a discussion: if it was easy or difficult for them to transmit / receive the message, which were the factors that prevented / facilitated the transmission of the message, what efficient methods are for transmitting a message, etc.