INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

COM 361 -- Fall 2004

Instructor: Dr. Guo-Ming Chen 
Meeting Times: Ind 205 - TH 9:30-10:45am 
Office: I206B-2 
Office Phone: (401) 874-4731 
Office Hour: 11 - 12pm TH and by appointment 
E-mail: gchen@etal.uri.edu 
URL: http://www.uri.edu/personal/gmchen

General Course Statement: This course will survey major topics in the field of intercultural communication and provide some experience in intercultural encounter through discussions and exercises. The course is designed to give you an introduction to the large area of intercultural communication, and prepare you for more in-depth knowledge and experience in dealing with people from different cultures. At the end of the course, you are expected to know how to get through the barriers of intercultural interaction.

Texts:  

• Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (1998). Foundations of intercultural communication. 
  Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. (required) 
• Kohls, L. R. (2001). Survival kit for overseas living. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press. 
  (required)
• Suggested Reading (attached)

Requirements: You are required to 

• attend and participate the class meetings 
• complete the following assignments: 
  (1)1-2 homework (details to be given) 
  (2) one group presentation based on any (controversial) issue of intercultural communication (20-25 minutes; all kinds of presentation style including debate, play, colloquium, panel, forum, talk show, game show, role playing, etc., are acceptable).
• complete two examinations.

Policies & Expectations: 

• You must attend class in order to participate in exercises and discussions. If you miss more than two class meetings, you will lose attendance/participation course credit (points) as follows: 2 points per class missed. 
• All written assignments must be typed. Presentation will be evaluated based on seven elements: how (the process of preparation), what (the content), style (the way you present yourself), cooperation (between you and your teammate), time, costume, and setting.

Course Evaluation: Final grades will be cumulative and based on 

• Midterm - 30% 
• Final exam - 30% 
• Homework - 10% 
• Presentation - 20% 
• Class Attendance - 10%

SYLLABUS

Week 1 (9/9) 

Introduction to Course

Week 2 – 3 (9/14, 9/16, 9/21, 9/23)              

Why Study Intercultural Communication 
History of Intercultural Communication Study 
Culture and Communication 
The Concept of Culture Intercultural Communication 
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chen: 1 & 2; Kohls: 1-7

Week 4 – 5 (9/28, 9/30, 10/5, 10/7)

Culture Perception
Cultural Value Orientations 
Intercultural Training 
Cultural Assimilation 
Cultural Awareness 
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chen: 3 & 12; Kohls: 8-14

Week 6 - 7 (10/12, 10/14, 10/19, 10/21)

Language and Culture 
Characteristics of Language 
Structure of Language 
Language Changes and Variations 
Relationship Between Lang. & Culture 
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chen: 4;  Kohls: 15-16
Midterm (10/21)

Week 8 – 9 (10/26, 10/28, 11/2, 11/4)

 Nonverbal Communication 
Functions of NV Communication 
Structure of NV Communication 
Culture and NV Communication 
Criticism of NV Comm. Study 
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chen: 5; Kohls: 17

Week 10 – 11 (11/9, 11/11, 11/16, 11/18

Intercultural Conflict Management 
Cultural Influence on Conflict Management 
Determinant Factors of Conflicts 
Intercultural Adaptation
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chen: 7 & 8; Kohls: 18-19
NCA Convention (11/10-11/14)

Week 12 – 13 (11/23, 11/25, 11/30, 12/2)

Intercultural Communication Competence 
Exercises and Case Study 
Read: Chen: 11; Kohls: 21-23
Thankgiving (11/25)

Week 14 – 15 (12/7, 12/9, 12/13-)

Presentation
Final Exam

 Suggested Readings:

• Andersen, P. (2003). In different dimensions: Nonverbal communication and culture.  In  L. A. Samovar and R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 2394-252).  Belmont , CA : Wadsworth . (Nonverbal Communication)
• Cargile, A. C., & Giles, H. (1996). Intercultural communication training: Review, critique, and a new theoretical framework. Communication Yearbook, 19, 385-424. (Intercultural Training) 
• Chen, G. M. & Starosta, W. J. (1996). Intercultural communication competence: A synthesis. Communication Yearbook, 19, 353-384. (Intercultural Communication Competence) 
• Chen, G. M. & Starosta, W. J. (1997). A review of the concept of intercultural sensitivity. Human Communication, 1, 1-16. (Intercultural Sensitivity) 
• Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (1998-9). A review of the concept of intercultural awareness. Human Communication, 2, 27-54. (Intercultural Awareness) 
• Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (2000). The development and validation of the intercultural communication sensitivity scale. Human Communication, 3, 1-15. (intercultural sensitivity)
• Chen, G. M., & Starosta, W. J. (2003). A review of the concept of intercultural awareness.  In  L. A. Samovar and R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 344-353).  Belmont , CA : Wadsworth . (Intercultural Awareness)
•  Clark, C. C., & Lipp, G. D. (1999). Conflict resolution for contrasting cultures. In G. Perry (Ed.), Perspectives: Intercultural communications (pp. 109-120). St. Paul, MN: Coursewise Publishing. (Intercultural Conflict Management) 
• Condon, J. C. & Yousef, F. (1975). An introduction to intercultural communication. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill. Chapters 3, 4, and 5. (Values and Value Orientations)
•  Gudykunst, W. B., Hammer, M. R. & Wiseman, R. L. (1977). An analysis of an integrated approach to cross-cultural training. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 1(2), 99-110. (Intercultural Training) 
• Gullahorn, J. T. & Gullahorn, J. E. (1963). An extension of U-curve hypothesis. Journal of Social Issues, 19(3), 33-47. (Intercultural Adaptation) 
• Hall, E. T. (1977). The silent language. Greenwich, Conn: Fawcett. Chapters 9 and 10. (Nonverbal communication) 
• Hall, E. T. (2000). Monochronic and polychronic time. In L. A. Samovar & R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 280-286). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. (Chronemics) 
• Hall, E. T. (2003). Monochronic and polychronic time. In L. A. Samovar & R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 262-268).  Belmont , CA : Wadsworth .  (Chronemics)
• Hoijer, H. (1990). The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. In L. A.Samovar & R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 244-250). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. (Language and Culture) 
• Kim, Y. Y. (1995). Adapting to a new culture. In. L. A. Samovar & R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 383-391). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. (Intercultural Adaptation) 
• Landis, D., & Bhagat, R. s. (1996). A model of intercultural behavior and training. In D. Landis & R. s. Bhagat (Eds.), Handbook of intercultural training (pp. 1-16). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (Intercultural training) 
• Oberg, K. (1960). Cultural shock: Adjustment to new cultural environments. Practical Anthropology, 7(4), 177-182. (Cultural Shock). 
• Rich, A. L. (1974). Interracial communication (pp. 1-15). NY: Harper & Row. (Culture and Communication) 
• Ruben, B. D. (1988). Human communication and cross-cultural effectiveness. In L. A. Samovar & R. E. Porter (Eds.), Intercultural communication: A reader (pp. 331-338). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. (Intercultural Communication Competence) 
• Seidel, G. (1981). Cross-cultural training procedures: Their theoretical framework and evaluation. In S. Bochner (Ed.), The mediating person: Bridge between cultures (pp. 184-213). Cambridge: Schenkman. (Intercultural Training) 
• Smalley, W. A. (1968). Culture shock, language shock, and the shock of self-discovery. Practical Anthropology, 10(1), 49-56. (Cultural Shock) 
• Stewart, E. C., & Bennette, M. J. (1991). American cultural patterns: A cross-cultural perspective. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press. (Values and Value Orientations)

Evaluation Form for Group Presentation

Name: 
Date: