Syllabus 

Comm/ICS 7 (Intercultural Communication)

Course Topics:

Ethnic Identity   Non-Verbal Communication    Hierarchies of Languages, Dialects and Accents     High Energy, Reflective and Hierarchical Conversation Styles   Culture-specific values   How Conflict is handled in different cultures    The impact of the media, colonialism, oppression, racism, discrimination and stereotyping on individual behavior in the classroom, home, workplace, health care contexts and interactions with friends and romantic partners.

 Course Design: 

Interactive course. Video clips.  Skill-building workshop-style activities. Guest speakers (young adults of different cultural backgrounds, graduates of De Anza College programs) share their experiences and lead class discussions.

Course Skill Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate Objectivity: Separate fact from interpretation and evaluation when describing others' behaviors.
  2. Correlate Behaviors with Values: Define and give examples of the major values / world views which guide human behavior in different cultures.
  3. Explain the Impact of History: Explain the impact on IC of ethnocentrism, prejudice and discrimination, privilege, colonial history and historical oppression.
  4. Analyze Intercultural Communication: Demonstrate a working knowledge of key concepts and terms used to analyze intercultural communication.
  5. Demonstrate Different Communication Behaviors: Demonstrate decisive, reflective and receptive communication styles so as to be appropriate and effective in different cultural contexts.
  6. Communicate with Language Learners: Modify spoken language when communicating with language learners.
  7. Identify and Leverage Bicultural Skills: Leverage bicultural skills and/or state the advantages of culture code switching.
  8. Demonstrate Culture-Broker Skills: Coach others to demonstrate new communication behaviors to facilitate effective intercultural interaction.

Class Meeting and Assignment Schedule

WEEK 1

  • Cultural Values in Context: Business and Education
  • Intro. to course (materials, objectives, policies)
  • Student introductions and team building

WEEK 2

  • Cultural Values in Context: Business and Education (cont.)
  • Journal #1 due
  • Skills Activity #1: Describing versus Interpreting and Evaluating 
  • Vocab. 5-minute presentations 

WEEK 3

  • Nonverbal Communication 
  • Skills Activity #1 debriefing form due
  • Vocab. 5-minute presentations

WEEK 4

  • Cultural Identities and Intersectionality
  • Journal #2 due
  • Skills Activity #2: Discussion Styles
  • Vocab. 5-minute presentations 

WEEK 5

  • Cultural Identities and Intersectionality (cont.)
    Skills Activity #3: International English
  • Skills Activity #2 debriefing form due
  • Vocab. 5-minute presentations 

WEEK 6

  • Communication, Culture and Intercultural Communication
  • Test #1  (1st half of course)
  • Skills Activity #3 debriefing form due
  • Journal #3 due

WEEK 7

  • Communication, Culture and Intercultural Communication (cont.)
  • Skills Activity #4: Conflict Styles
  • Vocab. 5-minute presentations / Peer coaching presentations

WEEK 8

  • Languages, Dialects and Accents
  • Skills Activity #4 Neutral description, Observable behavior description
  • Skills Activity debriefing form due
  • Vocab. 5-minute presentations / Peer coaching presentations

WEEK 9

  • Ethnocentrism, History, Privilege, Cultural Hierarchies
  • Skills Activity #4: Interrupting Prejudice
  • Journal #4 due
  • Vocab. 5-minute presentations / Peer coaching presentations

WEEK 10

  • Ethnocentrism, History, Privilege, Cultural Hierarchies  (cont.)
  • Vocab. 5-minute presentations / Peer coaching presentations
  • Skills Activity #4 debriefing form due

WEEK 11

  • American Values / IC relationships / Popular Culture Influences   
  • Vocab. 5-minute presentations / Peer coaching presentations
  • Journal #5 due

WEEK 12

  • Test #2 (2nd half of course)

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