bafa-bafa-a-cross-cultural-simulation-game.pdf

Good tools to use for teaching cultural diversity and how to cope well in different culture group.

1. BAFABAFA
A CROSS-CULTURALSIMULATION
GAME
SUBMITTEDBY STEPHANIE THIBEAUAND BHREAGHMACDONALD
https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/mu.ndsu.edu/Bafa_Bafa.doc

2. WHYBAFA BAFA?
•This is an adaptationof the classic cross-cultural
simulationgame.
•Throughconsiderablelaughterand enjoyment, it raises
someimportantissuesconcerningassumptionsand
behaviourswheninteractingwith membersof an
unfamiliarculture.

3. HISTORY
•"Around1971, the U.S. Navy becameveryconcernedaboutthe behaviorof American Sailorson leavein
foreignports, specificallyGreece and Japan, and determinedto do somethingto avoidincidentsthat were
threateningrelationsbetweenthe United States and itsallies.
•The Navy PersonnelResearchand DevelopmentCenter approachedGarry Shirtsfor assistancein creating
a simulationthat wouldteachnavalpersonnelaboutthe specificcultureswhereincidentshad
occurred.
[7]
The Navy hadcreatedprintmaterial, readilyavailableto the sailors, that explainedGreek culture,
soa lackof information wasnot the problem; it wasthe apparentfailureto putit to use.
•Shirtsdecidedthat educatingpeoplewasonlypartof the answer; it wasalsonecessaryto helpthemunderstandthe natureof cultureitselfand its
impacton humaninteraction. This would, he postulated, motivatethemto learn how to interacteffectivelywithinanyculturalenvironment. The resultwas
the simulationgame BaFá BaFá, whichwasoriginallyaccompaniedby trainingmodules, a comicstrip, and language tapes.
•https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/BaFa%27_BaFa%27

4. BAFABAFA IN BRIEF
•Purpose:Simulatingcross-culturalinteractionsand exploring
assumptionsand behaviorsinvolved.
•Time Needed:60-80 minutes
•Resources:
•2 clearedrooms, separate, butwith easyaccessto eachother
•for the Alpha Culture:a setof rules
•for the Beta Culture:a setof rules

5. LET’SSTARTTHE SIMULATION
1.Make up two groups
Alfa-group(facilitator: Timo Paakkanen)
Beta-group(facilitator: Jari Salo)
2.Divideto your ownrooms
3.Learn your new culture(20-30 minutes)
4.Exchange the observers(5 minutes)Duringthis time an "observer" from eachcultureis appointed or
elected.At a time agreeduponby the two facilitators, the observersvisiteachother'sculturefor 5
minutes.Theirtaskis to find out asmuchastheycan aboutthe culturetheyare visiting. observers
thenreturn to theirhome culturesto describeand attemptto interpretwhattheyhaveexperienced
(5 minutes)
5.Exchange the visitors(45-60 minute)
6.Feedback and conclusions

6. DEBRIEFING
•Whatcomesto mindwhenthinkof alphans/betans?
•How didalphans/betansappearwhenon your culture?
•How didit feelto be in the otherculture?
•How didyou copewhenon the othercultureie. withdraw, getaggressive
etc…?

7. RULES
•Alphans: tellus the BetansRules?
•Betans: tellus the AlphansRules?
•How doesit feelto hearquestionsaboutyour culture?

8. TO DISCUSSWITH THE STUDENT
•How didone's perceptionshapeone's behaviour?
•Whatassumptionsweremade aboutthe practicesand behaviourof the otherculture, and why?
•Didparticipantsfeelexploitedor badlytreatedeitherin theirown, or in the otherculture?If so, whyand wasit
intentionalon the partof thosewho gaveoffence?
•Didthe specificrolesgivento menand womenin the Alpha culturecauseanydifficulties, eitherin relationswithin
the cultureor in cross-culturerelations?
•Wastherea clashbetweencompetitivevaluesof the Beta and cooperativevaluesof the Alpha culture?
•Whenwe go to a foreigncountry, do we perceivethe customsand practicesif that country's peoplethe sameway
theydo?
•Whydo we sometimesthinknew arrivalsand visitorsto our country "behaveoddly"?
•How importantis language to effectivecommunicationbetweenpeople?

9. YOUTUBE LINKS
•https://youtu.be/KkBwcYoUjSs(Alpha)
•https://youtu.be/7kZuxel50_w(Beta)
•https://youtu.be/vi4nVs077Rc

10. •https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/TrainingArena/bafa-bafa-simulacin