UNIVERSIDAD DE ESPECIALIDADES ESPÍRITU SANTO
FACULTAD DE ESTUDIOS INTERNACIONALES
SYLLABUS
ENGLISH VERSION
FOR DAC 11 VER 12 03 09
SUBJECT: Cross-Cultural Communication CODE: UCMU294
FACULTY: Benoît Verplancke CREDITS: 3
CONTACT HOURS: 48 NON-CONTACT HOURS: 96
YEAR: 2010 PERIOD: Spring II
DAYS: Mon- Thursday SCHEDULE: 18h-19h20
ROOM: F-202 SYLLABUS DATE: 12/4/2010
1. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Fostering awareness of cultural differences in communicative strategies applied to international business negotiations, international organizations, and global politics. The bases for discussions are selected readings about specific intercultural topics, case studies and international films that provide cross-cultural perspectives.
2. JUSTIFICATION
In a world with more and more international exchanges, faster communication channels like Internet, more frequent travelling – in other words a world that has changed into a global village – there is more and more contact between cultures. Understanding the differences between them, knowing the cultural values and which patterns of thought one can expect when dealing with communication partners from another culture is essential. Therefore Cross-Cultural Communication, Selected Topics is an important tool for the modern student. As a complement to the general introduction course Intercultural Communication, this course further develops specific issues such as: The world of Business, Communication Across Cultural Boundaries, Knowledge Areas, (Reverse) Culture Shock, Domestication and Foreignization, etc. These topics will be the object of both theoretic study and practical application through the case studies and role plays.
3. OBJECTIVES
a. GENERAL
To provide our students with a thorough insight on cultural differences and apply this understanding to work situations, foreign commerce, translation, attitude and behaviour in international contexts.
b. SPECIFIC
- To distinguish elements of culture and be able to draw up a contrastive schedule of cultural values.
- To avoid pitfalls that may rise when cooperating within or giving leadership to a multicultural team.
- To understand and to adapt to nonverbal language of culturally different interlocutors in order not to make blunders that may shock them and hinder further intercultural communication.
- To render a correct translation respectful of the source culture’s features without altering the meaning of the text.
- To develop beforehand awareness of difficulties in adapting to other cultures when going there, when negotiating with its members and eventually reintegrating in your own society when coming back.
4. COMPETENCIES
To recognize the key aspects of cultural identity such as: values, beliefs and attitudes, world view, activity orientation, social organization. To apply this knowledge to work situations, taking into account knowledge areas, hierarchies, differences in individualism and collectivism. To develop notions about the main translation theories and apply that to intercultural encounters. To foresee and resolve problems such as culture shock and transition experiences.
5. COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE
DATES & SESSIONS / SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES / CONTENTS / NON CONTACT HOURS / ASSESSMENTSession 1
May 3 / Identifies elements of culture and compares two cultures by using a contrastive
approach / Introduction
Culture: Our invisible teacher / p. 16-17 (7)
p. 47-68 (4) / Reviews and lists the ingredients of culture
Session 2
May 4 / Understanding Intercultural Communication: Principles and precepts / p. 69-100 (4) / Exemplifies the link between culture and communication
Session 3
May 5 / Intercultural factors according to E. Hall and G. Hostede:
Context
Power Distance
Individualism / p. 22-35 / Ranks several countries on the scales of context, power, power distance and individualism.
Session 4
May 6 / Intercultural factors according to E. Hall and G. Hostede:
Uncertainty Avoidance
Masculinity
Long Term Orientation / p. 35-55 / Looks up a number of data different countries, indicated by the teacher, on the website of G. Hofstede
Draws a general outline of the links between them and the divide between certain regions in the world
Session 5
May 10 / Foresees and resolves problems that may occur in international business context / I.The world of Business
Working Cooperatively with People from Different Cultures / p.17-33 (1) / Participates in a role play
Session 6
May 11 / Class Activity: An Exercise in Cooperation / Participates in a class simulation on cooperation between different cultures.
Session 7
May 12 / Cross Cultural Training for the Global Executive / p. 34-53 (1) / Participates in a role play.
Session 8
May 13 / Gives an oral presentation / Oral presentations / Personal research based on 50 pages of readings. / Chooses a few short case studies from the list and analyzes them in front of the class based on the cultural taxonomies.
Session 9
May 17 / Raises awareness of cultural differences in nonverbal communication / II. Communication Across Cultural Boundaries: Nonverbal Communication in Intercultural Interactions / p.268-295 (1) / Participates in a role play.
Session 10 May 18 / Nonverbal Interaction: Action, Sound and Silence / p. 255-269 (5) / Participates in a group discussion on the importance of body language.
Session 11
May 19 / Translates in an appropriately intercultural texts / Training Bilinguals to Interpret in the Community / p. 313-341(1) / Performs a brief interpretation simulation.
Session 12 May 20 / Foreign Languages and Translation and Interpretation / p. 165-170 (4) / Uses different translation tools to obtain the best possible result.
Session 13 May 25 / Foreignization and domestication: a translation theory
Historical translation mistakes / p. 1-12 (hand-outs) / Searches for an example of each theory.
Session 14 May 26 / Values and beliefs: Contrast and Comparison / The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen vs. Walt Disney / Writes a short essay on Intercultural Differences between the two versions.
Session 15 May 27 / Midterm Exam / Midterm Exam
Session 16
May 31 / Uses knowledge about intercultural communication applied to work and discussions in a cross-cultural context / III. Intercultural Conflicts
Knowledge Areas / p.279-299 (2) / Participates in a group discussion about how knowledge is determined by culture.
Session 17
June 1 / Ignorance, Hierarchy, Values / p.300-323 (2) / Exemplifies a case of intercultural difference in hierarchies
Session 18 June 2 / The bases of Cultural Differences / p. 324-347 (2) / Explains on of the case studies from this chapter, making an analysis based on the subject matter.
Session 19 June 3 / People’s Intense Feelings / p. 249-278 (2) / Participates on a class discussion about emotional reactions in international business situations.
Session 20
June 7 / The workplace: incidents / p. 152-172 (2) / Participates in a role play.
Session 21
June 8 / Rationales for the Alternative Explanation / p.172-189 (2) / Participates in a role play.
Session 22
June 9 / Individualism and Collectivism as a Source of many Specific Cultural Differences / p. 71-90 (1) / Explains a cases study to his fellow students.
Session 23
June 10 / Writes a research paper on an intercultural topic of his/her choice. / Research Paper Due / Personal research based on 50 pages of readings. / Prepares the best communication strategy for the oral presentation.
Session 24 June 14 / Gives an oral presentation on his/her findings / Oral Presentation / Performs an oral presentation to explain the findings of the research to the other students
Session 25
June 15 / Discuss and prevent problems when going abroad, negotiating and coming back / IV. Cross-Cultural Topics
Tourist Experiences / p. 133-151 (2) / Participates in a role play.
Session 26 June 16 / Negotiations / p. 417-421
p. 352-354 (3) / Simulates a negotiation context in another country
Session 27
June 17 / Reverse Culture Shock / p. 237- 248 (2) / Participates in a role play.
Session 28
June 21 / Draw conclusions about changing our ways to be successful intercultural communicators / Accepting Differences and Appreciating Similarities: A Point of View / p. 271-312 (4) / Defines the dos and the don’ts of intercultural communication
Session 29
June 22 / Revision, Questions and Answers / Takes part in a class discussion about the contents of the class
Session 30
June 23 / Final Exam
6. METHODOLOGY
At the beginning of the course each student is given a copy of the syllabus so that she or he can follow the daily readings. During the first week of class, each student chooses a topic that she/he will present as her/his oral presentation assignment. In each class, after the explanation about the day’s topic is given, we proceed with an exchange of questions and answers between the students and the professor. Sometimes audiovisual projections are arranged by the students at specific times. Furthermore the students will be asked to participate in role plays in order for them to identify better with persons from other cultures.
7.- EVALUATION
7.1 Assessment Criteria
· Role plays
· Participation in class debates
· Establishing definitions
· Making comparisons between different cultures
· Drafting outlines on the covered topics
· Analyzing case studies
· Performing simulations
· Listing different cultures according to the taxonomies we have studied in class
· Ranking countries on cultural indicators
· Negotiates and conducts business according to cultural protocols.
7.2 Performance Markers
· Identifies and is able to implement the concepts of masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, context, individualism, power distance, long term orientation to case studies and practical situations.
· Interprets time issues, monochronic and polychronic time attitudes, the use of space and silence.
· Determines whether a translation is foreignizing or domesticating.
· Uses the dictionary and other translation tools correctly.
· Lists different forms of translation and interpretation.
· Knows how to behave in business situations, how to identify different protocols, habits of gift giving, greeting rituals, the exchange of business cards, etc.
· Lists the effects of culture shock and reverse shock. In analyzing them, the students also learn to avoid them.
· Raises awareness about the sensitivity people have about knowledge areas.
7.3 Weighting
7. ASSESSMENT
Midterm exam: 25% Other 50% of final grade: Oral Presentation 10%
Final Exam: 25% Reading Controls, Role Plays 20%Research Paper 20%
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
8.1 REQUIRED
Students will be provided with a reader, handed out by the teacher at the beginning of each course cycle. This reader contains articles about all topics treated during the classes and is the basis for the readings outside the classroom i.e. the non-contact hours.
8.2 COMPLEMENTARY
1) Brislin, Richard W., Yoshida, Tomoko (ed.), Improving Intercultural Interactions, Modules for Cross-Cultural Training Programs, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks/London/New Delhi, 1994
2) Cushner, Kenneth, Brislin, Richard W. (ed.), Intercultural Interactions, A Practical Guide, Second Edition, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks/London/New Delhi, 1986.
3) Samovar, Larry A., Mills, Jack, Oral Communication, Speaking Across Cultures, Tenth Edition, Mc Grawhill, Boston, Massachusetts, 1998.
4) Samovar, Larry A., Porter, Richard E., Communication Between Cultures, Wadsworth Publishing Company, Belmont, California, 1991.
5) Samovar, Larry A., Porter, Richard E., Intercultural Communication, A Reader, Ninth edition, Wadsworth Publishing Company, Belmont, California, 2000.
6) Lustig, Myron W, Intercultural Communication, Aztec Shops, Customized Materials, San Diego, 1997.
7) Samovar, Larry, Intercultural Communication Workbook, Aztec Shops, Customized Materials, San Diego 1997.
8.3 HANDOUTS:
Handouts will be used on specific occasions dealing with current themes and will be put at the disposal of the students the day before talking about the topic in class.
8.4 WEBLIOGRAPHY:
Student may consult the web as a source for their oral presentations. Sources on the web are too numerous to give an exhaustive list of them but useful information might be found on the sites of national geographic, united nations, many pages on specific countries etc. One particularly useful website is:
http://www.geert-hofstede.com/
9. FACULTY INFORMATION
NAME: Benoit Verplancke
DEGREES: UNIVERSITY:
Undergraduate:
B.A. Translation French-Dutch-Spanish Erasmus Rue de Trêves 84 Bruxelles
B.A. Translation in English VLEKHO
Rue Royale 336
Bruxelles
Graduate Studies:
M.A. Interpretation VLEKHO
Rue Royale 336
Bruxelles
EMAIL: ,
10. Review and signature
Prepared by: Benoît Verplancke Date: April 12 2010
Reviewed by: Dean Monica Reynoso Date: April, 2010