Fulbright-Hays China 2004 - Janice. Rice - Comm 351

Comm 351 - Intercultural Communication
Spring, 2005

Dr. Janice Rice	Email: rice@lynchburg.edu
2nd Floor Hall Campus Center	Office Hours: MWF 1:00-3:00T-Th 1:30 – 2:30pm & BY APPOINTMENT

TEXTS:
Intercultural Communication: A Reader - Samovar & Porter 10th ed.,2003
Among US: Essays on Identity, Belonging and Intercultural Competence, Lustig & Koester, 2000.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become intercultural persons. Emphasis is on conceptual tools needed to understand culture, communication, how culture influences communication, and the process of communication between people from different cultures including the rules and norms relating to verbal and nonverbal language. Values and communication systems of the U.S. are compared and contrasted with those of other countries and world regions. Diversity and identity within the U.S. is explored.

OBJECTIVES:

To understand and experience that communication and behavior are also culture-driven and influenced by the values of one’s own culture.
To identify the barriers one must overcome in communication with a person whose cultural background is different from one’s own.
To demonstrate in writing and oral discussion the ability to identify and analyze intercultural problems and find solutions.
To apply principles and concepts of intercultural communication to weekly self-reflection journal and to weekly email discussions with a person whose culture is different from that of the student.
To prepare for effective global communication in future international and domestic settings.

ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING:

Weekly Journal (Written )	25%
Test (Midterm)	25%
Individual or Partner Research Project (oral presentation)	30%
Participation in daily class discussion and weekly email partner exchange	20%
Attendance	100%

OVERVIEW OF ASSIGNMENTS

Weekly Self-reflection Journal (written) - Learning to be intercultural means first of all raising awareness and reflecting on the application of concepts such as the influence of cultural values on communication. At the end of the second week of class we will begin our weekly journal reflection. Examples will be discussed. You will be the subject of the journal in so far as you explore your own sense of identity and reaction, observation, etc. to the concepts as they apply to the culture/experiences you bring. Be specific about concepts and describing self or reactions/observations by explaining how an incident or thoughts relate to concepts. Some assigned topics may be an analysis of a campus speaker, foreign film, and outside cultural activity. But, the journal is primarily what you NOTICE each week happening around you, and how you analyze it. At least 1-2 typed pages are the average length for depth. Periodic comments will be made by professor when you are asked to turn it in. No late entries count in this percentage of the grade.

Test - Midterm - Short answer and essay. Covers all assigned reading and class materials through test date. (Through American cultural values)

Weekly E-Mail Conversations with International Partner - You will be assigned email partners with another country for conversation about our topics and those of interest to you. These discussions may not fall behind. You take the responsibility of contacting your partner if you do not hear from them within that week’s time. Projected minimum contact is once a week. Starts about one month into the semester.

Class discussion on reading: Prepare for discussion of assigned reading at each class. Take notes while reading, especially when you start to see examples of concepts we talk about in class as you make connections. Bring one comment or question about readings to each class.

Individual or Partner Research Project (oral presentation). One person: 5-7 min, oral presentation. Partner: 9-10 min. oral presentation. Students will choose topics in consultation with the professor. Library and web research will be discussed. This needs an early start so work on topics of interest from the beginning. A specific, narrowed topic must be approved. A research bibliography is required for approval. Individual help may be arranged through an appointment with a librarian. Choose a research article on a cultural issue from one of our texts that has NOT been covered in class or that leads you to other topics about that cultural issue. Use it as a springboard to find academic research in journal articles and books (not general web pages). There will be a required minimum of research articles for bibliography. (8).

If you want to discuss any ideas or problems in the process of the class, please make an appointment to see the professor. If you have a question or need extra help of any kind, please ask.

COMM 351 SCHEDULE
Spring, 2005
Dr. Rice

January	11	T	Introductions. Defining Intercultural Competence. Six Stumbling Blocks to overcome.
	13	Th	CULTURAL IDENTITY “The Nature of Cultural Identity”, p. 3 (US) “Cultural Problems and Intercultural Growth:My American Journey,” p.84 (US)
	18	T	“American Journey” cont’d. “Of Endearment and Other Terms of Address:A Mexican Perspective.”, p.9 (US)
	20	Th	“dual_consciousness@USAmerican.white.male”, p. 107 (US) “Leonard’s Yard:Pulling at the Roots and Responsibilities of My Whiteness,” p. 161 (US)
	25	T	“To Be American, Black, Catholic, and Creole,”p. 41(US) “Finding One’s Self on the Margins,” p,93 (US)
	27	Th	“On Becoming Intercultural,” p.59 (US) “Negotiating Intercultural Competence,” p. 197 (US)
February	1	T	PRINCIPLES OF INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION “Understanding Intercultural Communication:An Introduction And an Overview, “p. 6 (IC)
	3	Th	“In Different Dimensions:Nonverbal Communication and Culture”, p. 239 (IC) “The Nexus of Language, Communication, and Culture,”p. 198 (IC)
	8	T	Intro to American cultural values. U.S. and nonverbal cont’d AMERICAN CULTURAL VALUES - video Cold Water.(Experiences of foreign students in the US). Culture Shock.
	10	Th	American cultural values cont’d. Review for exam
	15	T	CHINA – introduction – handouts “The Chinese Conceptualizations of Face: Emotions,Communication,and Personhood,” p.48 IC
	17	Th	Video of concert by Chinese Pop Star, “Joie”
	22	T	MIDTERM TEST
	24	T	The U.S. and China (companies) as people in business together-- from Communist to Market Economy
SPRING BREAK
March	8	T	“Contemporary Social and Political Movements and Their Imprints on the Chinese Language” p. 206 (IC). Lecture on Chinese immigrant perceptions of Americans 1900-to present
	10	Th	Discuss Chinese Film, “Internal Affairs” Write Journal article on film and concepts of current Chinese Culture
	15	T	ARAB CULTURE. A short geography and language lesson. Identity in the Arab World. Islam and Culture. Have Research Topic Appproval by this date.
	17	Th	“Communication with Egyptians,” p. 87 (IC)
	22	T	Contemporary Egypt – East meets West meets. Music videos, soap operas, film, music concerts – Western influence and Islam
	24	Th	Video on Contemporary Arab media.
	29	T	The Arab world and the US – cultural/political divide--bridges. Turn in Bibliography for final research report.
	31	Th	BEING INTERCULTURAL PERSONS “Sojourner Adaptation,” p. 406
April	5	T	Review of Stumbling Blocks to Intercultural Communication and steps that show competence toward IC.
	7	Th	Guest Speaker. Class evaluations required.
	12	T	RESEARCH ORAL PRESENTATIONS
	14	Th	RESEARCH ORAL PRESENTATIONS
	19	T	RESEARCH ORAL PRESENTATIONS
	21	Th	RESEARCH ORAL PRESENTATIONS
	26	T	Turn in Journal by this Date.