Intercultural Communication

COURSE CONTENT

CONTACT HOURS

12 hours

The Intercultural Communication module is intended to introduce students to understanding and effectively living and learning in different and diverse environments.  Students learn about the concept of culture, and the practical and hands-on teaching format gives them the opportunity to recognize how “cultural software” influences belief systems and in turn programs attitudes, behaviors and communication styles.  Taught through a mix of discussion and interactive, experiential activities, the course focuses on some of the fundamental cross-cultural differences in communication, ways of working and interacting. It enables students to discover their own “cultural blueprints” and offers them practical tools for effective intercultural interactions.
 

CONTENT

In this course you will be asked:

- What is culture and where does it come from?

- How do we learn it and what happens to our sense of it when we travel?

- Stereotypes and generalizations: what's the difference?

- Avoiding judgment: why does it matter?

- How can we decode our experiences: non-verbal communication

- Understanding France and the French: a few clues

EDUCATIONAL METHODS

Presentations, role plays and discussions in class
4 sessions of 3 hours.
Personal work
A class of maximum 20 students for a more interactive teaching

1 final exam + participation in class