Saint Martin's College
Fall 2004
Sociology 396: Intercultural Communication
Professor: Victor M. Kogan
Classroom: 351
Time: 02:00-02:50pm
Days: M, W, F
Office: Room 304
Office Phone: 438-4348
Office Hours: 10:00-12:00 M-T-W-TR-F
E-mail: vkogan@stmartin.edu
PURPOSE:
This course is designed to introduce you to the field of Intercultural Communication. It will provide you with opportunity to study the complex nature of Intercultural communication, its main concepts, problems and application. We will use interdisciplinary approach and draw upon materials from sociology, psychology and linguistics in efforts to heighten your intercultural awareness and to improve your communication skills.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
1. Myron Lustig, Jolene Koester. Intercultural Competence: Communication Across Cultures. Fourth Edition. Allyn and Bacon, 2003.
2. Larry Samovar, Richard Porter (Eds.) Intercultural Communication. A Reader. Tenth Edition. Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2003.
3. Philip R. DeVita, James D. Armstrong (Eds). Distant Mirrors: America as a Foreign Culture. Third Edition. Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2002.
4. Gary Weaver (Ed.) Culture, Communication and Conflict. Readings in Intercultural Relations. Revised Second Edition, Pearson Publishing, 2000 (On reserve in the Library).
CLASS REQUIREMENTS:
You will be invited to participate actively in learning rather than passively absorbing information.
1. You will be put in the "shoes" of members of minorities, foreigners, scholars, judges, and politicians. You will be encouraged to defend this assigned attitude.
2. Each student will be assigned writing a short essay for each discussion (approximately 1-2 pages in length, typewritten, and double spaced) so that concepts based upon the source materials may be formulated, tested and mastered. You have to have a yellow folder to keep your essays together. These essays will be presented orally to the class.
3. You are expected to attend class in order to actively participate in class discussions. Your grade will be lowered for each absence with no excuse more than once.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have medical and/or safety concerns to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as-soon-as possible.
GRADING SYSTEM:
Participation in class discussion including essays-50,
Tests - 20%,
Final Examination - 30%
There will be 500 possible points and grades will be assigned as follows:
95-100% = A
90-94% = A-
85-89% = B+
80-84% = B
75-79% = B-
70-74% = C+
64-69% = C
60-64% = C-
55-59% = D
54 and below = F
COURSE OUTLINE:
01. 09.01.W.
Introduction to Intercultural Competence. Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.1, p.2-23.
02. 09.03.F.
Critical Thinking Activity:
Why do we study Intercultural Communication?
Read G. Weaver. Culture, Communication and Conflict,
# 9, 10, 20.
00. 09.06.M. Labor Day
03. 09.08.W.
Communication, Culture and Cultural Differences.
Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.2, p.25-54.
04. 09.10.F. - 05. 09.13. M.
Critical Thinking Activity:
Understanding Diversity.
Read G. Weaver. Culture, Communication and Conflict,
# 8;
Intercultural Communication. A Reader,
p.57-64; 65-77; 87-93; 94-104;
P. DeVita, J. Armstrong (Eds). Distant Mirrors: America as a Foreign Culture, #1, 19.
06. 09.15.W.
Intercultural Communication Competence.
Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.3, p.55-81.
07. 09.17.F. - 08. 09.20. M.
Critical Thinking Activity:
The American Cultural Configuration.
Read P. DeVita, J. Armstrong (Eds). Distant Mirrors, # 2.
09. 09.22.W.
Test # 1 (Ch.1-3)
10. 09.24.F.
Cultural Patterns and Communications: Foundations.
Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.4, p.85-108.
11. 09.27.M. - 12. 09.29. W.
Cultural Patterns and Communications: Taxonomies.
Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.5, p.110-137.
13. 10.01.F.
Critical Thinking Activity: Do Taxonomies Work?
Read G. Weaver. Culture, Communication and Conflict, # 16, 17;
Intercultural Communication, A Reader, p. 28-35;
P. DeVita, J. Armstrong (Eds). Distant Mirrors: America as a Foreign Culture, # 8, 9, 12, 14.
14. 10.04.M. - 15. 10.06. W.
Cultural Identity, Cultural Biases and Intercultural
Contact. Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.6, p. 140-173.
16. 10.08.F. - 17.10.11.M.
Critical Thinking Activity: Race, Ethnicity, and Culture.
Read Intercultural Communication, A Reader, p.36-42, 108-
119,354-363, 433-435; G. Weaver. Culture, Communication and
Conflict, # 5, 11, 37.
P. DeVita, J. Armstrong (Eds). Distant Mirrors: America
as a Foreign Culture, #10, 17.
18. 10.13.W.
Test # 2 (Ch.4-6)
19.10.15. F.
Nonverbal Intercultural Communication.
Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.7, p.176-201.
20.10.18. M. - 21.10.20. W.
Critical Thinking Activity: Communication Without Words.
Read Intercultural Communication, A Reader,
p. 239-252, 253-261, 262-268,269-278.
00. 10.22.F. Mid term break (No classes)
22.10.25. M.
Verbal Intercultural Communication.
Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.8, p.203-236.
23.10.27. W. - 24.10.29.F.
Critical Thinking Activity: Context and Meaning.
Read Intercultural Communication, A Reader,
p. 184-197, 198-205; 206-215; 223-230, 231-235;
Distant Mirrors, # 7, 13.
25.11.01.M. - 26.11.03.W.
Effect of Code Usage in Intercultural Communication.
Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.9, p. 238-260.
27.11.05. F.
Test # 3 (Ch.7-9)
28.11.08. M.
Intercultural Competence in Interpersonal Relationships.
Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.10, p.261-291.
29.11.10. W. - 30.11.12. F.
Critical Thinking Activity: Living in Two Cultures.
Read Intercultural Communication, A Reader, p. 48-56,
120-130,138-143,144-154,155-164,165-176;
Distant Mirrors, #4, 5, 6,11,16.
00.11.12. M. Saint Martin’s Day (Holiday)
31.11.15. M.
Episodes, Contexts, and Intercultural Interactions,
Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.11, p. 292-325.
32.11.17. W.
Critical Thinking Activity:
Intercultural Communication and Business.
Read G. Weaver, # 18, 19, 68, 69;
Intercultural Communication, A Reader,
p.283-292, 293-299,300-308;
33.11.19. F.
Critical Thinking Activity:
Intercultural Communication and Health Care.
Read G. Weaver. Culture, Communication and
Conflict, # 44,45;
Intercultural Communication,
A Reader, p. 131-137, 309-319;
P. DeVita, J. Armstrong (Eds). Distant Mirrors, # 18.
34.11.22. M.
Critical Thinking Activity:
Intercultural Communication and Education.
Read Intercultural Communication, A Reader,
p. 320-338; G. Weaver. Culture, Communication
and Conflict, # 33,34,36,42,48;
P. DeVita, J. Armstrong (Eds). Distant Mirrors, # 15.
35.11.24. W.
The Potential for Intercultural Competence.
Read Intercultural Competence, Ch.12, p.327-341.
00.11.25. Tr.-11.26.F. Thanksgiving
36.11.29. M.
Critical Thinking Activity:
Cross-cultural Adaptation.
Read Intercultural Communication, A Reader,
p.385-405,456-465;
P. DeVita, J. Armstrong (Eds). Distant Mirrors, # 16.
37.12.01. W.
Test # 4 (Ch.10-12)
00.11.28-29. Thanksgiving
38.12.03. F. - 39.12.06.M. - 40.12.08.W.
Critical Thinking Activity:
Intercultural Aspects of Conflict and Negotiation.
Read Intercultural Communication, A Reader, p.6-17,
373-384, 406-411, 436-448,449-455, 466-471.
00.12.08. F. St. Thomas Aquinas Study Day
00.12.13. M. FINAL EXAM for SOC 396 ”Intercultural Communication” from 03:15 to 05:15 (room 314)