Module 1: Empathic Communication Commented [1]: what do you think?

Learning Objectives:

- To practice conversational skills

- To establish empathic listening skills
- To learn how to effectively handle preconceived judgements

Other Possible Topic of Coverage:

- Courage
- Self-confidence
- Growth mindset
- Empathy
- Trust
- Empower
- Tactfulness

Number of Participants

Timeframe:
Activity Time Allotted

Briefing (includes general instructions) 2 minutes

Questions and Clarifications 1 minute

Blind Folding and Pair-Up 5 minutes

Phase 1: Tell My Story (Put Your

Assumptions to the test)

Part One (First Page): Icebreaker Questions 3 minutes

Instructions with Questions and Clarifications

Answer Questions 9 minutes

Mobilization 3 minutes Commented [2]: I don't know if appropriate lol

Part Two (Second Page): Aspirations/Beliefs 1 minute

Instructions with Questions and Clarifications

Answer Questions 7 minutes

 Mobilization 10 minutes Commented [3]: I don't know if appropriate lol

Part Three (Last Page): Self-Perception and 10 minutes

Other Deep Topics
Briefing with Questions and Clarifications Commented [4]: There will be "briefings" at the start of
every part but the last will be given more emphasis
Answer Questions 10 minutes since it is very personal compared to the rest

Mobilization 10 minutes Commented [5]: I don't know if appropriate lol

Phase 2: Brief Speech 3 minutes

Phase 3: Nanay Video 4 minutes

Processing and Synthesis 12 minutes

Total 1 hour 30 mins.

Logistics Needed

Materials per pair:

● 3 page questionnaire each
● Pens/Pencils with eraser
● Chairs
● Bandanas per person (for blindfold)
● Timer
● Powerpoint with instructions
● Music (Casual, “semi-sentimental,” sentimental)
● Space

Map

University Dorm Basement

Context:

Procedure and Instructions for Phase 1:

Part 1
1. Each person must first hide their name tags.
2. Then, each will be blindfolded and randomly paired up. He/she will be guided by the
ushers to their pairs’ seat and will only be allowed to remove the blindfold only after the
host say so. Commented [6]: not sure if this is proper term
3. This exercise is patterned after SoulPancake’s “Tell my story (Put Your Assumptions to
the test),” but with a twist. Each person will be given a pen and questionnaire. There are
three rounds of questions from icebreakers to a little bit more personal. However, rest
assured that part of the twist is that we will not force you to share information, especially
in the last round.
4. Everyone has the same set of questions. For the first page, you will be given 8 minutes to
answer and you may write on the questionnaire. Notice that under each question, you
may write down your guesses of your partner’s.
5. Once time is up, the host will say who will start. Example: I say the pair who lives the
farthest will start. Then, the said person will be first to say his/her guesses. When he/she
finished, then the other partner will his/her personal answers. Afterwards, repeat the same
process for the other pair.
6. There are many learning objectives to this exercise but what I want you to keep in mind
while sharing is to have fun. Also: here are a few rules (that will be kept posted on the
powerpoint)
- Maintain eye-contact as much as possible
- If you finish talking early, avoid speaking to other pairs. If it necessary, then please
inform your partner first and once you’re done, immediately go back.
- If there is you have an emergency (restroom, family concern, etc.) in the middle of the
activity, please inform your partner as well and the host.
- If you are sleepy or tired, try to stay awake (try smiling).

7. Open for Questions

Part 1
8. First person to start is the person with longest arm. If you have the same arm length, then
the person who had the longest sleep last night will go first.
Part 2
9. First person to start is the person with the smaller foot size. If you have the same foot
size, then the first person to win one round of rock-paper-scissors. If you don’t know
your foot size, then feel free to compare right now.
Part 3
10. Since the questions are quite personal, we want you to read them first and see which ones
you are not comfortable answering or if you don’t want to answer at all. Understand that
the point of this exercise is meant to push you out of your comfort zone to be able see
beyond yourself and empower you. But we acknowledge the fact that everyone does this
at their own pace.
11. From here, communicate with your partner. What are the questions you are comfortable
answering and which ones you are not.
12. If you decide to answer any of the questions; it is the same instructions as the previous
two questions but your partner will no longer guess the questions but read it out loud
 what you wrote while using the same pronoun, "I." Example: My answer for the first
question is, “I have a hard time communicating with others,” instead of reading it out
loud myself my partner will read it and say, “I have a hard time communicating with
others.”
13. If there is a question where only one is comfortable sharing, then that person may do so
while the other half must listen, avoid commenting and giving advice. If the listener
thinks it is necessary, then he/she may feel free to do so.
14. But note that simple actions like listening intently or a short squeeze on the person’s arm
is just as good. If your partner wants to share something and you agreed to talk about it as
a pair, then it is only respectful to give your 100% attention and to keep his/her sharing a
secret. Because this partner is taking a step outside their comfort zone and this is an
opportunity for the other to learn something that can’t be taught at school. This will be
made clear during the processing.
15. Lastly, should both of the partners decide to not answer any of the questions; then, they
may opt to do any of the activities in the fourth page during the sharing or to just talk
with one another, in spirit of practicing communication.
16. Decide between your pair who will go first.

Procedure and Instruction for Phase 2:

1. Speech
2. Video
3. Processing and Synthesis

Questionnaire
Page 1
1. The first letter of my name is ______________________ (then share your name after Commented [7]: Nickname
your partner finished answering the question and it’s your turn to respond)

The first letter of your name is ______________________ Commented [8]: Nickname

2. I belong to ________________________ <- insert school on blank, i.e. HUMSS, SOH,

etc. (Note: you may share what specific course AFTER YOU GUESSED the school)

You belong to ________________________ <- insert school on blank, i.e. HUMSS,

SOH, etc. (Note: you may share what specific course AFTER YOU GUESSED the
school)
Commented [9]: If you have more than one, then
3. The color of the school bag I use is ____________________ picked either the one you use the most on campus or
just pick one.

The color of the school bag you use is ____________________ Commented [10]: If you have more than one, then
picked either the one you use the most on campus or
just pick one.
4. I usually wake up at __________ on Mondays while my first class is at _________ Commented [11]: Ex. I usually wake up at 8am on
Mondays and my first class is 9am.

You usually wake up at __________ on Mondays while your first class is at _________ Commented [12]: Ex. I usually wake up at 8am on
Mondays and my first class is 9am.

5. ___________________ is the movie I am looking forward to watch this 2019

___________________ is the movie you are looking forward to watch this 2019

6. One hobby I wouldn’t mind to get into if time and money weren’t an issue is
_______________________________

One hobby you wouldn’t mind to get into if time and money weren’t an issue is
_______________________________

7. One of my pet peeves is _________________

One of your pet peeves is _________________

8. I would like to travel to __________________ one day Commented [13]: Going back to some place will be
considered the same for this assumption. You can say
specifically after the person guessed.
You would like to travel to __________________ one day
Commented [14]: Going back to some place will be
considered the same for this assumption. You can say
9. One unique thing about me is that _______________________ specifically after the person guessed.
Commented [15]: Example, I can move only one eye
or I practice martial arts even if my oncologist says I
One unique thing about you is that _______________________ can't
Commented [16]: Example, I can move only one eye
Page 2 or I practice martial arts even if my oncologist says I
can't

1. My dream job is to be a ___________________________________

Your dream job is to be a __________________________________

2. One of my major values is _______________________. (i.e. Hard work, perseverance,

kindness, etc.)

One of your major values is _______________________. (i.e. Hard work, perseverance,

kindness, etc.)

3. ________________________ inspires me. (i.e. person, experience, etc.)

________________________ inspires you. (i.e. person, experience, etc.)
 4. If my dream job wasn’t _______________, then it would be __________________.

If your dream job wasn’t _______________, then it would be __________________.

5. One of the best things about me is ______________________.

One of the best things about you is ______________________.

6. I believe helping people is _________________ because _______________________.

You believe helping people is _________________ because

_______________________.

Page 3

1. I have a _____________ (easy, hard, etc.) time communicating with others because
______________________________________________.
2. I think communication is ___________________ but it is also
_______________________.
3. I think the current situation of the Philippines is ___________________________,
because __________________________________.
4. I think China is _________________________, because
______________________________________.
5. I want to improve on _______________________________ because
_______________________________________________.
6. When I’m struggling, I tend to forget _____________________________.
7. Whenever I fail something I worked really hard on, I honestly feel
_________________________________________.
8. I’m scared that people would think of me as _________________________________
because _______________________________.
9. I wish more people would see that I am __________________________.

Page 4: Activities
1. Tongue Twisters
2. Word Search
3. Basic Sign Language

Questions for Nanays

English Tagalog

What is your name and the business you are

 in?

What were your assumptions of Ateneans Commented [17]: You could say "Atenistas" or
before working with someone from Project students from Ateneo to make it more "relatable" for
the Nanays
Kabuhayan?

Do you believe that some, if not all, your

assumptions were true? If some, which ones? Commented [18]: The purpose of asking this is
(Yes or No would be fine) because I don't want the video to be a "commercial"
where only the good points obviously cherry picked.
But to emphasis that for communication to happen, we
After working with Ateneans from Project have to accept reality and not just the negative side but
Kabuhayan, what are some impressions that the positive. Life is not always about seeing things
changed? through a dark lens.

How has working with Project Kabuhayan

changed you? (or your life?) Commented [19]: Lol, I'm applying ENLIT and Rizal
XD. The purpose of this question is to show how
Project Kabuhayan, who are ultimately the Ateneans,
Brief Speech have transformed their lives. But this transformation is
not just one way. Now, the question is what about us?
If transformation was an ice cream sundae, people's
view of us is like the whipped cream/cherry on top. The
Communication means “the act of transferring information from one place, person or entire process of starting something despite our
group to another.” The three rounds of questions are suppose to represent “levels of limitations, to changing lives one day at a time, and to
continue the org and improve it along the way. That is
communication,” from small talk to deeper topics. Regardless of what round we were in, the the ice cream (lol i thought of tea; instead of ice cream,
entire exercise is difficult to begin with. One possible reason is because we are conditioned to I could use tea leaf and tea as analogy.... or not).
think about preconceived notions about others and how they might think of us before initiating a
conversation. Sometimes, our concern is not just initiating but how to continue it.

But to focus on how other people perceive us or avoid our shortcomings will not only
inhibit how we communicate with others, but eventually how others can communicate with us.
These concerns are valid for they reflect reality, but to overcome them means to not only look at
one side of the coin. Now, we will watch a video of the nanays and their assumptions of an
Atenean before and after Project Kabuhayan. From here, you kind of have an idea what they
might say because of stereotypes. I want you to keep in mind that everyone can judge someone
without personally getting to know them at first. But in the end of the day, what matters is the
people you should be concerned with (like yourself, family, friends, PK nanays, employers, etc.)
and how you achieve your goal. Because labels were created by us and therefore, you define
labels and not the other way around.

Video

Processing and Synthesis

 It is difficult to communicate but do not underestimate the power of small talk. This is
why we started with ice breaker questions because it is naturally awkward to talk to someone
about deep stuff without breaking the ice first. So, forget about that Facebook post about, “I
don’t want small talk.” Bitch, I don’t know you. It is also the reason why we provided you with
the option to not answer the third page and just do activities instead.
Communication takes time and regardless what level/page we were in, we still had to be
sensitive to others because people communicate differently. Some are more social than others
and some are more awkward. This is where empathic listening comes in. Empathic listening
“(also called active listening or reflective listening) is a way of listening and responding to
another person that improves mutual understanding and trust.” Like I said, everyone
communicates differently and we have to respect them by giving them our attention. This is why
we had rules earlier.