A dyadic dialogue is a structured conversation between two partners. These conversations enable the partners to better understand each other’s strengths, weaknesses, talents, needs, grievances, and preferences. These activities enable the participants to learn with--and learn from--each other.
This article explores dyadic dialogues as a training activity. Here’s an outline of the article:
1. Instructions for conducting a dyadic dialogue called Mutual Memories
2. Analysis of the structure of Mutual memories
3. Suggestions for adapting Mutual Memories for different training requirements
4. Brief summaries of 10 different dyadic dialogues
Mutual Memories
Here are the instructions for conducting a dyadic dialogue activity that helps two people to share and savor their pleasant memories
Synopsis
The two participants specify a category for organizing shared memories. They take turns suggesting items that belong to this category. Later, they discuss these memories and identify the most pleasant one that belongs to the specific category.
Purpose
To recall and savor shared memories of a specific type.
Participants
Two. Larger groups could be divided into pairs for concurrent play.
Time
15 minutes to an hour
Supplies
None
Flow
Specify a category. Brainstorm different categories into which shared memories can be organized. Select one of these categories for the first dyadic dialogue.
Example:
In a recent session, we came up with these categories:
Books we have read
Friends and relatives
Places we have visited
Restaurants where we ate
We selected “Places we have visited” as the category for the dialogue.
Take turns to recall memories. The two participants take turns to recall a mutual memory. They do this at a rapid pace, taking care not to repeat any item.
Example:
Here are the locations supplied by my friend and me:
Brussels
Liberia
Dhaka
Katmandu
Taj Mahal
As you can see, we used names of countries, cities, and landmarks to specify different places. Later we also used rivers, lakes, and mountains. There were some overlaps among our responses.
Prompt suitable responses. If one of the participants hesitates too long during their turn, the other participant may provide clues to jog a suitable memory.
Example:
These are the clues my friend used when I was stumped:
Tall
Metal
Landmark
Paris
Thinking through these clues, I was able to recall the correct location: Eiffel Tower.
Conclude recalling memories. After the participants feel they have exhausted their memories, they stop this phase of the activity.
Select the most pleasant memory. The participants discuss the different memories and select the one that gave them the most pleasure. During this conversation, they may add memories they did not think of earlier.
Example:
After our comparison of different locations we had visited, we decided that the most pleasant memories were associated with Hobart in Australia.
Repeat the activity with other categories. Recall and process additional shared memories.
Example:
We conducted additional dialogues using the categories listed below. (The statements in parentheses were used for the final comparative discussion.)
Books we read.
Favorite foods.
Friends and relatives.
Movies we watched.
The Structure of Mutual Memories
Mutual Memories can be used as a template for creating other conversational activities. The following game plan outlines the structure of Mutual Memories:
1. Specify a category.
Facilitator. Give instructions and a few examples.
Participants. Brainstorm different categories of memories and select one of these categories.
2. Recall memories.
Facilitator. Give instructions.
Participants. Take turns to call out mutual memories that fit into the selected category.
3. Prompt your partner.
Facilitator. Explain what to do when a partner is stumped.
Participants. Provide suitable prompts to jog the partner’s memory.
4. Conclude recalling memories.
Facilitator. After the partners have run out of steam, bring the recall activity to a stop.
Participants. Conclude recalling suitable memories.
5. Select the most pleasant memory.
Facilitator. Give instructions for selecting the most pleasant memory.
Participants. Compare the and select the most pleasant one.
Adapting Mutual Memories
You can use the structure of Mutual Memories as template to explore other training topics and objectives.
Here are some suggestions for doing this:
Want to tighten the dialogue? Instead of asking the participants to brainstorm a category of memories, specify the category you want.
Want to make the activity more cooperative? Instead of taking turns to recall memories, ask the partners to collaboratively generate a set of mutual memories that belong to the specified category.
Ten Different Dyadic Dialogue Activities
17 Second
Purpose. To avoid mindlessly competing.
Content. This discussion question is explored at the end of the activity: Why do we automatically assume that we can win only if the other person loses?
Activity. Ask the players to stand facing each other with their feet planted firmly on the ground. They should raise their hands and place them palm to palm against the other person’s hand. The player wins if the other person’s feet are moved within 17 seconds. At the end of this time, point out that both players could have won if they simultaneously moved their feet within the time limit. Ask the players to discuss why they took a competitive stance instead of using this win-win strategy.
Autobiographical Milestones
Purpose. To share important events in your life
Content. Each player independently prepares a list of significant events in their lives and arranges the list in a random order. They include a fictional (but believable) item in this list.
Activity. The partners share their list of milestone events. They try to discover the fictional event. They also take turns to identify two events from their list and invite the partner to guess which event occurred earlier. While giving feedback, the partner explains the significance of the event in their life.
Imposter Syndrome
Purpose. To recognize and reduce the feelings of imposter syndrome.
Content. Explain that the imposter syndrome is a persistent belief among some people that they lack competence and don’t deserve the credit they have received. Also distribute two lists of tips for overcoming this syndrome.
Activity. Give a presentation on the imposter syndrome and briefly explain why and how it should be overcome. Give separate lists of five tips for removing the syndrome and ask the partners to study them. Take back the tip lists. Ask one of the partners to talk about the situations where they experience this syndrome. Ask the other partner to listen attentively and provide suggestions on handling the syndrome using the tips they studied earlier. Later, ask the participants to switch role and continue mutual coaching.
Improbable Similarity
Purpose. To increase mutual understanding by reflecting on similarities.
Content. Statements about similarities between partners.
Activity. Ask the partners to talk about the similarities between them. Encourage them to explore such attributes as age, political affiliation, hobbies, language, thinking style, religion, and education level. Give them enough time to identify obvious similarities. Later, ask them to discover subtle similarities and to pinpoint a few improbable ones that will surprise the others.
Long Sentence
Purpose. To achieve a flow state by working spontaneously and playfully with your partner.
Content. A long sentence jointly created by the two players.
Activity. Ask the participants to take turns to supply one or two words to build a lengthy compound-complex sentence. Give total freedom to the players to choose any topic and to change the flow of the sentence in whatever direction they feel like. The resulting sentence is likely to be fanciful and outlandish enabling the participant to immerse themselves in the process.
Mutual Memories
Purpose. To share and savor shared memories of different types.
Content. The partners brainstorm categories for organizing their shared memories (such as books we have read, friends and relatives, and places we have visited).
Activity. The partners select one of the categories and take turns to announce a positive memory that belongs to the category. Later, they discuss these memories and identify the most positive one.
Obit
Purpose. To reflect on the honorable characteristics of your partner (and yourself).
Content. Five key points that are likely to be included in your partner’s eulogy and your own eulogy.
Activity. Working independently, write an imaginary obituary commemorating your partner’s life, identifying five honorable aspects. Also write a similar obituary of yourself, in third person. Share the obituaries and discuss the common points in your self-obituary and the obituary written by your partner. Also identify the points mentioned in only one of the two obituaries and reflect on the reason for this blindness.
Quick Draw
Purpose. To work together in a spontaneous fashion.
Content. Pictures of faces.
Activity. Give each partner a felt pen. Ask them to share a sheet of paper and take turns to draw a face. During their turn, the player adds a line or a feature to the drawing, building upon what has been already created. The activity ends when the players want to stop. The end result is most likely to be a comical caricature.
Shared Activities
Purpose. To review and analyze joint activities.
Content. A list of shared activities undertaken by the partners, A list of adjectives for rating and organizing these activities.
Activity. Ask the participants to make a list of tasks they typically undertake (such as planning, discussing, and evaluating). Give them a list of adjectives (such as pleasant, difficult, and time-consuming). Direct the participants rate each of the activities against the adjectives. Encourage them to identify the activities they should increase, decrease, modify, or discontinue.
Walking Experience
Purpose. To experience, accept, and appreciate different reactions to the same experience.
Content. A walk from the same starting point to the same destination. A list of questions related to this walk (such as what did this walk remind you, what was the most interesting part of the walk, how did the presence of your partner affect you?)
Activity. The partners select a suitable destination for a short walk. Without talking to each other, they walk to the destination at their normal pace. After reaching the destination, they take turns asking questions about the walk and comparing their responses.