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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CMS 280"
COURSE NAME: "Intercultural Communications"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Silvia Giagnoni
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 1:30 PM 3:20 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An exploration of some of the historical and political conditions that make intercultural communication possible, the barriers that exist to effective intercultural communication, and possible solutions to the problem of intercultural misunderstanding. The course examines examples of differences in communication styles not only between cultures but also within. As a result, issues of race, nation, class, gender, religion, immigration, and sexual orientation will be of significant concern. The course stresses the notion that knowledge of human beings is always knowledge produced from a particular location and for a particular purpose. As a result it encourages students to think carefully about the discipline of Intercultural Communication—its conditions of possibility, its assumptions, and its blind spots—as well the need to be mindful of the limitations and interests of our positioning as investigating subjects.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course investigates the impact of culture in the communication process through understanding how cultural identities are formed and negotiated and the challenges present in communicating cross-culturally. Differences in communication styles will be analyzed not only between cultures but also within. Thus, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, immigration, ethnicity, and nationality will be key analytical tools of the course.

Through in-class lecture and discussion, media analysis, and written assignments, issues of identity, history, power, representation, globalization, relationships, conflict, and conflict resolution will be examined.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

-Identify and understand how human communication and its fundamental elements (nonverbal, language, listening) are defined by culture

-Analyze the role played by identity in intercultural communication

-Acknowledge global and historical conditions that shape intercultural communication and identity formation

-Evaluate the role of media and communication technologies in intercultural exchanges

-Examine the sources and possible solutions to intercultural miscommunication

-Understand critically some of the tenets of intercultural communication, including its origins, developments, and current uses.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Cultural AutobiographyStudents will examine their own cultural identities, and how they think their cultural make-up influences their interactions with others. Given early in the term, this written assignment will allow students to analyze their own cultural values, perspectives, norms, understandings, and lifestyles. Students will explore and explain the extent to which their cultural affiliations help create and shape their identity. 10
Journal (Intercultural Reflections)During the term, students will reflect weekly upon intercultural communication concepts and ideas and will be prompted to implement them by bringing in personal experiences, anecdotes, as well as relevant media references. Topics will range from (but not be limited to) use of space, religion, architecture, fashion, entertainment, social media use, gender roles, dating, family ties and child-rearing, verbal, and non-verbal communication. 30
ParticipationA variety of small weekly assignments will be given to test students’ acquisitions of class material via (in-class or take-home) video and/or reading responses, quizzes, oral presentation, and responses to possible out-of-class excursions.20
Final Exam Students will be tested both on the acquisition of content knowledge and the critical understanding of course material via multiple choice & true/false items as well as discussion questions.30
AttendanceStudents are allowed three unexcused absences in this course. After that, students will automatically lose a letter grade for every three absences. Lateness: Students more than 15 minutes late are marked as absent. Late arrival (less than 15 minutes) is marked as such, and three late arrivals are counted as one absence. Leaving the class for more than 15 minutes will be counted as one absence. Leaving in the middle of class and coming back after more than 15 minutes will also be regarded as an absence. Students are expected to do the required readings for the day before coming to class and to be prepared to comment, discuss them, or ask questions. 10

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Students are allowed three unexcused absences in this course. After that, students will automatically lose a letter grade for every three absences.

Lateness: Students more than 15 minutes late are marked as absent. Late arrival (less than 15 minutes) is marked as such, and three late arrivals are counted as one absence. Leaving the class for more than 15 minutes will be counted as one absence. Leaving in the middle of class and coming back after more than 15 minutes will also be regarded as an absence. Students are expected to do the required readings for the day before coming to class and to be prepared to comment, discuss them, or ask questions.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Please refer to Moodle for updates on the schedule

R: Reading(s) to be completed on that day

S: In class-screening

L: Lecture

D: Discussion

A: Assignment

W: watch on your own by the date indicated

 

Week One

Introduction to the Course + Syllabus review & icebreakers

Overview of the basic concepts of the course

In-class activity: Exploring Rome & Lazio: Getting out of your comfort zone

S&D: The Privilege Walk

Cultural Autobiography Assignment (we will start working on it in class)

R: Lecture Notes on Communication & Lustig & Koester (Ch.1, pp. 1-13) & Valenzano et al. (17-28)+ Samovar et al. (Ch. 5 Cultural History)

S: We need to talk about an injustice/The Power of Identity by Bryan Stevenson (Ted Talk)

A: Prepare and upload intercultural journal entry #1

Week Two

L: Cultural Patterns and Communication: Taxonomies

R: Lustig & Koester (Ch.5, pp. 100-128)

Group Assignment: Cultural comparison (intro)

A: Cultural Autobiography Assignment (please submit complete cultural biography by the beginning of the week)

A: Prepare and upload intercultural journal entry #2

 

Week Three

L: Cultural identity, stereotyping, & prejudice

S: The Danger of a Single Story by Adichie, Ngozi Chimamanda

R: Lecture Notes on Stereotyping + Lustig & Koester (Ch. 6, pp.129-150)

S&D: Latinos Beyond Reel. Challenging a Media Stereotype

L: Language, thought, and cultural differences; The importance of listening in intercultural interaction

D: Many different languages, many different thoughts—intercultural challenges (lecture & class discussion)

S&D: screening & discussion of Julian Treasure’s “5 Ways to Listen Better”

R: Lecture Notes on Language & Listening and Guy Deutscher’s “Does Your Language Shape the Way We Think?” + Lustig & Koester (Ch. 7, pp. 160-178)

A: Prepare and upload intercultural journal entry #3

 

Week Four

L: Nonverbal intercultural communication

Nonverbal language; Nonverbal codes.

S&D: TED talk by Yassmin Abdel-Magied  “What does my headscarf mean to you?”

R: Lecture Notes on Nonverbal Communication & excerpt (Adler et al. 173-175) & Mehta’s The new proxemics

S: A Tale of Two Robes by Julie Hogan

In class activity:

Group work on “Spotlight on Culture” assignment on culture of choice, using theories by Hall’s and Hofstede’s theoretical frameworks as references.

R: Read Zukauskas’s “Culture shock”; Gareis (pp. 457-480) & Lewis (pp. 262-268)

S: Chinese or Italian? (2016) by Teresa Paoli 

A: Prepare and upload intercultural journal entry #4

Week Five

L: Migration and co-existence: the world on the move and its implications

R: UNHCR Global Trends Report (June 2023) (excerpts TBD) & Liu (pp. 437-455)

L: Superdiversity: dimensions and implications

R: Samovar et al. (Ch. 4 Worldview: Cultural exploration of Life and Death) + Vertovec (pp. 1024-1026; pp.1044-1050)

S&D: Human (2019) by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

A: Prepare and upload intercultural journal entry #5

 

Week Six

L: In-depth look at ethnocentrism, proxemics, cross-cultural encounters & experiential learning

R: Neuliep (pp. 331-347)

A: (in-class)

-Self and group evaluation of levels of intercultural competence

-What I learn about… (individual presentation) (assignment due)

- Social Contact in a Contactless Worlds (discussion)

A: Prepare and upload intercultural journal entry #6 (Completed Intercultural Reflections due 06/22)

 

 

June 21 Final Exam