Course Topics and Goals/Outcomes
By completing this course, the most successful students will acquire the knowledge, skills, & motivation to...
FOCUS 1: CULTURE - cultural rules & roles, identity construction, demographic changes/trends
Understand the nature of cultural traditions
- perceive patterns in cultural traditions/values in behavior & communication
- appreciate the complexity in the construction of cultural identities
- gather knowledge in the areas of cultural geography & world demographics
Look at people as individuals
- be aware of cultural patterns but not use them as a guide in individual interactions
- learn how personal identities are constructed and how they can change
- understand the roles of gender, race, families, groups in constructing personal identities
FOCUS 2: COMMUNITY - group characteristics & identities, ethnocentrism, ethics in intercultural communication
Unlearn certainty
- value inherited values and traditions but examine received wisdom rationally and with an open mind
- strive in dealing with new ideas/people/situations to use evidence-based critical thinking over making snap judgments
- understand that being certain is not always an indicator of being in possession of a truth
Embrace difference
- recognize how difficult it is to accept fundamental differences in appearances, behaviors, and values
- accept that the first step in this goal is to understand ones own cultural/personal identity
- understand/appreciate cultures and traditions different from ones own & from the cultural mainstream
Champion social justice
- accept the right of all human communities to cultural self-determination
- come to support cultural sustainability and the importance of preserving cultures & languages
- understand the perspectives of marginalized groups, migrant communities, indigenous peoples
FOCUS 3: COMMUNICATION - verbal and non-verbal communication, language learning
Become informed communicators
- learn the basics of linguistics => what is language, how languages work, variations in use, world language families
- understand communication styles across cultures & individuals; how communications are shaped by new media
- learn about non-verbal communication across cultures and its connection to spoken language
Become informed language learners
- gain insight into language acquisition - what linguists know, what works in general, what might work for you
- understand the role that technology plays today: social media, language learning tools and services
- learn how to keep what you've learned (language maintenance) & how to add more (memory techniques, polyglots)
FOCUS 4: CONTEXT [intercultural communication in practice]
Understand the dynamics of intercultural interactions in different contexts, specifically in...
- environments: how they effect communication
- conflicts between cultures and individuals: causes and resolution
- relationships between representatives from different cultures (friendship, dating, marriage
- professions (business, health care, education, tourism) travel, work, and study abroad (adaptation, culture shock)
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