Cross-Cultural Communication
Syllabus
Course:
Cross-Cultural Communication Studies
Instructor:
Prof. LI Benxian
benbenxli@yahoo.com.cn
Office:
Room G205 , School of English Studies
Office Hours:
Subject to appointment
Course Overview:
This course, as rudiments of Cross-Cultural Communication Studies, is about what happens when
people
from
different
cultures
come
together
to
share
ideas,
feelings,
and
information.
More
specifically,
it
addresses
how
cu
lture
influences
one鈥檚
verbal
and
nonverbal
behavior,
explains
why
miscommunication
and
non-communication
occur
in
the
multicultural
context.
Thru
the
course, you are expected to acquire some concepts and learn ABC theory popular in the field. With
the foundation and global view of IC, you can further explore issues related to IC such as ICC and
globalization,
cultural
differences
and
reconciliation
strategies,
culture
and
confrontations
between civilizations.
Objectives:
鈼?/p>
Enable you to explore the notion of culture and the ways it is conceptualized.
鈼?/p>
Familiarize the participants with the commonly used research methods and approaches in the
discipline.
鈼?/p>
Guide
the
participants
to
perceive
the
fundamental
differences
between
cultures
thru
group
discussion and extensive critical reading.
鈼?/p>
Develop your bias-free attitude towards different insights into the major dimensions of selected
cultures.
鈼?/p>
Enhance your cultural awareness and ICC to reduce intercultural misunderstanding.
Course Requirement
:
1.
Attendance is mandatory. It is your responsibility to inform instructor ahead of time of your
possible absence.
Three unexcused absences will result in a failure in the course.
2.
You
are
expected
to
read
all
the
assignments
and
come
to
class
well
prepared.
You
must
participate in class discussions by contributing rather than simply listening to your peers.
3.
All the coursework should be typed according to MLA format and turned in promptly.
4.
A valid email account is needed for convenient contact.
Evaluation:
You
are
required
to
write
a
three-thousand-word
term-paper
exploring
an
issue
concerning
intercultural (cross-cultural) communication and turn it in before the vacations starts. In the paper
you
should
try
to
demonstrate
your
own
thinking
and
make
your
judgment
with
regard
to
the
question
you
put
forward.
Too
much
citation
without
appropriate
indication
will
result
in
low
grade or failure. When time permits, each of you will have some 6 minutes
鈥?/p>
presentation before
class to share the views addressed in your paper. Remember a term-paper without a clearly-written
abstract will be considered an incomplete job.
.
1).An Examination around Nov. tenth accounts for 25%
2).Term Paper with a clear abstract accounts for 65 percent
Active participation accounts for 10 percent
.