HANOI UNIVERSITY

Km 9 Nguyen Trai Road, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam

Telephone:(84-4)3854 4338; Fax:(84-4)3854 4550
E-mail: hanu@hanu.edu.vn; Website: www.hanu.edu.vn

Intercultural Communication
Syllabus

Unit Description
The course provides the overview about intercultural communication, basic concepts of intercultural
communication, cultural dimensions and cultural value patterns. In addition, the course elucidates the
relationship between culture and communication through the analysis and evaluation different communication
forms including verbal communication and non-verbal communication. This will be foundation for students to
develop intercultural communication competence in the future.

Unit structure

The unit is delivered in six sessions including lectures and tutorials.

Objectives
At the end of the unit, the students will be able to:
 Understand and evaluate intercultural communication patterns and values’
 Understand and evaluate the influence of culture on communication;
 Understand the relationship between verbal and non-verbal communication and culture;
 Be aware of skills to become an effective intercultural communicator.

Skills Development
The unit helps promote the students’
1. critical thinking skills
2. ability to learn independently and work with others
3. written and spoken communication skills
Teaching and learning approach:
- Student-centered and student self-directed, group-work
- Teaching activities: lecture and tutorials
Intercultural Communication Syllabus, 2022-2023 1
 - Learning activities: group discussion, tutorials, and collaborative essay writing
Tentative schedule
Week Content Reading Important deadlines
1 Introduction to the course Material 1 (pp. 5-14; pp.
Introduction to Intercultural 24-27)
communication (IC)
● What is IC?

● Necessity and benefits of learning IC

● Fundamental concepts in IC
2 Cultural value patterns Material 1 (pp. 43-56) Think about your topic
for the final assessment
● Cultural value dimensions
Group allocation
● Cultural value orientation patterns
3 Understanding communication & culture Material 2 (pp. 25-47)
● Identify components and
characteristics of communication.
● Evaluate the influence of culture on
communication
4 Verbal communication and culture Material 1 (pp. 123- Mid-term test: Quiz
 Verbal communication styles: a 129) Developing for an essay
general framework outline
● Defining Low-Context and High-
Context Interaction Patterns
● Direct and Indirect Verbal Styles
Intercultural reality check: Do-able
5 Non-verbal communication and culture Material 1 (pp.132-153) Consultation for your
essay
● Making sense of non-verbal
communication: Sense and code
● Forms of non-verbal communication

● Verbal and non-verbal communication

comparisons
● Boundary Regulations

Intercultural Communication Syllabus, 2022-2023 2

 Intercultural reality check: Do-able
6 Becoming an effective intercultural Material 2 (pp. 312- Consultation for your
communicator 316) essay
● Developing intercultural competence

● Components of IC

● Building empathy in IC

● Strategies to develop IC competence

7 Unit review and Consultation

Assessment

T Components Form/ Content Rating

T
1 Assessment 1/ Attending at least 80% of total number of 10%
Participation classes
2 Assessment 2 Quiz (on week 4) 30%
3 Assessment 3 Essay writing (1000 words) about one topic 60%
discussed in the course.

Evaluation: Your essay will be assessed based on the following criteria:

 Understanding of the chosen topic reflected in persuasive and clear analysis, presentation of the main
ideas and evidence (60%)
 Coherence, cohesion, grammatical control, adherence to academic writing conventions (30%)
 Appropriate referencing (APA 7th edition) (10%)
References
1. Ting-Toomey, S., & Chung, L. C. (2012). Understanding intercultural communication. Oxford University
Press.
2. Liu, S., Volcic, Z., & Gallois, C. (2019). Introducing intercultural communication: Global cultures and
contexts. Sage.
3. Neuliep, J. W. (2014). Intercultural communication: A contextual approach. Sage.

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