Question - bilingual opening

[Harrison Owen]

When Michael Pannwitz and I did the Open Space for 2000 in Wurtzburg,
Germany -- we did everything all at once. The situation may have been a
little different as most people spoke German and some English. Also in the
plenary session (Opening) we had simultaneous translation. But in any event
we did a duo. At the start Michael went one way in the circle, I went the
other -- and after we crossed at the starting point, we just wandered all
over, everywhere. When we started I announced that Michael was not going to
translate, rather he would do his thing, I would do mine, and hopefully we
would end at the same place, which I think we did. It took a little longer,
but we also had a lot of fun doing it together. The best part was Michael's
comments on what I had to say. One time after a rather lengthy discourse on
my part (maybe 30 sec.) Michal came in with just a single word. Everybody
howled. Wonderful!

Harrison  

Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Drive
Potomac, Maryland   20854
Phone 301-365-2093
Skype hhowen
Open Space Training www.openspaceworld.com 
Open Space Institute www.openspaceworld.org
Personal website www.ho-image.com 
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-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of
Communications Esther Matte
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 8:29 AM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Question - bilingual opening

Hi all,

Yes, it was a great conference with Deb at Rococo. People there were 
really impressed with OS. Hopefully, we'll gather a few people for 
our FoFo in Val David this fall :-)

Deb and I learned a lot, of course, as we do every time we facilitate 
OS. One of the questions we played with was the bilingual opening. We 
briefly considered doing the opening together, each in one language, 
but quickly realized we couldn't walk the circle together. So we cut 
down on the opening text so that Deb could do it systematically in 
both languages (French and English). And she did a great job! 
However, it was still too long. Later in the event, people started to 
ask that we do just English since everyone there understood. But we 
were in Montreal after all, so Deb maintained the French, and the 
organizers were happy about that. They wanted to hold a bilingual 
event and they wanted the French to be present.

Now that I think about it, I'm wondering if we could have done two 
circles just for the opening. To put people in the OS frame of mind 
and spirit in their own language. Then, merge the 2 in 1 circle, have 
them look around it, feel the energy and richness of knowledge, 
experience, etc. and then start the agenda. For the other circles, 
keep the bilingual format, but with bits of French here and there 
instead of systematic translation.

What do you think?

Looking forward to reading your thoughts :-))

Esther

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