Intercultural Communication Management - JJM233

• Title: Intercultural Communication Management
• Guaranteed by: Department of Media Studies (23-KMS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2021
• Semester: both
• E-Credits: 6
• Hours per week, examination: 1/1, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: winter:unknown / unknown (30); summer:unknown / unknown (30)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: not taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment; priority enrollment if the course is part of the study plan; you can enroll for the course in winter and in summer semester
• Guarantor: Ulrike Lütke Notarp, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students
• Incompatibility : JKM137
• Is incompatible with: JKM137

Annotation

Last update: Ulrike Lütke Notarp, Ph.D. (29.01.2021)

The seminar takes place online via google meet. If the pandemic situation permits, the last two or three sessions take place in person.

The seminar focuses on acquiring and developing intercultural communication competences. By improving our cultural sensitivity we will develop an attitude that sees diversity as an opportunity rather than a danger. We try to analyze and understand our cultural and communicative specific behavior, search for and explain cultural differences.
In the second part students get acquainted with Geert Hofstede´s concept of "Cultural dimensions". Students present central aspects of this concept in form of group-presentations (powerpoint). The presentations serve as a basis for further discussion in class.
In the third part we develop a more conscious communicative behavior by means of discussing "case studies", teamwork and role-playings. It will be asked, what we should change in our "normal" communicative behavior in order to succeed in intercultural communication situations.

Aim of the course

Last update: Ulrike Lütke Notarp, Ph.D. (02.01.2020)

The seminar focuses on acquiring and developing intercultural communication competences.

The seminar is not primarily concerned with the acquisition of theoretical knowledge, but rather with the acquisition of practical skills in intercultural communication situations. Students should therefore be ready to actively participate in role-playing games, participate in discussions and to present a (theoretical) concept of culture in the classroom.

Literature

Last update: Ulrike Lütke Notarp, Ph.D. (02.01.2020)

A reader with all texts and exercises we use in class will be handed out.

Caroline Hodges Persell (1987). (2^nd edition) Understanding Society. An Introduction to Sociology, p. 83-101. New York University. 

Hofstede, Geert & Hofstede, Gerd J., Minkov, Michael (2010). Cultures and Organizations: software of the mind: intercultural cooperation and its importance for survival. New York. Mc Graw-Hill.

Thomas, Alexander (2003). Kultur und Kulturstandards. In A. Thomas, E.-U. Kinast & S. Schroll-Machl (Hrsg.), Handbuch interkulturelle Kommunikation und Kooperation. Band 1: Grundlagen und Praxisfelder (S. 19-31). Göttingen. Vandenhoek und Ruprecht.

Vinken, Henk, Soeters, Josef, Ester, Peter (2004). Cultures and Dimensions. Classic perspectives and new opportunities in ‛dimensionalist’ cross-cultural studies. In H. Vinken et al. (Hrsg.), Comparing Cultures. Dimensions of Culture in a Comparative Perspective. S. 5-27. Leiden in the Nether­lands. Koninklijke Brill.

Teaching methods

Last update: Ulrike Lütke Notarp, Ph.D. (02.01.2020)

• Students present their home country in short video presentations.
• Students present a theoretical concept of culture in form of a power point presentation.
• Presentations and case studies serve as basis for discussion in class. Students should actively take part in these discussions.
• Role-playings and discussions in multi-national teams are very useful to experience cultural differences. Students should actively take part in them.

Requirements to the exam

Last update: Ulrike Lütke Notarp, Ph.D. (02.01.2020)

- regular and active participation in class (maximum 3 times of absence)

- presentation of one´s home culture and country

- group-presentation of a theoretical concept of culture (20% of final grade)

- active participation in role-playings and active participation in plenary discussion (20% of final grade)

- midterm test (20% of final grade)

- final test (40% of final grade)

Syllabus

Last update: Ulrike Lütke Notarp, Ph.D. (02.01.2020)

1. Introduction
Developing communicative competences - what does it mean - what is it about?
- Awareness of cultural differences

- The concept of "Culture as mental programming" (G. Hofstede)

2. “Cultural Values Map of Europe” - Video

Presentation of one´s own country and culture

3. National cultural values in comparison

Video presentations

4. Developing cultural and communicative sensitivity:

The concept of "Cultural Standards" (A. Thomas)

5. Culturally determined behavior in different situations:

Alexander Thomas´ “Cultural Standards”

Hofstede´s Five Basic Problems of Society

6. Hofstede´s cultural dimensions: I Presentations in plenary

7. Hofstede´s cultural dimensions: II Presentations in plenary

8. Midterm test

Awareness exercises I

Case studies: Analysis and Discussion

9. Developing communicative competences

Role-Playing

10. Developing communicative competences

Awareness exercises II

Case studies: Analysis and Discussion

11. Developing communicative competences

Discussions in multi-national teams

12. Debriefing

Repetition