Role-play - conflict solving (30 mins)
GoalsLearners use the skills they have learnt throughout Words over Weapons to solve a conflict.
Guidelines
Get the learners to read the true story below:
“Jake is dating Nomonde. Nomonde’s Dad doesn’t want Jake to date his daughter. After telling Nomonde this and seeing that the relationship is still continuing, he comes to school one day and confronts Jake, telling him not to talk to his daughter anymore and to end the relationship. He humiliates Jake, saying that he knows Jake’s family from the township and they are only drunkards and wasters. Jake loses his temper and punches Nomonde’s Dad. Nomonde is furious with her Dad and they have an argument in the car on the way home. She says, “This is my life, you can’t tell me to do this!” He swears at her and hits her, saying, “You had better choose between your family and that boy!” Nomonde then leaves home to go and stay at a friend’s house. The father then goes to the police and takes out a restraining order on Jake, preventing him from talking to or meeting his daughter.”
Now, get the learners in groups of three (Nomonde, her father and Jake) and ask them to prepare two short role-plays; one which shows how Nomonde and her father discuss this issue in a way, which can resolve this conflict nonviolently; and one which shows how Jake and Nomonde’s father resolve their conflict.
After each role-play, the class should discuss what conflict resolution skills were used to transform the conflict from a (potentially) violent situation to a constructive relationship-building experience for all the parties concerned.