Objective 3 To define the term ‘dialogue’. Expected outcomes By the end of this topic, participants must be able to define the terms ‘dialogue’ and ‘sustained dialogue’ in relation to community healing and reconciliation. Defining the term ‘dialogue’ Methodology: The best way for participants to understand the term ‘dialogue’ is for them to relate it to their own knowledge and experience. In most cases, this section will involve an interactive conversation between the facilitator and the participants, but, if time and infrastructure allow, a more formal exercise, as outlined below, can also be used. Exercise / ‘What is a dialogue?’ • Participants will be requested to turn to the person sitting beside them and to discuss and share their respective understandings of the term ‘dialogue’. The specific questions that they should address are: • What is a dialogue? • How can dialogue be defined? • Once each pair of participants has completed the task, the plenary session will recommence and each pair will be given an opportunity to report their findings and definition to the plenary. • The facilitator can use this report-back period to draw out common words and phrases from the presentations and to guide the participants to a single understanding and definition that is acceptable to all and that reflects the main features of dialogue as discussed below. Theoretical input: Definition of ‘dialogue’ • Dialogue is a conversation between two or more people. • Dialogue is concerned with: »» building understanding; »» solving problems; and »» finding solutions. • Dialogue is an ongoing process without any clearly defined end point. Once the participants have used their own knowledge and experience to identify the features of a dialogue, it might be useful to underline or support their efforts by referring to the following inspirational definition of ‘dialogue’ as used by Saunders. What is dialogue? Saunders (2011) asserts that dialogue is a process of genuine interaction through which human beings listen to each other deeply enough to be changed by what they learn. Each makes a serious effort to take others’ concerns into account in her or his own picture, even when disagreement persists. No participant gives up her or his identity, but each recognises enough of the other’s valid human claims that he or she will act differently towards the other. Module 3: Dialogue in community healing 33