Intercultural Communication

INTRODUCTION
TO THE MODULE
CULTURAL
AWARENESS
Unit 1 / Week 1
 Module Overview
Unit 1 – Week 1: Cultural Awareness
Unit 2 – Week 2: Cultural Identity – session 1
Unit 2 – Week 3: Cultural Identity – session 2
Unit 3 - Week 4: Cross cultural understanding – session 1
Unit 3 – Week 5: Cross cultural understanding – session 2
Unit 4 – Week 6: Intercultural communication – session 1
Week 7: Reading week
Week 8: Tutorials
Unit 4 – Week 9: Intercultural communication – session 2
Unit 4 – Week 10: Intercultural communication – session 3
Unit 5 – Week 11: Reflection – Intercultural competence
Week 12: Presentations
 Overview of Assessments

Week 8 ESSAY (1,500 words) 40% Individual essay.

Week 9 Reflective Journal 30% On-going assessment throughout the module. Students
contribute to a blog over 6 weeks (6x5%=30%). Late
submissions will be capped.

Week 12 Group project Presentation 30% Based on a group project.

 Outline of Assessments

Essay:

Reflective Journal:

Group project presentation:

 What is culture?

• “Culture or Civilization, taken in its widest

ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which
includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, custom, and
any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as
a member of society” Tylor 1968 [1871]
 What is culture?

• “Culture is defined as a system of shared values and

beliefs which gives us a sense of belonging or
identity. Culture can be discussed in terms of ways
in which people pertaining to a group, society or
organisation behave, communicate and think, and
perceive reality. Each culture exhibits people’s
perceptions of reality”. (Weaver, 2000)
 Why is it important?
• Culture has certain characteristics – learned,
transmitted through generations, symbolic and
changeable over time.
• Culture is Ethnocentric; and has both visible and
invisible attributes
• Cultural Perspectives: Emic vs etic
• Need to be culturally aware in order to be able to
interpret someone’s behaviour relative to its cultural
context.
 Cultural Intelligence

• Accept that your own perceptions are coloured by

your own culture
• Empathise with the views of others
• Actively try to understand other cultures and cultural
complexity
• Be open-minded – don’t stereotype
 How to subscribe to the blog

Step 1 - Go to: http://talkingcultures.blogspot.co.uk

Step 2 – Click on ‘Subscribe’ button on the top right hand side of the page
 References
Hofstede, Geert (1980) Culture’s Consequences: International
Differences in Work-Related Values. Beverly Hills CA: Sage
Publications.
Hofstede, Geert (2001) Culture’s Consequences, (Second Edition):
Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations
Across Nations. Thousand Oaks CA: Sage Publications.
Tylor, Edward B. 1968 [1871] The Science of Culture. In Morton Fried,
ed., Readings in Anthropology, vol. II: Cultural Anthropology.
New York: Crowell
Weaver, G., R. (Ed.). (2000). Culture, communication and conflicts:
Readings in intercultural relations (2nd ed.). Boston: Pearson
publishing.