Gustavus Adolphus
College
Minnesota Board of Teaching
Program Approval 2006

COM 257 - Intercultural Communication

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Com 257

Fall 2005

M/W 10:30-12:20 Com 327

Instructor:       Patricia English

Office:             FAC 326, Phone 7372
Office Hours:  MWF 9-10:30 or by appointment

Required Texts:        Martin and Nakayama, (1998).  Intercultural Communication in

                        Contexts.  Mountainview, CA:  Mayfield Press.

                                    Martin, Nakayama, and Flores (1998).  Readings in Cultural

                        Contexts.  Mountainview, CA:  Mayfield Press.

 

Course Objectives:

 

1.              To provide encounters with a variety of authentic cultural voices.

2.              To develop a perspective for understanding the meanings and symbolic references of cultures from the point of origin, especially when that origin differs from one’s native perspective. (critical thinking #1-understanding and comprehension)

3.              To understand and apply intercultural theory and a research method to a co-cultural or cultural group of your choosing (critical thinking #2-generating and combining new ideas)

 

Course Requirements and Grading:

 

1.              Exams: (Exams-150 pts.)  Exam 1 will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and essay.  Exam 2 will be a take home exam that will allow you the opportunity to apply concepts from the course to lived experience.

2.              Guided Reflections:  (9 @ 15 pts. each) You will write 9 one-page guided reflection papers over the course of the semester.  These will be over assigned chapter readings in order to enhance class discussion.  In your reflections you will address concepts from the chapters by providing examples, cross-applications, critiques, and questions.  A portfolio of all wri

3.              Engagements: (100 pts.) There will be a minimum of 10 activities throughout the session.  (For example, discussion questions on assigned chapters and other exercises done in class).

These will primarily be unannounced assignments and cannot be made up.

4.              Article Presentation: (40 pts.) You will be assigned one article from the Martin, Nakayama, and Flores reader text.  With two partners you will do an oral presentation to the rest of the class. You may engage us via a visual aid, discussion questions and an application exercise.   I expect that everyone will have read the articles in order to engage in discussion and

will require everyone to write two discussion questions over the article to be handed in for participation points (must be typed)

4.              Semester Project: (100 pts.) You will be required to complete a semester activity in which you will enter into another culture different from your own.  You will write a formal paper and present your findings to the class. (100 pts.). (More specific information will be provided).

5.              Attendance and Participation: Attendance is taken in this course. You are allowed 2 free absences.  After that, your grade will be significantly affected due to absences.  Because this is a discussion-based course your involvement and attendance is imperative. You will receive discussion points for discussion questions you generate on chapters and articles.

6.              Late Papers and Assignments:  Engagement exercises cannot be made up. Late papers and assignments will not be accepted.

7.              Special Needs:  If you have a disability that will require special accommodations please see me and I will make the appropriate accommodations.

8.              A grade of C- or higher is required in all Communication Studies Courses

used to satisfy the requirement for the Communication Studies major or minor.

9.              Grade Proportions:

Exam 1                         -           75 pts.

Exam 2                         -           75 pts.

Guided Reflections                 -           135 pts. (9 @ 15 pts. Each)

Engagements                           -          100 pts.

Article Presentation                -           40 pts.

Semester Activity                   -           100 pts.

 

Total                                       -           525 pts.

 

            10.       Honor Code: You are bound by the Gustavus Adolphus College Honor Code. "On my honor, I pledge that I have not given, received, nor tolerated others' use of unauthorized aid in completing this work." Please put this statement on all written work and sign the statement.

 

 

 

Tentative Schedule

Date                                        Topic                                                  Readings

 

Week 1

T         2/10                 Course introductions             

TH      2/12                 Why Study Intercultural?                               Chap. 1

                                                                                                            GR 1

Week 2           

T         2/17                 Approaches to Studying Intercultural                        Chap. 2

                                    Mini Ethnography Exercise

TH      2/19                 Debrief Exercise

                                    Article Presentation                                        A Dialectical…

                                                                                                            Martin, et al. pg. 5     

 

Week 3

T         2/24                 Context and Power                                         Chap. 3

                                                                                                            GR 2

                                    SEMESTER PROJECT ASSIGNED

                                   

TH      2/26                 History                                                           Chap. 4

                         Article Presentation                                        Stranger in…

Baldwin, pg.  114       

Week 4

T         3/2                   Meet with other class

TH      ¾                      Descriptive Writing Exercise

                                                           

Week 5

T         3/9                   Identity                                                           Chap. 5-GR 3

                                    Article Presentation                                        On Being Biracial…

                                                                                                            Nance, et al. pg 53

TH      3/11                 Language and Culture                                      Chap. 6-GR 4

                                    Article Presentation                                        Help! My Professor…

                                                                                                            Rubin, pg. 149

                                                           

Week 6

T         3/16                 Nonverbal Communication                             Chap. 7-GR 5

                                    Gender Video 

                                                                                   

TH      3/18                 Intercultural Transitions                                 Chap. 8-GR 6

                                   

Week 7

T         3/23                 Article Presentation                                        Cross Cultural…

Midterm Review                                             Kim, pg.

TH      3/25                 MIDTERM EXAM

 

Week 8                       

T         3/30                             Folk and Popular Culture                   Chap. 9-GR 7

                                                Article Presentation                            Performed Identities...

                                                                                                            Moon, pg, 322                                                                                                           

TH      4/1                               NO CLASS-CSCA                

                                               

Week 9           

T         4/6                               SPRING BREAK

TH      4/8                               SPRING BREAK

 

Week 10

T         4/13                             Large class meeting

TH      4/15                             NO CLASS-SIU visit                        

 

Week 11

T         4/20                             Intercultural Relationships                 Chap. 10-GR 8

Article Presentation                            Performing Comm..

Taylor, pg.  387

 

TH      4/22                             Intercultural Relationships cont.

                                    Article Presentation                            Places for Speak…

                                                                                                            Philipsen, pg. 217

Week 12

T         4/27                             Culture and conflict                            Chap. 11-GR 9

                                   

TH      4/29                             Article Presentation                            Crossing the Color…

                                                                                                            Dace and McPhail

                                                                                                            Pg. 434                       

Week 13

T         5/4                               Final Project Meetings

TH      5/6                               Future of Intercultural                        Chap. 12

                                                Article Presentation                            Ritual as Part of

                                                                                                            Hall, pg. 172

Week 14

T          5/11                             Semester Project Due

                                                Presentations

TH      5/13                             NO CLASS

                                                                                                           

Week 15

T         11/25                           Presentations

TH      11/27                           Presentations

 

Week 16

T         5/25                             Presentations                         

TH      5/27                             Wrap up