In a message dated 4/26/02 10:11:35 AM, pe...@opencirclecompany.com writes:
<< One concern we had is whether it is really necessary that they speak Spanish, some think that with one of us as a co facilitator this is not needed. What are your thoughts on this? >> Pablo-- I have given workshops in Mexico, with simultaneous translation and a Mexican facilitator to assist. And it works, but I don't think it is ideal. For the situation you describe, with a heavily conflicted situation, I'd rather be able to communicate directly. In fact, I took an introductory Spanish course before my second trip to Mexico, so I could talk with people directly at least in an elementary way. I would think that you would want a facilitor just enough removed from the conflict to be seen as objective, and near enough to understand the situation at the gut level. In an interesting bit of synchronicity, my e-mail tonight included a news story about cooperation between Mexico and the US to break up drug cartels. When authorities from the US and Mexico sat down together to plan this initiative, the US representatives were Americans with Mexican parents, and everyone around the table spoke Spanish: <<According to participants on both sides, the Mexicans looked across the table at Mr. Chavez, Mr. Vega and Mr. Curiel, all born of Mexican parents, and the spark of recognition lit a fire. "It couldn't but help," Mr. Curiel said. "We were working without the disconnect of interpreters and barriers of culture. When it comes down to it, this involves the country of our parents." Mr. Vega, now in private practice, said the simple fact that the meetings were conducted in Spanish "broke the ice." "It was confianza," he said, the Spanish word for trust.>> My two cents' worth-- Joelle Everett Shelton, Washington, USA * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu, Visit: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html
