INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION IN GLOBAL SOCIETIES

Instructor:Dr. Larissa Chuprina, Adult Education

REQUIRED TEXT:

Chaney, L.H., & Martin, J.S. (2000). Intercultural business communication. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

RATIONALE:

Thus, this course has been structured to offer a broad overview of the notion culture and bring about the understanding and appreciation of diversity within a domestic and international context. The course is intended to serve as an opportunity for learners to gain new knowledge in intercultural communication and explore personal values and attitudes relative to their professional development. This knowledge base is especially vital both for educators and business people who face the reality of functioning in a multicultural global environment.

STRUCTURE OF THE COURSE:

The class will be primarily conducted in a modified seminar format. The students are expected to come to class prepared, having read all assigned readings from the text and course book in addition to selected readings posted on CourseInfo site. All class participants will be encouraged to reflect on these readings and their own experiences in communicating with representatives of different cultures. They will also explore their interests in particular aspects of cultural issues regarding global education and/or the global economy.

The teaching-learning process in this course is based on active, informed involvement of the learner in the learning process. Therefore, the wide range of instructional delivery techniques used throughout the course will include but are not restricted to: presentations, discussions, media, readings, team work, group activities, case studies, story-telling, role-playing. In addition, e-mail communication and world-wide web interface between the students and the instructors will facilitate further discussion of issues related to the class and provide complementary course materials and serve as a virtual link outside of the physical classroom.

TOPICS FOR INQUIRY:

There are several issues that serve as cornerstones on which this course is built; selected issues include but are not restricted to:

1. overcoming communication barriers;

2. understanding one’s own culture in order to better appreciate other cultures;

3. distinguishing between individual and group identities and characteristics;

4. interacting with different languages and cultural orientations;

5. sharing psychological aspects of communication across cultures (values, attitudes, beliefs).

The following are a sampling of the topics to be covered in the course:

· Rationale for intercultural effectiveness and intercultural skills

· What is culture? Cultural layers and components. Characteristic of cultures.

· Cultural shock; acculturation and adaptability

· Skills for effective cross-cultural and international communication

· Language as culture

· Communication styles (written and verbal)

· Nonverbal communication patterns (eye-contact, space, gestures, touching)

· Language and language training/teaching/learning

· Gender and culture/gender and language

· Intercultural negotiation process and strategies

· Diversity and reconciling cultural dilemmas

· Finding a common ground and creating cultural synergy

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the course, it is expected that the students will be able to explain the following:

1. the notion of “culture” and its components

2. cultural barriers to and methods of facilitating intercultural communication

3. diversity and the mechanisms of intercultural communication

4. key issues covered in all assigned readings, personal research and class discussions

5. area(s) of personal interest; students will demonstrate its (their) application to personal and professional development in the greater global community

6. skills of intercultural communication for global success.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. All assigned readings (including course text, course book and selected

materials and actively engage in discussion on the topic(s)/issue(s) in class.

(10 points)

2. Learning Activity #1. This is a two page, double-spaced paper describing one’s own personal intercultural experiences and an evaluation of one’s own culture.

(5 points)

3. Learning Activity #2. Students will interview a person from a different country (other than their own) to determine the educational system in the interviewee’s country and the relationship between educational training and positions in society. The findings will be posted on CourseInfo and shared in class.

(25 points)

4. Learning Activity # 3. Students will search and retrieve five refereed journal articles (dates: 1996-2000) on topics of personal interest, specifically related to the issues relevant to the class (global education and/or intercultural

communication). A two-page summary, written in third person and following APA July ‘94 revised format is required.

(15 points)

5. Learning Activity # 4. Students will read and review a book from the list of recommended literature (or one approved by the instructors) and present

a brief report to the class, supported by appropriate media.

(20 points)

6. Learning Activity #5. Students will research the country they would like to visit

(not previously visited) and prepare a 10-page, double-spaced maximum paper on the country including the following components: a)economic system; b) educational system; c) industry; d) marriage and family system; c) do’s and don’ts; d) gift-giving practices; e) language (verbal, written, spoken, non-verbal); and f) communication styles. Use APA July ‘94 revised format. It is hoped that students will have an opportunity in class to share this information via an intercultural workshop or individual presentations.

(25 points)

GRADING SCALE

93-100 A

87-92 B+

83-86 B

77-82 C+

73-76 C

COURSE SCHEDULE

CLASS

DATE

TOPIC

READING

WORK DUE

Intro; Globalization;

What is Culture? Generate Interview Questions (LA2)

Text: Ch.1-2

Lrg. Act. #1

Contrasting Cultural

Values (gender, religion)

Text: Ch. 3

Lrg. Act. #3

Journal Art. # 1

Verbal and Non-Verbal Patterns in Intercul. Com.

Text: Ch. 4

Journal Art. # 2

Lrg. Act # 3

Written Comm. Patterns

Text: Ch.5

Language (context, types)

Text: Ch. 6

Lrg. Act. #2

Culture-General Info.

Text: Ch. 7

Journal Art. #3

Lrg. Act. # 3

Country-Specific Info.

Text: Ch. 8

Lrg. Act. #4

Culture Shock

Culture, Gender & Comm.

Text: Ch. 9

Intercultural Negotiation

Text: Ch. 10

Lrg. Act. #4

Intercultural Negotiation

Text: Ch. 11

Journal Art. #5

Global Etiquette

Lrg. Act. #34

Intercultural

Workshop

Text: Ch. 12

Lrg. Act. #4

Lrg. Act. #5

Course recap/evaluation

Lrg.Act. #5

N.B. The course can be completed at your own pace.