Phase 1: Connecting

… to a whole new world primarily through one of its members

SPECIAL-GROWTH PARTICIPATION

  • Here-and-Now Play

  • 80-120 hours with your nurturer

  • 900+ words gained

Lifestyle Participation Activities

  • On the lookout for host people who might like to know you better, when you have grown more

  • Spend time in the host world when possible — shopping or getting around town

  • Relax! Extensive participation in the host world (aside from activities with your nurturer) isn’t possible yet. (See our glossary to understand these terms.)

By the End of the Phase

  • The nurturer is starting to see the personality of the growing participators that will emerge to other host people by the end of Phase 2 (Emerging)

  • Other host people can see that growing participators are trying to identify with them

  • Growing participators still seem very strange to host people

The activities of this phase are what many people think of when they think of Growing Participation. In reality, it’s just the very first step on a long journey. The Six Phase Program includes 1500 hours of activities. This first phase is only 80-120 hours! This phase also requires gathering and preparing more materials than any other phase. It’s best to do this phase intensively (20-25 hours per week with your nurturer) and then continue to more growth and deeper relationships in the coming phases.

Phase Guide

The Phase 1 guide in English is here and is also available in 14 languages. Some of these guides have been adapted for the special challenges of growing participation in different host worlds. The Arabic language guide, for example, includes activities that focus on challenges specific to Arabic.

Orientation

Nurturers and growing participators need to know what to expect during their times together. This Phase 1A orientation should be done before you get started. It explains how to do some of the activities and clarifies everyone’s role. As you start talking, there is also a Phase 1B orientation.

Videos

If you want to see how the activities from the phase guide work, check out these videos of the activities from Phase 1. These growing participators are being nurtured into an Anglo world and you’ll be able to follow along.

Materials

Gathering materials and organizing them takes time. Even if other growing participators in your area have materials that you can borrow, gathering and preparing materials is an essential task in Phase 1. The next phases have far, far less of this work. It gets easier very soon!

Remember, doing activities with physical objects is always better. Touching, holding, and moving them gives stronger encounters with new words and helps you remember them. You’ll need:

  • Phase 1 Graphics Packet (pdf) If you print more than one copy you can also make cue cards which are helpful for nurturers to remember the many actions and locations you’ll learn. Adaptations of the packet have been made for the Arabic and Chinese host worlds. An editable (.docx) version and other helpful graphics are available in this folder.

  • Lexicarry, dolls and toys This list is just one example; everyone’s kit will be different.

  • Objects purchased locally complete your kit. For example, colored paper and pens, candies, and plastic dishes can be found in most places. Everyday objects, such as foods and tools, can be purchased readily. This automatically localizes the objects.

Have questions? Need advice?