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SEATTLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Humanities 105, “Intercultural Communications”
Winter 2008
PROFESSOR: Annie Galarosa
OFFICE: BE 4126
TELEPHONE: (206) 516-3140
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment @ 9:00 -9:50
Drop iu @ 1:00 – 2:00
Prerequisite(s): Eligibility for English 101 or permission by instructor
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Intercultural communication occurs when people from one culture interact with people from another culture. This course provides an interdisciplinary focus on the values, patterns, history, and attitudes that create and sustain culture. We will emphasize skills and empathy in intercultural communication gained from the study of diverse cultures. Our exploration can incorporate lectures, group discussion, literature, art, theory, speakers, music, and films.
The main objective of this course is to increase the student’s understanding of America as a society composed of multicultural and mixed race people and its complex history of contradictions based on freedom and slavery, immigration and the search for the “American Dream”, self-determination and servitude, hope and genocide. In addition, students should gain the ability to approach this study and understanding of these issues, equipped with the appropriate tools and frame of reference to put theory into practice, of being able to communicate across cultural/racial/class/gender and religious differences.
Through reading, writing, discussion and self-reflection, students will be exposed to the philosophy, general orientation and overview of trans-cultural communication and relations. Through various resources students will learn to theorize about the analysis of intercultural transactions (verbal and behavioral), and will be provided insight into cultural differences and the relationships between culture and perception. Through applying literary analysis to texts and other mediums, we will explore how these ideas and individual concepts manifest. Students will express in writing and through discussion, their understanding of cross-cultural communication and inter cultural transformation. As a culturally pluralistic society, academia should both contain the many voices of a truly diverse population and also speak invitingly to those Americans who have not yet found their voices. Our mobility, increased contact among cultures, a global marketplace and the emergence of multicultural organizations and the workforces require that we develop communication skills and abilities that are appropriate to a multicultural society and to life in a global village.
CLASS OBJECTIVES:
1. An understanding and appreciation of the extent to which language interacts with cultural patterns of thought and behavior.
2. Confidence and competence in intercultural communication.
3. Greater awareness of each student’s own culture.
4. Through that awareness the ability to accept and value the differences between themselves and people of other cultures.
5. The ability to interact with people from other cultures in local and international education, employment and travel.
6. Work effectively in groups.
7. Thinking, discussing, and writing critically and creatively in response to the reading and ideas of the course.
Learning Outcomes:
1. Deliver an appropriate, culturally sensitive presentation related to cultural issues and values.
2. Demonstrate and apply the process of selecting, organizing, and delivering a presentation.
3. Be an effective, mindful, and self reflective communicator across cultures while contextualizing one’s own culture.
4. Analyze and examine through writing and discussion, multicultural relationships in the United States, such as race/ethnicity, class, socio-economic status, religion and gender.
5. Describe and connect historical foundations to contemporary multicultural issues and values
COURSE MATERIALS:
Required:
1. Communication Between Cultures, Larry Samovar, et. al.
2. Intercultural Communication (A Reader), Larry Samovar, et. al
3. additional readings as assigned (TBA)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Class sessions will consist of mini-lectures, large and small group discussions, class exercises and activities and debriefings around the topics and activities. Attendance and full participation is mandatory. The majority of the required reading and writing assignments must be completed prior to each class session.
- Self-discovery learning journal. This is a one to two page self-reflection essay due every week. There will a total of 10 journal entries, Due on the Monday following the previous week beginning with the second week of the quarter.
- Weekly chapter readings and small group seminar presentations and/or pop quiz on the chapter readings and related materials such as films and additional articles as assigned.
- Two major writings.
- Midterm and Final Self Evaluation.
GRADING: (see separate Grading sheet!)
CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE:
Attendance and class participation are an integral part of the learning process. Class participation enables you to demonstrate your knowledge of the material, and to express what you think. It shows me that you have read and reflected on the subject, and it allows all of us to share perspectives that might otherwise remain hidden.
Participation includes attendance (on time), paying attention (e.g. not falling asleep), note-taking, and discussion of the course content with other classmates in small and large group settings. A three day grace period for absences is allowed before losing any points; thereafter each day of absences or a series of tardiness or early exiting will result in a loss of points towards attendance/participation.
Withdrawal:
If you are no longer planning to continue the class, you must take the responsibility to officially withdraw from this class. February 22 is the last day to withdraw with instructor’s signature. If you do not withdraw, or sign up for an exit interview you can expect a “0.0” in the class.
INSTRUCTOR’S EDUCATIONAL PHILISOPHY:
We will read, discuss/debate and write to not only improve our critical thinking, reading, writing and oral skills but to develop our independent and collaborative learning skills. To study any subject well, there must be commitments by all to actively engage in the learning process.
Student Responsibilities:
· reading the required reading assignments in a timely manner
· attending and participating in classroom activities
· taking lecture notes
· responding with an open and inquiring mind
· improving on one’s written and oral skills
· contributing to the development of a learning community
· and allocating time out of class for daily preparation and reflection.
The instructor is not “all-knowing” with fixed and immutable knowledge and information. Knowledge and information are mutable and can be created, beginning with the student’s interests. Activities are student centered (rather than instructor centered) that will help you reflect upon your own experiences. This method is used to help promote active learning since learning beyond reading is ultimately a social experience. Finally, the individual is often the most important source of knowledge. Each of you is your own best authority on your perceptions, reactions, emotions and experiences. However, your personal knowledge should be checked and verified against other criteria such as research sources. The check includes the perceptions of others and the legacy and patterns of the past. In conclusion, this attempt at education is to actively involve the student through as many different methods as possible within a social environment.
At the end of the quarter, you will be faced with the greatest challenge of all; and that is to continue this work of inquiry; to go far beyond what you have learned and apply it to a lifelong commitment to learning. This includes a commitment to share your knowledge and efforts with others.
AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT:
If you need course adaptation or accommodation because of a disability; if you have emergency medical information to share with your instructor, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated; please make an appointment with your instructor as soon as possible, and also the Disabilities Support Services Office.
REMINDER: Please turn off cell phones while in class. Eating and drinking is not allowed in the classroom.
“To better understand the world around you and achieve a rewarding life”
- Master Bruce Lee, aka “Little Dragon”
01/02/2008