HTML Scenario 03 — Dialogue and mediation: how to talk despite differences
BNB4UR • Scenario 03 BNB4UR package • Group: 18–30 years • 180 minutes • 15–20 participants • Language: Polish • Format: in-person

Scenario 03 — Dialogue and mediation: how to talk despite differences

BNB4UR package • Group: 18–30 years • 180 minutes • 15–20 participants • Language: Polish • Format: in-person

180 minutes 15–20 participants Group: 18–30 years Format: in-person

Materials (interactive + printable)

The cards below reproduce attachments D1–D5, the D‑COM rubric and the “Group dialogue code” poster. You can fill in and print each item.

1. Purpose summary and workshop logic

Overall goal: participants learn to recognise “triggers” in intercultural conversations, use an I‑statement and 3-step de-escalation, and then practise short micro-mediations in a safe setting.
Logic: experience with cases (H10) → organising the tools (I‑statement, paraphrase, 3 steps) → role practice (micro-mediations) → agreeing on group dialogue rules.
Final outputs: 1) Card D1 “Map of differences and triggers”, 2) Card D2 “I‑statement – template”, 3) Card D3 “Role-plays and roles – notes”, 4) Card D5 “Difficult conversation plan”, 5) poster “Group dialogue code”.

2. Learning outcomes (knowledge • skills • attitudes)

Knowledge: distinguishes fact from interpretation/opinion; knows the structure of an I‑statement and the 3 steps of de-escalation (“Notice – Name the impact – Propose/Ask”).
Skills: uses paraphrase and open questions, formulates an I‑statement in a low-intensity conflict, conducts a micro-mediation in a triad (mediator role, A and B).
Attitudes: respect, curiosity about differences, responsibility for language and emotions, willingness to pause.

3. Organisational parameters

Room: U-shape + 4 tables; 1 flipchart + markers; projector.

Print materials (A4, one per person):

Card D1 — Map of differences and triggers

Card D2 — I‑statement (template)

Card D3 — Role-plays and roles (training notes)

Card D4 — 3-step de-escalation (cheat sheet)

Card D5 — Difficult conversation plan (before / during / after)

D‑COM Rubric — Communication feedback (0–2 pts/criterion)

A3 paper for the “Group dialogue code” poster

Evaluation tools: Mentimeter PRE/POST (scale 1–5): questions from section 4.

4. Mentimeter — questions (PRE and POST)

Tip: at the end, show the PRE vs POST comparison and ask about one specific situation where they will use the tool.

Questions (scale 1–5)

  1. “I can have a calm dialogue despite a difference of opinion.”
  2. “I know the structure of an I‑statement and can use it.”
  3. “I know how to de-escalate tension in 3 steps.”

5. Detailed agenda (180’)

0–15’Opening and safety rules

Goal: a sense of safety; agreement on voluntariness and taking a pause.
Instructions: present the purpose and logic of the session; agree on rules: “we speak from I”, “pause when it’s hard”, “confidentiality”; write them on a flipchart.
Materials: slide “Goal and plan”, flipchart “Rules”.

15–25’Icebreaker “Common points without words”

Goal: loosen up the atmosphere without language pressure.
Format: we move around the room in silence; the facilitator shows cards with categories (music, food, time of day). Participants form small “people like me” groups. Short reflection: what was easy/hard without words?

25–35’Mentimeter PRE

Goal: establish a baseline.
Instructions: 3 questions (section 4); note the averages.

35–65’MODULE 1 — Intercultural case + “fact vs interpretation” (30’)

Goal: distinguish fact from interpretation and name triggers.
Materials: Card D1 (Map of differences and triggers), marker, short H10 case “Yevhen – intercultural dialogue” (difference in customs, e.g., punctuality, form of address, a joke).
Instructions:

Team work (12’): read the case. Divide statements into FACTS (what could be recorded on camera) and INTERPRETATIONS (opinions, judgements).

Triggers (8’): write down 3 situations that “raise the temperature of the conversation”.

Mini reflection (5’): what helps you notice that “this is my interpretation”?

Summary (5’): collect 3–4 examples on the flipchart.

Success criteria: the team can name at least 3 facts and 3 interpretations; indicate 2 triggers.

65–75’Micro-tool: I‑statement + paraphrase (10’)

Goal: learn and practise the structure.
Materials: Card D2 (template) + Card D4 (cheat sheet).
I‑statement structure (on the slide):
“When I see/hear [FACT], I feel [EMOTION] because [NEED/VALUE]. I’m asking for [SPECIFIC REQUEST].”
Quick exercise (in pairs): everyone creates 1 I‑statement for the case; the partner paraphrases (“I hear that… am I understanding correctly that…?”).

75–85’BREAK (10’)
85–115’MODULE 2 — 3-step de-escalation (30’)

Goal: automate a simple response algorithm.
Materials: Card D4 (3 steps), sample role-plays (from Card D3).
3 steps of de-escalation (discussion + mini demo):

Notice (describe the fact, stop escalation; e.g., “We’re starting to speak at the same time”).

Name the impact (briefly about the effect; e.g., “This makes it harder for me to understand”).

Propose/Ask (a concrete step; e.g., “Please, let’s speak one at a time / let’s do 2 minutes of silence for notes”).
Table exercise (20’): in 3 mini role-plays choose the right responses and write the 3-step version.
Quality check (5’): teams exchange sheets and check using the D‑COM Rubric.

Success criteria: each team creates 3 correct three-step sequences; concrete language, without judgement.

115–125’Energizer “Name + gesture echo” (10’)

Quick movement reset: everyone says their name + shows a gesture; the group repeats; the tempo increases.

125–160’MODULE 3 — Micro-mediations in triads (35’)

Goal: translate the tools into a real conversation.
Format: triads: Mediator – Person A – Person B; 3 rounds of 10’ + 5’ debrief.
Materials: Card D3 (roles and role-plays), D‑COM Rubric (for feedback).
Detailed instructions:

Round 1 (10’): Mediator practises: setting up the conversation, paraphrasing, keeping the 3 steps.

Round 2 (10’): switch roles; scene 2 (e.g., a joke about an accent).

Round 3 (10’): switch roles; scene 3 (e.g., being late vs punctuality).

Feedback (5’): using the D‑COM Rubric: 1) Paraphrase/active listening, 2) I‑statement, 3) 3-step de-escalation, 4) Respect/conversation frame.
Trainer tips: remind about pausing; keep time; we don’t decide “who is right”, we practise the process.

Success criteria: each person is mediator at least once; visible use of tools; notes with conclusions on Card D3.

160–172’Poster “Group dialogue code” (12’)

Goal: close the workshop with shared rules to use in future sessions.
Instructions: teams write down 2 rules each; we merge them onto the A3 poster (e.g., “we speak from I”, “pause instead of raising our voice”, “we respect accent and language level”, “we check facts”).
Product: a poster ready to photograph and reuse.

172–180’Mentimeter POST + small step (8’)

Goal: assess improvement and declare intended use.
Instructions: the same 3 questions; everyone adds on Card D5 “when and with whom I will have a short conversation using the 3 steps”. Collect declarations for a photo.

6. Facilitation good practices

Safe pace: respond to tension; offer a pause/water/a short break.

Simple, inclusive language: avoid jargon; explain concepts (fact vs interpretation).

Facilitator neutrality: moderate the process, don’t judge the sides.

Model attitudes: use I‑statements and paraphrase yourself.

7. Adaptations, plan B, variants

Language barrier: cards with pictograms; allow key words in Ukrainian/Russian + quick translation; more “repeat-after-me” examples.

Less time (120’): shorten M1 to 20’, M2 to 20’, M3 to 25’; keep the Code poster.

More time (+30’): record short mediation fragments on phones and analyse in pairs (what worked?).

8. Evaluation and indicators for reporting

Mentimeter PRE/POST (3 questions from section 4).

Outputs: Cards D1–D5, the “Dialogue Code” poster.

Trainer observation: D‑COM Rubric for 2–3 people/triads.

Attendance and consents: attendance list, consents for photos of outputs.

9. Printouts (ready-to-use content)

11. Trainer checklist (before/after)

Before: print cards D1–D5 and rubrics; slides (goal/plan, I‑statement, 3 steps); Mentimeter prepared; timer.
After: photos of the Code poster, scans of the cards, Mentimeter results saved, list of “small steps” from Card D5.