Activity: Communicating as a Learning Experience

This activity will promote thinking about how we communicate and be a foundational exercise that can be referred to throughout the mentoring relationship. It will encourage reflection, planning and communication moving forward in a project.

Purpose

This activity will give the mentor and mentee an opportunity to each practice communication and listening skills in a low-stress environment. It may highlight strengths and points of improvement in communication, and inform partner communication moving forward.

Time

20 minutes

Materials

2 chairs, a writing utensil, paper, and 2 objects. Slides: Communicating as a Learning Experience (optional)

Who

Mentor and Mentee

What

Sit back to back. One person with an object; the other with paper and pen.
The person with the object assumes the role of speaker and the other assumes the role of listener.
The speaker should take 3 minutes to describe the object.
The listener should use that description to draw the object.
Have a conversation, reflecting about the experience. Explore what you learned about yourself and the other person:
- What were the assumptions you made in describing and listening? How do these assumptions relate to your lived experience?
- What did you find particularly helpful about the description?
- What would you do differently next time?
Repeat the steps above in the opposite role with a new object.
How might these reflections help you with communication in your relationship?

Tips

Perform this early in your mentoring relationship or project, because it can be a foundational experience to refer back to throughout.
The listener should not ask questions, and should instead be focusing on the speaker’s word choice and communication.