Course detail

Global Understanding - Intercultural Communication

FP-RguicAAcad. year: 2014/2015

This course offers a unique opportunity for students to learn about other cultures in a face-to-face environment without having to leave their classroom. The cultural exchange is based both on written communications between pairs of students (via chatting and collaborative written assignments) as well as through face-to-face interaction via video conference. Video conference link sessions will be spent communicating with international partners on topics such as: college life, culture/traditions, religion/values, and stereotypes/discrimination. Non-video conference link sessions will be spent in a seminar format. Students will learn how social identities can impact communication, develop skills to conduct research using the University of Michigan’s online library resources, and gain experience engaging in meaningful interaction with students on campus.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

4

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Offered to foreign students

Of all faculties

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will become familiar with the multicultural environment.

Prerequisites

NOT NEEDED

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is based on video-conferences with Michigan University, USA. Students are each week discussing the main socio-economic issues with colleagues from USA.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

After the UM-FBM VUT link series concludes, you will write a reflection paper on your experience using video conference, Google chat, and other forms of online communication to get to know your partner(s). The goals of this assignment are to capture your experience over the link sessions, collaborate with your SNU partner, and develop your skills in writing with scholarly resources.

For this paper, you will incorporate a reflection on your experience during the UM-SNU link series with at least two of the class readings on intercultural communication. You may use additional resources outside course readings, but they will not count towards the two-reading minimum.

Reflection papers will be 3-4 pages in Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins. There are three stages to submitting your paper:
1) You will write a draft and submit two copies – one on ctools and one via email to your SNU partner(s). Due Date:
2) You will receive a paper from your SNU partner(s) via email that they wrote. You will read this paper and offer constructive feedback. You will submit two copies of your feedback – one on ctools and one via email to your partner(s). You can write feedback by using track changes on your partner’s document, inserting different-colored text comments into your partner’s document, or writing feedback in a separate email or document. If you do not receive a paper from your partner in a timely manner, please notify the instructor. Due Date:
3) You will receive feedback on the paper draft that you wrote via email from your partner. Consider this feedback and make any necessary changes to your paper draft. You may also make other changes that you find necessary, even if your partner did not suggest them. You will submit this final copy on ctools. As a courtesy, you can also email your partner a copy, but it is not required.

Course curriculum

1. COLLEGE LIFE
2. CULTURE, TRADITIONS IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
3. FAMILY LIFE
4. RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
5. VALUES IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
6. STEREOTYPES AND POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT
7. DIVERSITY

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Offer students the opportunity to understand, explore and appreciate the nature of human diversity and globalization by providing a direct international experience in a virtual collaborative learning environment with students and faculty from other countries.
• Provide students with the tools and methods necessary to effectively interact with, understand and learn from peoples of other cultures.
• Foster international partnerships via technology to develop trust, friendship and future opportunities for scholarly collaboration.
• Build the basic technical and social skills necessary to work in a virtual collaborative environment (VCE).

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Attendance at seminars is systematically controlled.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Creative Productivity Index: Analysing Creativity and Innovation in Asia. (2014, August 28). Retrieved September 18, 2015, from http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/59586/creative-productivity-index_0.pdf (EN)
Bono, E., & Pandolfo, M. (2010). Six thinking hats (Rev. and updated. ed.). London: Penguin. (EN)
Countries - Geert Hofstede http://geert-hofstede.com/countries.html (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MGR-Z Master's

    branch MGR-Z , 1. year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional
    branch MGR-Z , 1. year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer