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Inglês para Executivos: Simulação de Sobrevivência e Tomada de Decisão

Desenvolver habilidades de comunicação em inglês é essencial para executivos que precisam tomar decisões estratégicas e trabalhar em equipe. Nesta aula, utilizamos a simulação de sobrevivência para aprimorar o vocabulário, a argumentação e a negociação, tornando o aprendizado dinâmico e prático.

helicoptero-ilustrando-prática-de-sobrevivência-em-aula-de-inglês-para-executivos

Scenario

Watch the video below to understand the scenario for the simulation.



Objective

You must rank these items in order of importance to maximize survival until rescue arrives. This can be done individually or in groups of 2 to 6 people.

  • Individual Play: You are making decisions for a group of six people who have elected you as their leader. Your choices will impact the entire group’s survival.

  • Group Play (2-6 Players): The group must collaborate, considering that there is enough food and water for each person. After individual rankings, the team must discuss and agree on a final collective ranking.

Once completed, your rankings will be compared to an expert evaluation to assess the effectiveness of your decision-making process.


List of Items

  1. Box of matches

  2. Bottle of water (1 liter)

  3. Signaling mirror

  4. Canned food

  5. 10-meter rope

  6. First aid kit

  7. Regional map

  8. Revolver with six bullets

  9. Flashlight with batteries

  10. Plastic tarp

  11. Compass

  12. Survival knife

  13. Sleeping bag

  14. Portable radio (no transmission)

  15. Chocolate bar


Exercise Steps

1️⃣ Individual Ranking: Rank the items from most to least important based on survival needs. (If in a group, discuss and agree on a collective ranking.)

2️⃣ Calculate Your Survival Score: Use the calculator below to compare your rankings with expert evaluations and assess your chances of survival.

3️⃣ Feedback & Reflection: Analyze your decisions, discuss different strategies, and explore alternative survival approaches.



Expert Opinion

Surviving in a remote, hostile environment requires a clear understanding of immediate threats and available resources. In this scenario, the key challenges include exposure to extreme weather, lack of communication, dehydration, and potential injuries. Rescuers may take hours or even days to locate the crash site, making it imperative to maximize survival chances through optimal resource utilization.


Possibilities

Move Toward Safety – Follow a watercourse or a trail toward a possible settlement, moving only during the day and leaving markers to aid rescuers.

Long-Term Survival – Build a sturdy shelter, find a reliable water source, and hunt small animals to ensure long-term survival.

Stay Put and Signal – Stay at the crash site, build a shelter near the wreckage, keep a fire burning, and create visible signals to facilitate rescue.

Animal Protection – Keep the fire burning at night, store food away from the shelter, and create a noisy perimeter with dry branches to deter animals.

Move Strategically – Walk only in a straight line or follow a watercourse, constantly marking the path with rocks or fabric, and avoid unstable terrain or caves.


How Rescue Will Occur & Strategy Development

Rescue efforts will likely follow a grid-based aerial search pattern, assuming authorities are aware of the crash location. This means visibility is crucial for rescuers to locate survivors. The group must establish a clear, bright, and contrasting signal to attract attention. Survival depends on prioritizing immediate needs over long-term concerns.


A clear, focused strategy is more effective than attempting to address all concerns equally. Just as in business and life, focus and execution of a well-defined plan lead to the highest probability of success.


Item-by-Item Analysis (Ranked by Importance)

  1. Signaling Mirror – The single most valuable tool for rescue. Highly reflective and visible from long distances, even in cloudy conditions.

  2. Box of Matches – Essential for starting a fire, which serves both as a heat source and a highly visible smoke signal for rescuers.

  3. Flashlight with Batteries – A crucial tool for nighttime visibility and signaling rescuers, especially when paired with reflective objects.

  4. Plastic Tarp – Dual-purpose item for shelter and ground signaling to increase visibility from the air.

  5. 10-Meter Rope – Useful for securing shelter and hanging reflective objects for signaling, in addition to medical and climbing purposes.

  6. First Aid Kit – Essential for treating wounds, preventing infection, and ensuring the group remains fit to sustain signaling efforts.

  7. Bottle of Water (1L) – Vital for preventing dehydration, though limited in supply. Should be rationed carefully.

  8. Survival Knife – Multipurpose tool useful for cutting, self-defense, and crafting survival gear.

  9. Sleeping Bag – Prevents heat loss in cold climates and provides comfort for necessary rest.

  10. Compass – Helps with orientation if movement is required, though staying put is usually recommended.

  11. Regional Map – Useful only if one has knowledge of the area and a means of navigation.

  12. Canned Food – Provides sustenance but is not an immediate priority compared to water and shelter.

  13. Revolver with Six Bullets – May deter wild animals but is otherwise of limited survival use.

  14. Chocolate Bar – Quick energy boost but lacks long-term sustenance. While it can provide temporary energy, its importance is minimal compared to other resources.

  15. Portable Radio (No Transmission) – Without transmission capability, it serves no functional purpose in a survival situation, making it the least useful item.


Final Discussion

  • What did the group prioritize correctly?

  • What could have been done differently?

  • How did communication influence the decisions?

  • What lessons were learned about teamwork and survival planning?

This exercise can be adapted to different environments (desert, jungle, ocean, arctic) depending on the training context.






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