2.Use of Semi-Structured Interview Guides : provide a flexible yet purposeful framework to keep the focus of the interview.
3.Debriefing and Feedback : after the roleplay, a joint reflection session is used to identify strengths and areas that need improvement.
Challenges and Solutions
Initial Awkwardness : the participants experienced awkwardness when starting the role-playing exercise, which was a major challenge. This is natural because they are asked to speak in ways that may not be natural and act as certain characters. They may not be able to participate to the fullest and train conscientiously because of this awkwardness.
The solution is to build a supportive, non-judgmental environment. Before the exercise begins, the facilitator or trainer must create a comfortable and safe atmosphere. This can be done with:
1.Encouraging opening statement: explain that the purpose of this exercise is to learn and improve, not to find fault. Emphasize that there are no wrong answers and everyone is allowed to make mistakes.
2.Build trust : ask each participant to share their experiences or concerns briefly. It helps break down tension and makes everyone feel connected.
3.Provide constructive feedback : when providing feedback, focus on things that can be improved rather than just highlighting weaknesses. Use positive and specific language, for example, "your choice of words was very good when answering the question, maybe you could try adding details about..."
Role Imbalance : using Active Listening the second challenge that often occurs during practice is the role imbalance between the interviewer and the resource person. Although ideally both roles should interact with each other, often one of the parties wins. The interviewer can be too passive, that is, only read the questions and not interact, or too active, that is, dominate the conversation or interrupt.
The solution is training that emphasizes the importance of active listening and balanced interaction. Training should provide specific guidance for both roles:
1.For the role of interviewer : train the interviewer to not only ask questions, but also listen carefully to the responses. Teach them to ask follow-up questions based on the answers given. This shows that they are really engaged in the conversation and makes the exercise more realistic.
