INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
(Given in English)
30006
2015/16
ECTS Credits 3INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
Academic Year 2015/16
Subject Details
Subject (Nom de l’assignatura): Intercultural Communication Code (Codi): 30006
Type (Tipus): No reglada; formació internacional i multicultural en anglès Period (Període de docència): 1º cuatrimestre / 1st term
Autumn Term, October 2015 – January 2016
Timetable lectures (Horari):
1) Tuesdays 13:10 – 14:50 (06/10/15 – 19/01/16 inclusive) 2) Thursdays 13:10 – 14:50 (08/10/15 – 21/01/16 inclusive)
All in Room 15, 2nd floor
Escola d’Hoteleria UIB,
Edifici Arxiduc Lluís Salvador, UIB Campus
Tutorials (Tutories): Monday, Wednesday & Thursday, 10:30 – 11:30
Roger Andrews office, 1st floor Escola d’Hoteleria UIB
Language (Idioma): Course given in English (Anglès) Number of credits (Nombre de crèdits): 3 ECTS
Exam dates (Dates dels exàmens): Tuesday 26th January 2016; 13:00
(exam dates subject to confirmation)
Lecturer (Professor responsable de l’assignatura)
Roger Andrews MA, BSc, PGCE, RSA.Dip
Tel: 971 172 794
Email:
[email protected]
(The lecturer has British nationality with English as his mother
tongue.)
General Aims
Intercultural Communication is designed to enable students to handle cultural differences in communication and management practices especially when dealing with international clients, multicultural staff and people from other cultures. As a result it pays especial attention to verbal intercultural communication, non-verbal communication, interpersonal skills, effective management strategies and business etiquette.
The course will provide the following EHEA general competences:
skills for working in an international context
knowledge of the culture and customs of other countries
enhanced ability to write, speak and produce short reports in another language
development of a critical awareness
predisposition to question your own ideas and those of others ability to motivate others
Specific Objectives
1. To improve the students’ communication ability through a greater awareness of cultural differences and considerations. As such, students should improve their communication with people from other cultures, whether they be international clients, work colleagues, friends or associates.
2. To improve the students’ people management skills through a greater awareness of cultural differences and considerations. As such they should be able to successfully manage and motivate a multicultural work force and work in a foreign country.
3. To improve the students’ culturally sensitive communication skills in English.
4. To increase the students’ critical awareness in relation to their role in promoting culture tolerance and understanding.
Specific EHEA competences:
enhanced capacity to work in groups
development of an ethical and social attitude enhanced presentation skills
increased competence for conveying information enhanced capacity for coordination
SYLLABUS
The course consists of 4 units. Each unit consists of topics, tasks, problems or case-studies related to intercultural communication, although changes may occur depending on the needs and abilities of the group in question.
Module Title
UNIT 1 INDIVIDUAL FACTORS IN INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
1 Introduction & the ‘iceberg’
2 Foreign language acquisition & competence
3 Cultural mindsets & programming; acceptance & rejection, ethical standards
4 Intercultural intelligence; empathy, emotional intelligence, perception etc.
5 Attitudes to other cultures; ethnocentrism, tolerance, stereotyping
6 Individual management style; motivation, conflict resolution, etc.
7 Adapting to different cultures; culture shock, culture brokers
8 The Spanish
9 The British
10 Speaking generally about nationalities and people from other countries.
UNIT 2 IMPORTANT CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
11 Attitudes to authority; power, inequality, respect, obedience, consultation etc.
12 Collectivism; families, in-groups, individualism, initiative
13 Aggression, compassion, competition & caring ; compromise, ambition etc.
14 Attitudes towards women & gender roles
15 Attitudes towards relationships; marriage, dating, homosexuality etc.
16 Attitudes to change & the future; risk, improvisation, long-term outlook etc.
17 The importance of religion & lay cultures; Christianity, Islam, Hinduism etc.
18 Cultural celebrations; religious & non-religious
19 Lucky & unlucky, numbers, colours, flowers etc. Superstitions.
20 The Russians
UNIT 3 VERBAL & NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
21 Non-verbal communication I (body language); gestures, eye contact etc.
22 Non-verbal communication II (body contact) ; touching, space etc.
23 Dress, appearance & symbols; jewellery, headgear, religious dress etc.
UNIT 4 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ETIQUETTE
24 Taboos & causing offence.
25 The Arabs
26 General protocol & good practice. Summary and overview
METHODOLOGY
The teaching methodology used requires extensive student participation, using techniques of problem-based learning, case-study analysis and group negotiation and reporting. Given the importance of the English language as the global ‘lingua franca’ it is necessary that participants in this subject use English in class discussions, assignments and the exams. The emphasis is on communication rather than grammatical perfection. Apart from class group work students will be expected to read and analyse articles and extracts related to the subject and discuss their content in reduced groups, who meet in seminars (a minimum of three per student).
EVALUATION
Evaluation for this subject will consist of three parts:
1) A written exam - maximum 2 hours (50% total) 2) A written report & presentation (50% of total)
3) The completion of two assignments (compulsory but not graded) To pass the subject students must complete all three parts. All parts will be in English.
1) A written exam (maximum 2 hours) consisting of 3 sections
a) multiple choice, b) problem-solving activity, c) personal opinion
2) A written report & presentation (approx. 10 pages)
A written report analysing a specific culture or national culture of the students’ choice and the strategies for intercultural communication with people from this culture. This can be done individually or in groups (maximum 4 people). The report is then presented to the lecturer or in a seminar.
3) Two assignments
The two short assignments will be given during the course and may include written or reading activities. They will not be graded but must be completed to pass the course.
COURSE HANDOUTS
As the subject is in English, students will be given course handouts with a summary of the key facts, opinions and references for each unit. A dossier of previous courses is available for inspection.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
IN ENGLISH
Chaney, L.H. and Martin, J.S. (2004) Intercultural Business Communication : Prentice Hall [Library: 395.52 CHA]
Held, D. et al (1999) Global Transformations : Politics, Economics and Culture :Polity Press [Library: 327 GLO]
Hofstede, G. and Hofstede, G.J (2005) Cultures and Organizations: software of the mind. McGraw-Hill [Library: 306 HOF]
Harvey, C.P. and Allard, M.J. (2009) Understanding and Managing Diversity. Prentice Hall
Lubit, R.H. (2004) Coping with Toxic Managers, subordinates and other difficult people, Prentice Hall [Library: 650.13]
Robbins, S.P. and Hunsaker, P.L. (2003) Training in Interpersonal Skills : Pearson [Library: 370.113 ROB]
Goleman, D. (1995) Emotional Intelligence: Bantam Books Floyer Acland, A. (2003) Perfect People Skills : Random House
Ferraro, J.P. (1990) The Cultural Dimensions of International Business: Prentice Hall
Burgen, S. (1996) Your Mother’s Tongue: Indigo Bryson, B. (1990) Mother Tongue : Penguin Books
Sabbath, A.M. (2000) International Business Etiquette. Career Press Martin, J.S. and Chaney, L.H. (2006) Global Business Etiquette. Praeger Mole, J. (2003) Mind your Manners. Brealey [Library: 395.520 MOL]
Peterson, Brooks. (2004) Cultural Intelligence. Brealey [Library: 303.482 PET]
IN SPANISH
Alba Fort, C. (2005) Multiculturalidad y Comunicación: Laertes [Library: 306.3 ALB]
