As we venture in the new century, the needs for understanding or exploring other cultures and for developing intercultural competence and exchanges grow as the globalization process becomes a reality, and certain phenomena related to this aspect such as immigration, becomes a necessary side effect of this process. The misunderstandings and misconceptions that stem from this and other types of events of a critical nature the world faces nowadays are firmly rooted in cross-cultural aspects, and there lies the importance of examining and critically analyzing the factors that influence cultural, business and academic exchanges with people from different backgrounds. This course aims to prepare the student to understand the contemporary view of culture, to interact in a tolerant way, to gain a feel for the underlying patterns of the culture of The United States and other countries to be able to interact and communicate more effectively with other cultures. This allows the opportunity to explore how to include cultural elements from The United States and other English-speaking countries when creating new international business ventures in Costa Rica or in other parts of Latin America.
II. COURSE OBJECTIVES
General Objectives
Specific Objectives
1. Analyze different cross-cultural patterns in order to dispel misconceptions or misunderstandings regarding communication and cultural appreciation.
1.1 Recognize fundamental aspects of both Costa Rican and American societies.
1.2 Establish and explain differences and similarities among cultures.
2. Distinguish the cultural aspects of Costa Rican and American society to draw out underlying styles and patterns so as to become tolerant of these traits.
2.1 Develop an empathetic attitude toward the Study of cross-cultural patterns.
2.2 Discuss several misconceptions and stereotypes held by modern society towards the nature of culture.
3. Integrate the cultural aspects in the business, administrative, academic and cultural communication processes.
3.1 Apply the cultural content to business situations and contexts where there will be cross-cultural experiences.
3.2 Interact in a tolerant and understanding manner towards other cultures in situations in which students may need to represent their own country and culture.
III. METHODOLOGY
Attendance and participation to class is important for the acquisition of the theoretical concepts to be discussed in class. The instructor will assign readings and students are responsible to learn this material, as well as for their participation in class discussions, presentations, or debate activities to be done in class.
According to ULACIT attendance regulations, no more than three absences are accepted. Three consecutive late arrivals to class will count as an absence. The students will also write essays of cultural topics discussed in class. All assignments should be handed in on the exact date. Neither late papers nor any other assignment turned in late will be accepted. All written assignment should be typed (double-spaced text).
IV. PROFESSOR
The class is taught by Angelica Mans, who has a B.A in English from the Universidad de Costa Rica, and has completed a Translation program from the Universidad Nacional. She holds a Master's Degree on education from Universidad Americana; and is currently pursuing a second Master's Degree in a Translation program from Universidad Nacional.
E-mail her at the following addresses: angelmas@racsa.co.cr or angelmas@costarricense.cr
V. EVALUATION
Student participation will be evaluated and assessed by providing the students with real-life experiences, similar to those they will face throughout their activity in their professional lives. The projects, reading and research assignments and participation activities are to assess and the learning process carried out by the student in order to attain the course objectives as well as the process, creativity and creation of final projects.
Activities, exams and projects
Percentage of:
Class participation, homework , and reading
Essays and critiques
Reports and presentations
First midterm
Second midterm
Final Course project
10%
10%
15%
15%
20%
30%
Class work includes written or oral reports, reading discussion, debates and oral exchanges about subject matter read or about research carried outside of class.
Please take into account that in all the written work, including essays, summaries, comments or analysis, midterm and final projects, spelling, grammar and writing skills will be evaluated. Spelling and grammar mistakes may cause loss of points.
The midterms will be based on research done on cultural aspects, and the results are to be presented in class. The final exam will be the results of field research: specifically, interviews students will have to do to foreigners living in Costa Rica, to face different cultural perspectives, even when the students may be foreigners themselves, The students will have to analyze the results of the interview and present them in class to add to the previous discussions on cultural aspects that students have read or done research about.
Bibliography will be presented in all analyses and translations turned in. Plagiarism will be penalized as it is established in Students' Rules and Regulations of ULACIT.
VI. LEARNING EXPERIENCE
The learning experience is a process happens according to the needs, interests and characteristics of the group identity. The course organization proposes more practical learning situations than theoretical ones, which in turn allows the student to become involved in a "learning by doing" type of process; especially in practicing research skills, and creating an awareness of the need to learn tolerance and acceptance.
VII. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
ULACIT has the audiovisual, bibliographical and computer resources that the student needs to fulfill the demands of the course. The personnel in charge of teaching the course has the academic background and the satisfactory work experience.
VIII. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Required texts:
Lustig, Myron and Jolene Koester. (1999). Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures. NewYork: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc..
Locker, Kathy. (2000) Business and Administrative Communication. Boston: McGraw-Hill. 2000.
Supplementary Bibliography:
Stewart, Edward and Milton Bennett (1991). American Cultural Patterns. A Cross- Cultural Perspective. Maine: Intercultural Press, Inc.
Luedtke, Luther, ed. (1992) Making America. The society and culture of the USA.
Chapel Hill: the University of North Carolina Press, 1992.
Seely, N. (1998) Teaching Culture. Illinois: NTC, 1998.
COURSE SYLLABUS
Week 1
Activities
Presentation of the course
Reading:
Introduction to Intercultural Competence
Presentation of the instructional package
Discussion of evaluation scale
Discussion of Projects, readings and course structure
Week 2
Activities
Readings:
Communication, Culture, and Cultural Differences
Communicating across cultures by Stefania Pinton
Discussion of Introduction to Intercultural Competence
Discussion of Proposals for oral project
Week 3
Activities
Readings:
Intercultural Communication Competence
Reading discussion and weekly reading
Critique
Week 4
Activities
Readings:
Cultural Patterns and Communication: Foundations
Reading discussion and weekly assignment
Essay
Week 5
Activities
First Midterm
Oral Report on Research Findings
Argumentative Essay on a problem that stemmed from this research
Week 6
Activities
Readings:
Cultural patterns and Communication Taxonomies
Reading discussion and weekly assignment
Critique
Week 7
Activities
Readings:
Cultural identity, cultural biases, ad intercultural contact
Reading discussion and weekly assignment
Essay
Special guest (to be confirmed)
Week 8
Activities
Readings:
Verbal Intercultural Communication
Discussion of reading and weekly assignment turned in
Research Activity
Week 9
Activities
Reading:
Nonverbal Intercultural communication
Discussion of reading
Critique and activity
Week 10
Activities
Second Midterm
Oral report on research findings
Argumentative essay on critical analysis of a problem which stemmed from readings and research
Week 11
Activities
Reading:
The effects of code usage in intercultural communication
Discussion of reading assignment
Critique and activity
Week 12
Activities
Readings:
Intercultural competence in Interpersonal relationships
Rough drafts and project proposals
Discussion of reading
Essay
Week 13
Activities
Readings:
Episodes, contexts, and intercultural interactions
Discussion of readings
Participation activity
Present proposal and final project discussion
Week 14
Activities
Final Course Project
Oral and Written Presentations
Week 15
Activities
Final Course Project
Oral and Written Presentations
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