Blog Post #3

As I spend more and more time with my conversation circle groups, I have definitely picked up a few processes and tricks along the way that help the circle flow more easily.  A large part of that has to do with altering a conversation that I had originally planned to fit with what the group may be saying in the progression of the actual conversation.  One such example occurred at the most recent conversation circle I led last Wednesday.  I had planned to discuss a movie, “Crazy Stupid Love” in regards to the portrayal of middle class American culture and values, and had several video clips that I was going to show.  However, after I showed the initial movie clip, I felt as if there could have been a warmer reception. Therefore, I made the decision to use the idea of family values as a jumping off point for a conversation about different family raising values and techniques in the students native countries.  This elicited much more positive feedback, and we had a lively conversation about how there are actually rules against having a certain number of children in China, while in Germany, families are reimbursed money for having more children.  These differences in values was interesting to all individuals involved, and got us talking about more current event issues occurring in the students native countries, and we agreed to work in current event issues into our weekly conversations. This organic progression was not what I originally had in mind, but actually proved more fulfilling of a conversation to all involved. 

            Now that I have gotten to know my participants a bit more, it has really made our group into more of a camaraderie.  In fact, this was the first class where one of the no shows actually came, and it was great to have all of the other participants welcoming him into the group by asking him questions.  From a leadership standpoint, I now feel much more comfortable asking people to compare and contrast differences in America versus their native countries, on topics that I would originally have glossed over as being too awkward (for example, the one child law in China, or the revolution in Hong Kong). 

            I have yet to go to another conversation circle, but I am really looking forward to it! I would love to see how the other groups are run, and maybe incorporate some of the projects or activities into my own groups.