Intercultural Communication (COMU2170)

Intercultural Communication (COMU2170)

Course overview

Study period

Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)

Study level

Undergraduate

Location

St Lucia

Attendance mode

In Person

Units

2

Administrative campus

St Lucia

Coordinating unit

Communication & Arts School

This course critically examines the relationship between culture, identity and communication.

In an increasingly interconnected world,ﾠthe ability to understand who, what, when, where, why and howﾠto communicate effectively and appropriatelyﾠacrossﾠcultures isﾠessential at individual, group, community, organisational, national, and internationalﾠlevels. This courseﾠintroduces theories and skills of research and professional practices in intercultural communication. Students will critically reviewﾠtheories and applyﾠtheories to resolve practical problems emerging from everyday communication in diverse cultural contexts. The goal of this course is to equip students with the capacity of autonomy, expert judgement, adaptability, and responsibility as an effective intercultural communicator in the global society.

Course requirements

Assumed background

This course is designed to equip studentsﾠwith the knowledge and skills in culture, communication and identities to enable studentsﾠto communicate effectively and appropriately in diverse cultural contexts. This is a Year 2 undergraduate course. The course assumes that students taking this course are equipped with critical thinking, academic writing, and referencing skills.

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

COMU1311

Restrictions

Course offering will be cancelled unless a minimum of 20 students enrol.

Additional timetable information

Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email [email protected] from your UQ student email with:

· Your name

· Your student ID

· The course code

· A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)

· Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP

Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team.

Aims and outcomes

This course aims to examine the interrelationships between communication and culture. It builds your knowledge of howﾠculture influencesﾠattitudesﾠand communication behaviours including perception, stereotypes, conflict management, human relationships, media, communication technologies, as well as exploresﾠthe dynamics of the global and the local cultures. In doing so, the course equips you with the capacity to communicate effectively and appropriately with people in diverse cultural contexts.

This course believes that becoming competent intercultural communicators requiresﾠthe abilityﾠto critically examine one's own cultural assumptions and how those assumptions influence their communication behaviours. An awareness of how communication and culture mutually influence each other generates insights into people's particular ways of thinking, doing, and being, which in turn, influences intercultural communication.ﾠCritical thinking and reflectionﾠare emphasised throughﾠall learning activities and assessments to encourageﾠstudents to make connections between the theoretical concepts learnedﾠin the course and their own practicalﾠexperiences.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Recognise the influence of culture on communication between individuals, groups, organisations, and nations.

LO2.

Critically reflect on the influence of culture on how you view your own cultural group and cultural groups other than your own.

LO3.

Effectively apply verbal and non-verbal communication knowledge and skills in intercultural communication contexts.

LO4.

Effectively apply theories and concepts in analysing intercultural communication problems and provide solutions.

LO5.

Demonstrate respect, expert judgment, adaptability, and responsibility as an effective and ethical communicator in diverse cultural contexts.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category	Assessment task	Weight	Due date
Essay/ Critique	Reflective Essay	20% 1000 words	13/08/2024 4:00 pm
Essay/ Critique	Case Studies	40% 1500 words	17/09/2024 4:00 pm
Paper/ Report/ Annotation	Intercultural Report	40% 1500 words	5/11/2024 4:00 pm

Assessment details

Reflective Essay

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

20% 1000 words

Due date

13/08/2024 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L05

Task description

This assessment provides you with an opportunity to examine and reflect on your own culture as an insider. It is not simply a general description of your culture or your country. Your reflective essay should convey who you are as a member of a cultural group with which you identify. You are required to explain what beliefs, values, practices, traditions and so forth are important to you as a member of your cultural group, and why they are important to you as a member of your cultural group. Your cultural group can be defined at a national level (e.g., Australia, Germany, Japan) or at sub-cultural levels (e.g., ethnicity, religion, geographic region). You are required to apply concepts of communication and culture learned in the course and you are encouraged to search for the literature for any other relevant information beyond what is covered in the course. You must define all key concepts you have included in your reflective essay and demonstrate your understanding of them by applying them in appropriate contexts. In so doing, you demonstrate your knowledge of culture and communication, and your ability to apply knowledge. Include all references cited within your reflective essay in a reference list at the end of your reflective essay. APA referencing style. is required. The UQ Library has APA referencing guide on its website.

Include the following sections in your reflective essay:

· Title of your reflective essay.

· Brief description of the culture with which you identify; specify the aspects of culture that you choose to focus on (e.g., values, beliefs, traditions, or customs, etc.).

· Definition of key concepts of culture and communication that your reflective essay used, explanation of how they are applied in your essay, and justification for why they are important to you as a member of the cultural group with which you identify.

· Your reflection on what it means to you to identify as a member of your cultural group, and how your culture shapes your thinking, doing, and being.

· References list with all references cited within your reflective essay (in-text citation), arranged according to APA referencing style. guide.

Note:

1. This assessment should be submitted via Turnitin. Submission as email attachment will NOT be accepted.

2. The word limit (1000 words) is suggestive. No penalties will be applied to your assessment based on the sole reason that it is over or under the suggested word limit.

3. There is no requirement for you to include pictures. If you do, please limit your pictures to maximum 2. You might experience problems with submitting your assessment via Turnitin if your file size is too large.

4. Your assessment is marked according to the marking criteria provided. Your assessment is NOT graded with reference to the achievement of other students in the course or your performance in other courses.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Click the TurnItIn submission link in Assessment 1 Related Resources folder on Blackboard to submit Assessment 1 to TurnItIn.

TurnItIn Receipts:

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:

· View the name of the submitted file

· View date and time of the upload

· Resubmit your paper (if necessary)

· Download your submitted paper

· Download digital receipt.

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form. (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).

If the submission was not successful:

· Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).

· Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.

· If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Case Studies

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

40% 1500 words

Due date

17/09/2024 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

This assessment provides you with an opportunity to apply theories learned in the course and theories from the literature you have searched to analyse cases in which intercultural communication problems occurred. To accomplish this assessment, you are required to:

· Choose two cases of intercultural communication among a list of case studies provided on Blackboard course site.

· Analyse the two cases you have chosen: Identify the causes of intercultural problems in each case and provide possible specific solutions, by drawing on ideas, concepts, theories of intercultural communication learned in the course and other relevant literature you have searched.

· Reflect on your learning through analysing the intercultural communication cases.

Include the following sections in your case studies:

1. Title of the essay: Provide a specific title for your essay of case studies.

2. Introduction: State briefly the cases that you have chosen and explain why you have chosen them.

3. Analysis of problems and application of theories: Analyse each case to identify causes of intercultural problems and provide possible specific solutions, by drawing on theories learned in the course and other relevant literature you have searched.

4. Reflection: Reflect on what you have learned from analysing these cases of intercultural communication.

5. References: All sources of references cited within the essay must be included in the reference list. APA referencing style. is required. The UQ Library has APA referencing guide on its website.

Note:

1. This assessment should be submitted via Turnitin. Submission as email attachment will NOT be accepted.

2. The word limit (1500 words) is suggestive. No penalties will be applied to your assignment based on the sole reason that it is over or under the suggested word limit.

3. There is no requirement for you to include pictures. If you do, please limit your pictures to maximum 2. You might experience problems with submitting your essay via Turnitin if your file size is too large.

4. Your assessment is marked according to the marking criteria provided. Your assessment is NOT graded with reference to the achievement of other students in the course or your performance in other courses.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Click the Turnitin submission link in Assessment 2 Related Resources folder on Blackboard to submit Assessment 2 to Turnitin.

TurnItIn Receipts:

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:

· View the name of the submitted file

· View date and time of the upload

· Resubmit your paper (if necessary)

· Download your submitted paper

· Download digital receipt.

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form. (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).

If the submission was not successful:

· Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).

· Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.

· If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Intercultural Report

Mode

Written

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

40% 1500 words

Due date

5/11/2024 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

This assessment provides you with an opportunity to report your analysis of and reflection on your own intercultural experience. Start as early in the semester as possible to search for a suitable cultural event for yourself. To accomplish this assessment, you are required to:

· Attend and participate in one cultural event; this event should be organised by members of a culture (or subculture) other than your own (i.e. you are an "outsider" of this cultural or subcultural group). Examples of cultural events include, but not limited to, cultural fairs, weddings, church activities, cultural festivals and so forth. You may search the local newspapers, the internet, and any other sources to locate a suitable cultural event for you.

· Research for information (academic and non-academic) to learn about the culture or subculture you have chosen. Identify some aspects of the chosen culture you want to learn more about (e.g., a cultural practice, a tradition, a value, a traditional dish/food for special occasions, etc.).

· Observe and participate in the event. You may pay attention to how culture is reflected in the interactions and behaviours of people from the cultural group at the event.

· Formulate around 5 questions you want to ask people from this cultural group about the aspects of their culture you want to learn more about. Locate about three persons from this cultural group at the event to interview them with your questions to gather their views on what you want to learn more about their culture. Summarise your main findings.

· Identify a problem or a set of related problems that might arise in communication between members of your own cultural group and members of the cultural group under study (e.g., stereotypes, different beliefs and values, communication styles, etc.).

· Apply at least one theory to analyse the identified intercultural problem(s) and provide possible solutions. This requires you to apply your knowledge and skills learned in the course and other relevant literature you have searched. Your possible solutions should be specific, not just general statements.

· Reflect on your learning from this intercultural experience.

Include the following sections in your intercultural report:

1. Title of the report: Provide a specific title for your intercultural report.

2. Introduction: State the culture or subculture you have chosen and provide a justification for your choice of the cultural group and the event.

3. The event: Provide a brief description of the event and its significance to the cultural group who organised it.

4. Observations and interactions. Explain what you observed at the event that you understood accurately and what was puzzling to you. Describe your interview questions and the persons you have chosen to ask those questions (no need to include real names of the people you asked the questions). Summarise your main findings.

5. Problems, solutions and application of theories: Identify and analyse potential problems that might arise in communication between people from your own cultural group and the other cultural group under study. Provide possible, specific solutions to the identified intercultural problems by drawing on theories learned in the course and other relevant literature you have searched.

6. Reflection: Reflect on your experience of interacting with people from a different culture, and discuss what you have learned from your intercultural communication experience.

7. References: All sources of references cited within the report must be included in the reference list. APA referencing style. is required. The UQ Library has APA referencing guide on its website.

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Click the Turnitin submission link in Assessment 3 Related Resources folder on Blackboard to submit Assessment 3 to Turnitin.

TurnItIn Receipts:

Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.

When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:

· View the name of the submitted file

· View date and time of the upload

· Resubmit your paper (if necessary)

· Download your submitted paper

· Download digital receipt.

If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form. (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).

If the submission was not successful:

· Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).

· Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.

· If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.

Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.