How do we cross frontiers?
	Any kind of 'mission' involves crossing frontiers. These frontiers are not just geographical - they may be social, cultural, racial or political. The following activities may help students reflect on this aspect of communication. What journeys have the students made to 'strange' or 'foreign' places? Talk and write about these places. What was different for strange about the place that they visited? Did they learn anything from their journey? Did the journey change them? How did their perception of the 'home' society change on their return? The recent film Lord of the Rings has renewed interest in Tolkein's book of the same name. One of the most engaging aspects of Tolkein's work was his creation of a coherent fantasy world, with its own geography, culture and languages. Rather than beginning with a narrative, younger pupils might like to create their own world with at least two separate societies. As well as creating their world's geography, encourage them to create distinct societies each with, as in Tolkein, its own script. Once the world has been created, they can write a Tolkeinesque narrative about travelling through their world. Some examples of scripts which might inspire pupils can be found at:       http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/6077/alefbet.htm Christian missionaries have always faced the problem of how to translate the Christian message into the language of the society they are working in. This is not simply a linguistic problem. Missionaries to Anglo-Saxon England portrayed Christ as a warrior figure battling against dark forces, in an attempt to communicate with their warlord-aristocratic hosts. The Rothwell Cross is a good visual example of this process of cultural translation. There is a fascinating site about the Rothwell Cross at:       http://flsouthern.edu/eng/abruce/rood/home.htm This site also includes the Anglo-Saxon poem The Dream of the Rood in runes - as on the cross - which might be useful for the first activity above. The Church Missionary Society website provides extensive material based on the idea of designing a cross for different cultures in the world. Use the 'A-cross the World' download at the following address:       http://www.cms-uk.org/resources2.htm It might also be worth designing a cross for different groups within our own society. The modern church has always had problems communicating with 'youth' - perhaps students can come up with some better ideas?
	The theme of 'communication' inevitably suggests drama. Scenarios can be created based on this theme - particularly the problems. Young pupils might enjoy creating scenarios based on ET-style meetings between earthlings and visitors from outer space. Other scenarios might include how to communicate in a country where you don't have the language, or involve attempts to brake out of isolation. - prisoners in cells trying to escape from their solitude.