Languages, Literature&Culture 125 - Intercultural Communication

We live in an increasingly globalized world, where living and working with people from various cultures is nearly an everyday occurrence. These interactions, combined with ever-growing opportunities for students to explore and study in foreign settings, make it important to master effective ways to engage and learn from these experiences. This course will engage students interested in developing intercultural competence with an eye towards fostering diverse and vibrant communities that coexist peacefully. We begin by defining culture, communication, and intercultural competence; then, we move on to explore how intercultural competence can contribute to peaceful, inclusive communities before considering how cultural differences relate to the effects of cultural frames and nonverbal & verbal communication. We survey how culture influences friendships, families, classrooms, workplaces, the media, as well as our contact with cultures other than our own. The course also explores how cultural forces shape discrimination based on factors such as race, ethnicity, language, religion, class, ability, nationality, sexuality, and gender. Students are exposed to the topics through diverse readings, examples from various media sources, reflective writing assignments, research activities, class discussions, and participation in initiatives that foster cross-cultural engagement. (Gen. Ed. SB, DG)