darplay.com

Darplay Feedback from Schools

In March 2010, Students, 6th to 8th grade, High School “Jeleznik” Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

Feedback (How do I feel after the Game?)

“I feel free, that I spoke in front of somebody else.”

“After the game I felt somehow free and peaceful.”

“I am very pleased that I shared my thoughts on the interesting questions of the game since you can get very good advice from it.   You can find answers about yourself to different questions.”

“I feel good.  I think the game makes a lot of sense because you can express your opinion and hear those of others.   You can assess whether you think logically, whether you are right or not.   The questions are interesting and they make you think.   I liked the game and I’m glad that I played it.”

“For the first time, I spoke about myself in front of someone.   I liked it.”

On March 2, 2010 in Sofia Math High School, “Paissi Hilendarksi”, 11th grade with English teacher Mrs. Tanya Ivanova.  The Darplay Game was held during English class.

Feedback (How do I feel after the Game?)

- The game was a fun way to spend the usually boring 40 minutes class time to practice English and to learn a little more about one another in the style of team building.

- I expected more interesting questions, although it was a fun way of learning.

- Good.   I feel that I expressed myself through the questions and answers.

- Slightly bored, but it was a restful and relaxing time.

- Exhausted.

- Good .. good.   It was a pleasant experience.  It was nice to answer such questions and to be heard by your friends, to find out what they think in such matters.

- This game made me feel closer to my classmates, to understand a small part of their world, of what they believe in, and believe to be true or false.   I liked to share my viewpoint, but surprisingly I liked it a lot to hear others.

- Angry because some people are dumb and happy because of the genius of others.

- More relaxed and rested than after regular classes.

- Great!   Very useful.   People talk about themselves as if from a different place and so get more confidence to share.

- I feel glad that we practiced in such a manner.  It is a good preparation for CAE (Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English), because we need to be able to speak within three minutes about meaningful and grammatically correct stuff.

- More fantastic and able to realize what other people felt like in different situations.

- The game is interesting and I think we all feel better.   But I think people need to speak in dialogues, not just one person to speak, because in this way they can be more relaxed.

- I practiced my English. I also heard the views of my classmates on some issues.   It was interesting and fun.

On February 2, 2010 in High School for Foreign Languages, “Romen Rolan”, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria in 10th grade with English teacher Mimi Bakoeva

Feedback (How do I feel after the game?)

-  I feel pretty satisfied.   Talking about a certain topic is something which I think I am good at.   Moreover this allows me to hear other people’s opinions which is very useful.   Darplay allows you to practice foreign languages.

-  I think playing Darplay is very useful if you want learn to speak in front of an audience.

-  I am glad I had the chance to share my opinion, to talk freely in front of others, and to improve my English.

-  I think the game is really good.   It develops communication skills and helps people be honest with themselves.

-  More confident while speaking.

- To be honest I expected the game to be difficult to be played.   I think this game gives everyone a chance to speak their mind.

- I feel good.   I don’t find any difference before and after I played the game.   I feel great all day.   I learned that I can do anything if I have the wish to do it.

- I was a little worried because I could not speak for 3 minutes but later I overcame this problem.  I let my thoughts free. I would like to play the game again because I need to talk.

-  I feel very good.   The format of the game is very good.

-  After the game I found that I was more confident and had more ideas.

- The game is very interesting and really helps people speak more calmly.

On February 2, 2010 in High School for Foreign Languages, “Romen Rolan”, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria with 9th graders with their teacher, Evgeniya Kairakova.

Feedback (How do I feel after the game?)

-    After the game I felt I had gotten to know my classmates better.  I felt a little surprised.

-   I don’t feel very different from before.  Darplay helped me improve looking at people in the eyes more often when I speak to them.

-   This game gets me thinking of different questions.  This game could help shy people.

-   I am happy I played this game because it helped me understand other people’s feelings and dreams.  I want to play it again.  These days very few people are willing to listen to you.

-   I want to play this game constantly.

-   After the game I think I could talk more openly about my problems.

-   I think the game should be played among people who don’t know each other.   The questions could be more personal.

-   The game is fun and very well done.  After I played it I felt more relaxed and all my stress disappeared.  The game helped me understand how other people see the world.  The game is perfect after having a bad day because it’s a great opportunity to talk with friends and relatives.

-   At first I felt strange because other people did not speak while I was talking but then it felt easier for me to talk.  The game removes communication barriers.

-  The game should be played in more schools.

-  After the game I felt more energized and enthusiastic.

Other Feedback 2009 – 2010

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The game is like a psychology therapy. It helps you gain knowledge of yourself and become better acquainted with yourself. For example, we feel fear ever day but we seldom talk about it and how to overcome it. The game is very good for getting to know your friends.  There is no winner in this game, which is good because you don’t strive to win, and you reveal your real self.

Ivanka Kostadinova

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The game could be played longer than 3 minutes, maybe in a class environment, in a period of 45 minutes. Students could come up with questions, which interest them. Students themselves always come up with great ideas.   Two classes could play the game. Thus, students will be encouraged to think.

Lily, teacher

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I see the game being played in school.  I even see lessons taught in the form of a game.  This form of communication will be the most suitable and useful even for kids grade 1 and 2.

Neda, journalist

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I would be very curious how different age groups would answer the questions because different people will have different answers depending on their life experience.

Maria, journalist

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This game is a very good idea. It would be good to be played by young children, for example age 10, which will help them express themselves and their thoughts.  It is very useful that one has limited time to play the game. It would not be good if one had too much or too little time to play. When playing the game, different brain centers are activated.

The game would be very helpful for children because it will teach them to examine themselves because this is very important.  Playing the game one could find better solutions to his/her problems.  It is very important for oneself to know what he/she wants … to know what one wants to be.

Sevda, accountant

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Playing the game one could trace children’s development from grade 1 to grade 12. Children will be very curious to know how they have thought in the past.  The game helps develop imagination.  Once I asked a child: What is rain?…the response was: when clouds are crying.

Iva, teacher

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The game mobilizes the brain.  First, I thought 3 minutes is too long, then I thought it is too little, now I think it is enough time.   People talk too much sometimes but 3 minutes is a good amount of time to focus and express your views on a subject.  The idea is very good and is very useful for our society.

Nadya, economist

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The game helps me listen to myself and get my thoughts in order.  I have periods when I am in depression.  When I see a psychologist my thoughts get in order.  The game does the same.

Diana

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I think one day the game will be a branch of psychology and psychotherapy.  As a person who wants to contribute to our society’s development, I would like to see this game become popular. I would like to train people who will play the game with other people.  I firmly believe that this game satisfies at least several human needs.  People have deep needs to talk about their inner world and others to be interested in their world.  When that does not happen they tend to isolate themselves.  People have deep needs to share the ideas that are important to them.

Playing the game, they will experience different kinds of communication.

Empathy is understanding and respect for what others are experiencing. According to a Chinese philosopher, real empathy means how well one knows to listen with their whole presence.  Empathy is hard to maintain.  Empathy is a miracle.  Most people don’t have it.  We tend to give too many pieces of advice or shift the focus to ourselves instead of being there and just listening to the person.  The game is pure empathy. You can say everything that is important to you because it is your time.  Everyone should have this time. Each and every individual in the world.

I am falling in love with this game more and more.

Stoyan Georgiev, 1.10.2009

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“I cannot describe the Darplay game with words. It’s like describing a feeling with words – this just isn’t right, it has to be felt. It’s the same with Darplay. You just have to play this extraordinary game.  There are no losers – only winners.

I am an example of Darplay’s influence.  In the beginning, I was a bit skeptical, but once I played it, I learned how wonderful the game can be. That is why on Christmas I decided to play it with my family.  Let me tell you that when the Markovi family plays an ordinary game, it usually happens like this: it begins with a little pestering, which escalates into a quarrel, my father gets mad, my sister gets cross with everybody, the game ends, and the scandal begins.

I would be lying if I told you that I thought Darplay would be different, but it was!  We listened to each other, we talked, and we laughed.  Darplay was really fun, light, and pleasant.  I was so surprised.  Darplay is a very different game – a game from a new generation. This is like a delicious meal – even if you are not hungry, you’ll have some.

Even if you’re not in the mood for an ordinary game, you will play Darplay. During those three minutes, everyone feels like a celebrity.  It is like interviewing yourself.  You will think about many things which are so easily bypassed in the world today: the sun, your dreams, and the good things which you see.

You will remember the good moments and experience them again.  You will draw closer to the people around you.  You will get to know them better.  In those short three minutes, everyone is filled with 180 seconds of experience, attention, and joy again and again with each player and each question.  And that’s what you can’t describe with words. Darplay should be played . . . and felt”.

Ina Markova