Mar 19, 2024  
2021-2022 Course Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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COMM 1051 - Intercultural Communication

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture 3 Lab None
Course Description: Study cultural differences and how they affect communication and cause misunderstanding. Are people really different from one another or are they basically alike? Topics include the role of culture in human behavior; references to a wide range of specific cultural groups; cultural aspects of domestic and international business; issues in refugee/immigrant resettlement and adaptation; and intercultural relationships. Materials/activities include reading, films, class discussions, group events, personal interviews.
MnTC Goals
1 Communication, 8 Global Perspective

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into ENGL 0950  and RDNG 0950  or above OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher OR course placement into ESOL 0051  and ESOL 0052  and ESOL 1033  OR completion of ESOL 0041  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0042  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0043  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: Eligible for college-level Reading and English.

Major Content
  1. Definitions: communication, intercultural communication, culture
  2. Concepts: connection between culture and communication, dimensions of difference, cultural generalizations
  3. Crossing cultural boundaries: culture shock; images; the experience of tourists, expatriates, and refuges/immigrants.
  4. Culture-general theory: models, cultural-variability scales.
  5. Culture-specific analysis: description, differences, and comparisons.
  6. Culture-specific interactions
  7. Doing business across cultures: local, national, global levels.
  8. Intercultural relationships.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course students will be able to:

  1. describe how cultural identity shapes, and is shaped by, communication.
  2. compare/contrast patterns of thought, value, belief and behavior (verbal and nonverbal) exhibited in different cultures.
  3. define the role of perception and bias in intercultural communication interactions.
  4. articulate the skills needed to manage various intercultural communication contexts
  5. communicate with those of cultural groups other than their own.
  6. assess on one’s own personal intercultural communication competency.
  7. explain the need for intercultural communication competency in our global and ever-changing world.

Competency 1 (1-6)
01. 02. Participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking, and responding.
01. 03. Locate, evaluate, and synthesize in a responsible manner material from diverse sources and points of view.
01. 04. Select appropriate communication choices for specific audiences.
01. 07. Employ syntax and usage appropriate to academic disciplines and the professional world.
Competency 2 (7-10)
08. 02. Demonstrate knowledge of cultural, social, religious and linguistic differences.
08. 03. Analyze specific international problems, illustrating the cultural, economic, and political differences that affect their solution.
08. 04. Understand the role of a world citizen and the responsibility world citizens share for their common global future.


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