Intercultural simulations are instructional activities that engage and challenge participants with experiences integral to encounters between people of more than one cultural group. Simulations designed specifically to support intercultural encounters have been in use since the 1970s. This article examines the conceptual bases for intercultural simulation games, their history, contexts in which they are being or have been used, their efficacy, and the current situation for intercultural simulation games. The article concludes with a look at future directions, which will rely on technological advances and the creative work of promising young interculturalists.
Simulation games have come to play a major role in cross-cultural training during the past two decades. This article defines cross-cultural training and briefly traces its history. The power of using simulation games for cross-cultural training is described. The history of the author is intertwined with the use of simulation games for cross-cultural training. Personal history with specific games such as BAFA BAFA, BARNGA, and THE TAG GAME is traced, and trainers who have influenced the author s development as a simulation gamer are cited.
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