“Time is a game played beautifully by children.” Heraclitus, Greek philosopher
1.THE ROLE OF ICE BREAKING ACTIVITIES
Ice breaking activities are interactive and they facilitate a prompt and vivid introducing of the members of a group to each other as well as group bonding. They help the participants to build trust among themselves. They aim at warming-up and calming down. They encourage communication and physical activity, relaxation and fun. They also give the message that active education brings pleasure and helps to establish good manners.
2. OUR EMB EXPERIENCE
Ice breaking games were widely used in our short term sessions. In most cases the students, who took part in them, were meeting for the first time. This type of games gave the participants the opportunity to get to know each other, to find similarities with the others, to feel themselves part of the team. Another important aspect was the creation of an emotional attitude towards the activities that would follow. The teachers also took part in them. It helped breaking any barriers and building an atmosphere of understanding and expectation.
3. SKILLS ACQUISITION
Part of these games aim at team building. It is an essential side of the fight against aggression and bullying. The feelings of belonging to the team on one hand, and recognition and respect, on the other hand, are extremely important for the equality within the team. These activities teach us to accept other people’s points of view and to be able to cooperate in order to complete mutual tasks. This approach excludes neglect and the idea of one’s personal superiority.
4. OVERALL BENEFIT
Using these games in our modules contributes to the development of our students’ social skills and the better communication between them. It also enables a student centered approach to learning and finally, it has a positive effect on the teacher-student relationship.
5. WHEN TO USE ICE BREAKING ACTIVITIES
Ice breaking games are not time-consuming and can be successfully implemented:
In the beginning of the school year for setting up the new school classes
