EuroMed Trainer’s Personae

Aims of the tool

- To support self-reflection on trainer’s different roles
- To discuss trainers’ roles and related attributes
- To introduce trainers’ competences in EuroMed by means of a sharing activity

Description of the tool

1. Introduce the meaning of the word “Persona”:
A persona (plural personae or personas), in the word's everyday usage, is a social role or a character played by an actor. The word is derived from Latin, where it originally referred to a theatrical mask. The Latin word probably derived from the Etruscan word "phersu", with the same meaning, and that from the Greek πρόσωπον (prosōpon). Its meaning in the latter Roman period changed to indicate a "character" of a theatrical performance or court of law, when it became apparent that different individuals could assume the same role, and legal attributes such as rights, powers, and duties followed the role. The same individuals as actors could play different roles, each with its own legal attributes, sometimes even in the same court appearance. (Extracted from Wikipedia - article “Persona” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persona retrieved 10.01.2014)

2. Explain that in the EuroMed Region a trainer needs to combine different roles:
• A designer and implementer (developing the concept and delivering a TC),
• An animator (providing the spirit and the dynamic of the TC),
• An expert in the field (Non Formal Education and EuroMed-specific topics).

Thus, as trainers, we play different roles or personae, though we usually have a leading one.

3. Ask participants to make a mask that features the attributes of their leading persona. They need to show on the mask what makes them a designer, animator or an expert in a creative way. Distribute the materials. Allow 20 minutes for making the mask.

4. Invite them to wear the masks and to discuss with their peers about the most relevant features and the reason they have chosen that persona. 10 minutes.

5. Divide the participants in small groups (max. 5 persons) wearing the same mask to find 5 similar features for that type of trainer. Ask them to write them down for a presentation by a speaker appointed by the group. 10 minutes.

6. Ask them to find participants with a persona that they would like to play. They need to exchange masks and the information about each persona focusing on learning about the different roles.

7. Adaption: invite the participants to act out their personae and present them within their groups. They can also alternate roles to find out how it feels to switch to roles they are unfamiliar with or would like to work on.

8. Afterwards, lead them to a debriefing activity in plenary.

Debriefing

• Why have you chosen that trainer’s persona?
• Which are the main features you have identified?
• Do you always wear the same “mask” in your trainings?
• Have you found many similarities when you checked with people with similar masks? And differences? What are the reasons for those similarities/differences among similar roles?
• Which was the second persona you chose? Why? Is there an aspect you want to improve?
• What did you learn when you became the other persona? Was it easy?
• How difficult is for you to combine different roles in a training activity?
• Would you be happy to try different mask (roles) in your trainings? What would be the most challenging one?