910190 Intercultural Communication
winter semester 2010/2011 | Last update: 14.02.2011 | Place course on memo list910190
Intercultural Communication
VU 4
7,5
weekly
each semester
English
Intercultural Communication is the management of messages for the purpose of creating meaning across cultures. Culture can be defined as “A socially constructed and historically transmitted pattern of symbols, meanings, apprentices, and rules.“ Or, as Hofstede expressed it, it is “The collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the members of one category of people from another”. When Europeans communicate they follow patterns of communication programmed into them in various stages of their childhood and adult life. Ever seen a Chinese film? Then you will understand that expressions differ with the cultural background.
This forum starts with an introductory course in culture, cultural awareness and cultural theory. Without proper knowledge of how cultures are different and unique and without the respect for otherness you will never be able to communicate effi-ciently in business; your own culture will work as a filter through which the recipients have to understand your messa-ge.
Admittedly, some cultures are so close that the cultural distance is small - but exactly in these cases the dangers are even more important if you take similari-ty for granted.
After the introductory course you may ac-cess the European database covering 22 countries and regions for knowledge and inspiration. Do not expect to learn all this be heart - it will take you years. Instead select a few, e.g. 4 or 5 diffe-rent countries, and practise on those. Each section has a profile with easily identifiable structure and content.
Finally, as a third part you will find assignments, tests and suggestions for projects which will enable you to use y-our intercultural skills in a proper con-text. This will ensure that the competen-ces you develop are ready for use when you need them most.
This course is an online course organised on e-campus with only few classes!
Weekly written assignments, tests and suggestions for projects
When Cultures Collide (Richard D. Lewis) (Nicholas Brealey Publishing)
Revised Edition 2001
Dynamics of Intercultural Communication (Carley H. Dodd) McGraww-Hill
5th Edition
Internet resources: Hofstede, Gesteland, Gullestrup, Trompenaars, Geertz et al
Online course!!
22.11.2010, 18:00 - 18:30 Uhr, Seminarraum 19, SoWi
- Interfakultäre Studien und interdisziplinäres Angebot