INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Professor

Degree Programmes and curricula

Equivalent courses for other degree programmes

Contents

Educational Goals

To define a model of intercultural communicative competence.
To develop an understanding of the main theoretical background and concepts relevant to intercultural communication.
To explore the ways in which culture can affect communication, and what it means to be competent in intercultural interaction.
To gain an understanding of the major concepts and issues pertaining to communicating interculturally, such as cultural values, verbal and nonverbal codes, communicative events.
To identify the barriers to effective intercultural communication such as cultural values, verbal and nonverbal codes, communicative events.
By the end of this course you will have:
1. Described how your own culture affects you as an intercultural communicator.
2. Applied the principles of intercultural communication to your context.
3. Articulated an understanding of elements that are necessary for effective intercultural communication, including world view,individualism and collectivism, gender roles, power distance, locus of control, time as culture, contexting, interpersonal relationships,and conflict.
4. Demonstrated knowledge of the strategies and skills integral to crossing cultures.

Requirements

Knowledge of the English language (B2 level of the Common European Framework)

Contents

Foundational principles of IC from the fields of social psychology, cultural anthropology, communication theory, with selected areas of interest.
Impact of cultural diversity in the international community. Topics include communication and culture, verbal/nonverbal communication, cultural dimensions and values, stereotyping.
Students are provided with coping strategies and models based on the practical application of IC theories and research,case studies, videos etc. will be used.

Recommended Reading List

Reading list.
Supplementary materials and the definitive reading list FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS will be available during the course.
Not attending students must follow the reading list and read at least one manuale (either Jandt or Neuliep)

Balboni, P. E. (2007). La comunicazione interculturale. Venezia: Marsilio.
Council of Europe (2001). Common European framework of reference for languages, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press / Council of Europe.
Crystal, D. (1997). English as a global language, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hall E.T. (1959). The silent language, New York: Doubleday. Selected parts: 1-32, 94-101
Hall, E. T. (1966). The hidden dimension, New York: Doubleday.Selected parts: 1-6, 91-94, 113-164, 173-177
Hofstede G. (1991). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind, New York: McGraw-Hill.Selected parts: all the tables referred to the national cultures
Jandt, F. (2010). An Introduction to Intercultural Communication. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. (for non attenting students, alternative to Neuliep)
Lobasso F., E. Pavan, and F. Caon. (2007). Manuale di comunicazione interculturale tra italiani e greci, Perugia: Guerra Edizioni.
Neuliep W. (2009). Intercultural communication. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. (for non attending students, alternative to Jandt)
Pavan, E. (2009) “Communicating in the Mediterranean: a matter of cultural awareness”, International Journal of Euro-Mediterranean Studies, http://www.emuni.si/press/ISSN/1855-3362/2_121-139.pdf
Pavan, E. (2009). “La dimensione interculturale nella comunicazione: una questione di consapevolezza”, in Mezzadri M. (a cura di) Le lingue dell’educazione in un mondo senza frontiere. Atti del 1° Convegno della DILLE – Società Italiana di Didattica delle Lingue e Linguistica Educativa, Perugia: Guerra Edizioni.
Tannen, D. (1990). You just don't understand. New York: Ballantine Books.Selected parts: 13-31, 42-48, 188-215.
Scollon R. Scollon Wong S. (1995). Intercultural Communication. Malden: Blackwell. Chapter 1.

Assessment

written and oral

Teaching Methods

Interactive lectures, seminars, homework assignements, seminar presentations, discussions.
The course will combine lectures with group discussions, presentations and students active participation.

Teaching Language

English

Other information

Seminars will be organized on how to write an essay and how to present it in public.

Sustainability

• Course with sustainable contents
• Lecture notes, material for reference or for self-assessment available online or as e-book
• Use of virtual forum, blog or wiki