AF 1: Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall ...

Affective aim: To deepen rapport between TL learners through imitation, mirroring and interactional synchrony.

Level: All

Procedure

• (1) Preface this activity by explaining that its purpose is to sensitize interactants to the details of body movement and expression and to show them how ‘mirroring’ an interlocutor’s nonverbal behavior builds rapport and demonstrates that two people are thinking and communicating in sync (Andersen & Guerrero, 1998).

• (2) Place learners in pairs and instruct them to remain standing. Tell one of the partners to take the lead, remain completely silent and begin moving in any way desired, making sure to use both subtle and obvious actions. Tell the other partner to follow or mimic everything the leader does.

• (3) Continue this for two minutes and then switch roles and follow the same instructions.

• (4) After two more minutes, direct the dyads to carry out the activity again but this time there are no assigned leader or follower roles and both must try to move in unison, mirroring each other.

• (5) Switch partners. Instruct pairs to carry out the entire series of tasks again, but this time, add facial expression to the body movements.

• (6) De-brief this technique by asking what dyads did in order to move in unison. Was it easier with one partner or the other? Did anyone prefer to lead as opposed to follow? Did learners sense that positive feelings were being generated among partners? Do learners think that building rapport is an important emotional skill to manage in their TL interactions?

AF 2: Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Blabbery

Affective aim: To increase learners' comfort and mimicking accuracy with imitation and mirroring.