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Intercultural Communication and Research Methods
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:4.00
Study Course Accepted:22.03.2022 16:45:44
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | SVUEK_041 | LQF level: | Level 7 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 2.00 | ECTS: | 3.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Clinical Medicine; Public Health | Target Audience: | Public Health | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Anita Villeruša | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Department of Public Health and Epidemiology | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Riga, 9 Kronvalda boulevard, svek rsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67338307 | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 4 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 1 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 4 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 5 | Class Length (academic hours) | 4 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 20 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 24 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | General knowledge in Humanities. | ||||||||
| Objective: | The aim of the study course is to acquaint students with systematized aspects of intercultural communication problems, to develop students' intercultural communication skills and abilities, and to develop intercultural competence. The study course develops intercultural awareness, i.e. the ability to perceive one's cultural experience and impressions from other cultures as components of a wider system of cultural standards, thus ensuring a better understanding of them. As a result of discussions and exchanges of ideas, students develop the ability to change perspectives and see self-evident things and phenomena (their cultural standards) from a different external perspective. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Theory of Cross-Cultural Communication/Intercultural Communication. Explanation of the terms “Intercultural”, “Cross-Cultural”, "Transcultural“. Examples of cultural differences around the world. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | The anthropological meaning of the term culture: definitions and interpretation in the context of intercultural communication. Cultural groups and cultural levels. Subcultures. People and culture. Perception and attitudes towards the Different (Strangers). Ethnocentrism vs. cultural relativism. Self-concept, social identity – ingroups and outgroups. Identity and Alterity ("otherness"). | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | Anthropological models for describing cultural groups. G. Hofstede’s culture model: „The Cultural Onion” – the different levels of culture. The Onion-Model of H. Spencer-Oatey. Examples for onion-diagrams. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | Prejudice and stereotyping. Stereotypes – their definition and classification. The role and functions of stereotypes in cross-cultural contacts. Methods to define ethnic-racial stereotypes. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 5 | Cross-cultural interaction as a variable process. Cultural contact and identity. The forms of cultural contact. Culture Shock – definition, stages/phases and models. Reverse/Reintegration culture shock. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Common problems, symptoms and possible psychosomatic manifestations. Strategies for managing culture shock. Cultures in contact: problems, methods, and preconditions. Types and strategies of the acculturation (transculturation). | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | Concepts for describing and comparing cultural differences in different countries. Culture standards (according to Alexander Thomas “Kulturstandards”) – definition, methods to define culture standards, basic features and areas of application. The analysis of the examples of culture standards from several countries. The development of cultural standards in Central and Eastern Europe. Latvian cultural standards. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | Geert Hofstede‘s theory of cultural dimensions. The dimensions of national cultures: Power Distance, Individualism, Masculinity. Uncertainty avoidance, long term orientation. Three groups of cultures according to Richard D. Lewis: linear-active, multi-active and reactive cultures. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 9 | Critical evaluation of Hofstede‘s cultural comparative study. Edward T. Hall‘s model of cultural dimensions. Time-orientation, space, context of communication. Fons Trompenaar’s concept of cultural dimensions. The analysis of different models and concepts for describing and comparing cultures. Their application in intercultural communication. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | Get acquainted with the theoretical material of the course, preferred authors and other studies on the topics discussed in the course. To carry out independent research (individual or group), to present it. Complete the tasks defined in the course material (for participation in seminars or written submission). | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | • Regular attendance (at least 60%). • Participation in discussions about the course topics. • Timely submission and successful completion of the course tasks. • Demonstration of knowledge and understanding of the course topics in the final test. | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | |||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the importance of culture for individual's identity, the characteristic parameters of national cultures, criteria for the analysis and comparison of cultures, cross-cultural communication issues in many aspects incl. public health. | ||||||||
| Skills: | Students will be able to analyse and reflect on their own culture, successfully develop intercultural contacts, to overcome prejudices and to identify the impact of stereotypes. They will be able to see and predict the impact of cultural factors on individuals, as well as to carry out mediation functions between own and "alien" culture – predict, explain and prevent misunderstandings in intercultural communication. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | A variety of techniques and tasks help to develop students' intercultural competence. All three aspects of intercultural competence are being developed – cognitive, affective and pragmatic communicative competence – with relevant knowledge and skills. The following abilities are to be developed: • a better understanding of the situation of culture in modern societies; • a greater ability to communicate with people from different cultures; • attitudes better adapted to the context of different cultures and groups in a given society. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Volkinšteine D. Izdales materiāls maģistrantūras studiju kursam "Interkulturālās komunikācijas teorija un pētījumu metodes". Rīga: LKA, 2014 | ||||||||
| 2 | Cross-Cultural Interaction and Understanding: Theory, Practice, & Reality: Theory, Practice, and Reality. Tomes, Yuma Iannotti, Nova Science Publishers. Incorporated, 2013 (ProQuestEbookCentral) | ||||||||
| 3 | Ārvalstu studentiem/For international students: | ||||||||
| 4 | Cross-Cultural Interaction and Understanding: Theory, Practice, & Reality: Theory, Practice, and Reality. Tomes, Yuma Iannotti, Nova Science Publishers. Incorporated, 2013 (ProQuestEbookCentral) | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Hall E., Hall M. Understanding Cultural Differences. Germans, Frenchs and Americans. Yarmouth, Maine, 1989 | ||||||||
| 2 | Hofstede G. Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. Cambridge, 2010 | ||||||||
| 3 | Hofstede G. Culture's consequences. London: Thousand Oaks; New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2001 | ||||||||
| 4 | Fosters D. Lietišķā etiķete Eiropā. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2005 | ||||||||
| 5 | Lewis R. D. When Cultures Collide. London: N. Brealay Publishing Ltd, 2018 | ||||||||
| 6 | Mouls Dž. Biznesa kultūra un etiķete Eiropas valstīs. Rīga: Jāņa Rozes apgāds, 2003 | ||||||||
| 7 | Pīzs A. Ķermeņa valoda. Rīga: Jumava, 2014 | ||||||||
| 8 | Schroll-Machl S. Doing Business with Germans. Their Perception, Our Perception. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2013 | ||||||||
| 9 | Spencer-Oatey H. Culturally Speaking. Managing Rapport through Talk across Cultures. London; New York: Continuum, 2000 | ||||||||
| 10 | Trompenaars F. Riding the Waves of Culture: Understanding Cultural Diversity in Business. London: N. Brealay Publishing Ltd, 1993 | ||||||||
| 11 | Ārvalstu studentiem/For international students: | ||||||||
| 12 | Hall E., Hall M. Understanding Cultural Differences. Germans, Frenchs and Americans. Yarmouth, Maine, 1989 | ||||||||
| 13 | Hofstede G. Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind. Cambridge, 2010 | ||||||||
| 14 | Hofstede G. Culture's consequences. London: Thousand Oaks; New Delhi: Sage Publications, 2001 | ||||||||
| 15 | Lewis R. D. When Cultures Collide. London: N. Brealay Publishing Ltd, 2018 | ||||||||
| 16 | Schroll-Machl S. Doing Business with Germans. Their Perception, Our Perception. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2013 | ||||||||
| 17 | Spencer-Oatey H. Culturally Speaking. Managing Rapport through Talk across Cultures. London; New York: Continuum, 2000 | ||||||||
| Other Information Sources | |||||||||
| 1 | Kursā apskatīto autoru mājas lapas internetā, citi materiāli tiešsaistē saistībā ar kursa tēmām./ Websites of the authors covered in the course, other online materials related to the course topics. | ||||||||
| 2 | http://www.crossculture.com | ||||||||
