Intercultural Communication

Code:

LA047

Acronym:

CI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Cultural Studies

Instance: 2022/2023 - 2S

Active?	Yes
E-learning page:	https://moodle.up.pt/
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	83	Study plan	1	-	6	41	162
LLC	37	Study plan	1	-	6	41	162
		Study plan	2	-	6	41	162
			3
LRI	103	Study plan	1	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This course unit has the central aim of providing knowledge, both theoretical and practical, necessary for intercultural communication situations. The student will develop the ability to contextualise his or her individual cultural experience within the wider framework of foreign cultures that would allow him or her to have a broad understanding of the wider system of existing cultural patterns. Through awareness of certain aspects of so-called foreign cultures, the students will be expected to reflect upon their own habits, customs and cultural patterns. With this unit, the development of a new professional profile of the cultural mediator begins (the subject treated in this curricular unit can be deepened in the 2nd cycle) that can have an extremely important role both in cultural and business activities, as well as in the area of translation.

Learning outcomes and competences

Students should be able to:
- Reflect and discuss about the meaning of "culture(s)";
- Understand the different ways of approaching the concept of culture/cultures in the various areas of Human Sciences;
- Identify various forms of contact between cultures;
- Identify stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination cases;
- Reflect on the concepts of identity/alterity,
- Identify and explain different ways of communicating (direct communication, indirect communication, conversational maxims (intercultural)
- Compare "national cultures" on the basis of cultural dimensions (regarding hierarchies, the relationship between the "I" and the "other", with time and space, with the management of uncertainty and emotions).

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

not applicable

Program

1. Approaches and meanings of "culture";
2. Contact between cultures: culture shock, acculturation, identity and otherness;
3. Intercultural sensitivity;
4. Cultural dimensions, concepts and criteria for comparing "cultures
5. Culture and language: direct and indirect communication.
6. Culture and body: multimodalities of face to face interaction
7. Interpretation of cultural values from different types of materials (films, images, advertising, written texts).

Mandatory literature

Dahl, Stephan; Intercultural Research: The Current State of Knowledge, (January 12, 2004). Middlesex University Discussion Paper No. 26. , Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=658202, 2007
Edward T. Hall; Beyond culture. ISBN: 0-385-12474-0
Edward T. Hall; The hidden dimension. ISBN: 0-385-08476-5
Milton J. Bennett; Basic concepts of intercultural communication. ISBN: 978-0-983-95584-9
Trompenaars, Fons / Hampden-Turner, C.; Riding the waves of culture : understanding cultural diversity in business , Brealey, 2004. ISBN: 1-85788-176-1

Comments from the literature

Relevant bibliography will be provided throughout the semester.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Classes will be student-centred, stimulating sensitivity to the understanding of the dynamics of cultures, considering different habits, different ways of interacting and differences of perception and interpretation of the world.
Individual and group research, critical thinking and problem solving will be encouraged, avoiding lectures. Besides brief presentations and theoretical clarifications, many of the contents will be introduced in parallel with the observation and analysis of video recordings and images.
Active participation in classes will be given, not only through debates, role-plays and small tasks, but also through individual and group presentations.

Software

power point
word

keywords

Humanities > language sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	30,00
Trabalho escrito	70,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	91,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Obtaining a positive mark in all the evaluation components.
Working students and other students legally excused from regular class attendance should contact the teacher at the beginning of the semester to arrange the 30% assessment component, in addition to the written assignments (70%).

Calculation formula of final grade

Written Component (70%):

Written work = 60%.
Final Reflection = 10%.

Participation in class (30%):

Presentation of a topic, active participation in class, exercises = 30%.

Examinations or Special Assignments

not applicable

Internship work/project

not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

n.a.

Classification improvement

Only the "written work" component may be improved (melhoria/recurso).

The improvement implies the preparation of an individual written work (60%) and a final reflection (10%). In all cases of improvement, it is essential to contact the lecturer in due time to agree on the topic of the assignment.