Basics of intercultural comunication

Description

PLAN DU COURS

Introduction to the subject; definition of key-words: 'communication', 'culture', 'intercultural'.

Current importance of intercultural understanding and communication.

Analysis of notions of 'culture', and 'communication'.

Brief review of the main theories of communication.

Reflection on 'culture bias' (a.k.a. 'cultural bias'), and potential problem areas.

Highlighting of the theories of intercultural communication.

Outline of contexts requiring awareness and application of intercultural communication: global, international, national, regional, virtual, in the workplace, etc.

Discussion of student group work, and synthesis.

METHODOLOGIE APPLIQUEE

Lectures, formal and informal. Student-led seminars and debates. Project work. Practical activities (for example, role-play situations). Conferences and event attendance (as and if timetable allows)

RESULTATS ATTENDUS

Develop student's capacity to follow, discuss and present, in both oral and written forms in English, the subject of intercultural communication. Develop student's ability to assimilate, summarise and to criticise, as necessary, information received. Develop student's ability to research an academic subject. Develop student's ability to work individually, and in a group.

Objectifs

The course is designed to provide students with: a deeper awareness of communication as an act which results from our personal and social backgrounds and especially from a given culture, and an act which is marked by the context in which it occurs; the ability to evaluate a situation requiring 'intercultural' understanding, and to adopt the relevant approach.