Introduction to Intercultural Communication

Code:

LA013

Acronym:

ICINT

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Cultural Studies

Instance: 2010/2011 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Germanic Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Applied Languages

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LA	62	Study Plan - Applied Languages: Business Relations	1	-	6	52	162
		Study Plan-Applied Languages: Translation	1	-	6	52	162
LRI	72	Study Plan	1	-	6	52	162
		Study Plan - Minor in History	1	-	6	52	162
		Study Plan - Minor in German Studies	1	-	6	52	162
		Study Plan - Minor in English Studies	1	-	6	52	162
		Study Plan - Minor in Spanish Studies	1	-	6	52	162
		Study Plan - Minor in French Studies	1	-	6	52	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

This course unit sets out to provide the theoretical and practical knowledge required for intercultural communications. Students will develop the ability to contextualise their individual cultural experience within the wider scope of foreign cultures, which will enable them to have a broader grasp of the extensive system of existing cultural standards. Awareness of certain aspects of so-called foreign cultures should enable them to reflect on their own cultural habits and standards.
This unit will see the start of the development of a new professional profile of the cultural mediator (the material in this course unit can be dealt with in greater depth in the 2nd cycle), which can be very important in cultural and business activities, as well as in the major field of translation studies.

Program

1. Culture: concepts and theoretical aspects
1.1 Culture and nature
1.2 Culture and civilisation
1.3 Particularism and cultural universalism
1.4 Evolutionism
1.5 Ethnocentrism
1.6 Different views of anthropology and sociology

2. Contact between cultures
2.1 Acculturation
2.2 Identity
2.3 Stereotypes and preconceptions
2.4 Identity and language: pidgins and creoles, the languages of immigrants
3. Parameters for describing cultures
3.1 Edward Hall
3.2 Hofstede
3.3 Trompenaars/Hampden-Turner

4. Culture and language
4.1. Gesture, language and culture
4.2 Practices and rituals

5. Pinpointing cultural values
5.1. In the media (advertising)
5.2 In films

Mandatory literature

Holliday, Adrian, Hyde, Martin, Kullman, John ; Intercultural communication. An advanced resource book. , London: Routledge, 2004
Cuche, Denys; A noção de cultura nas ciências sociais, Lisboa: Edições Fim de Século., 1999
Hofstede, Geert ; Cultures and Organizations, McGraw-Hill, 1991
Trompenaars, Fons ; Riding the waves of culture, Brealey Publishing, 1993

Complementary Bibliography

Melo, A.; Globalização cultural, Lisboa: Quimera, 2002
Hall, E. / Hall, M.; Understanding cultural differences, Random House, 1993
Hall, E.; The hidden dimenstion, Cambridge University Press, 1990
Hall, Edward T; Beyond Culture, New York, Anchor books editions, 1989

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theory classes will be PowerPoint presentations. The texts can be obtained from the printing workshop or via the internet.

Software

power point

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	56,00
test	Exame	2,00		2010-07-31
preparation and of a theme	Trabalho escrito	20,00		2011-07-31
practical exercíses	Teste	44,00		2011-07-31
	Total:	-	0,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
recommended readings	Estudo autónomo	40	2011-07-31
	Total:	40,00

Eligibility for exams

Passing all the assessment items.

Calculation formula of final grade

Exam = 70%
Presentation of a topic, active participation in class, and course work/exercises required = 30%

Examinations or Special Assignments

n.a

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

n.a

Classification improvement

Accordance with Assessment Regulations in force.