30 hours

Credit value: 8 ECTS

Summary:

It is a commonplace that globalisation has changed economic relations and created a global marketplace. It is also commonly asserted that globalisation has contracted time and space such that, certainly in communication terms and perhaps soon in terms of physical mobility, there are no frontiers. If true, this means that people no longer meet ‘others’ only from their own communities and environments, but also ‘others’ from communities until now considered ‘foreign’ and ‘distant’.

In short, the purpose of the course is to analyse intercultural communication and, second, to analyse the intercultural competence needed to make intercultural communication in English successful. Topics/themes include: mobility and languages, identity and national identity, culture and national culture, prejudice and stereotypes, language and culture, multilingualism and plurilingualism,  language and power, media discourse and power, ethnocentrism and othering.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

After taking this course, you will gain knowledge:

  1. In the concepts of ‘intercultural competence’ and ‘intercultural communication’ and related concepts such as ‘culture’, ‘language repertoire’, ‘world citizenship’ etc
  2. In how to demonstrate critical knowledge and understanding of models of ‘intercultural competence’ and ‘intercultural communication’
  3. In the application of critical analysis of the concepts referring to (successful) intercultural understanding and communication, and their own experience of intercultural communication
  4. In how to reflect, review and critically analyse research on ‘intercultural competence’ and ‘intercultural communication’

Teaching and Learning Methods

Frontal teaching, working in smaller groups, independent student work, e-learning. Teaching methods will include explanation, conversation/discussion, working with texts, case studies, roleplay, and student presentations, field work.

Assessment

Examination, oral work, coursework, project work, self-assessment

Click here to access the full course syllabus

The course is taught by:

Michael Byram – EMUNI

Neva Čebron – EMUNI