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Course Question & AnswerIntercultural Communication
Purpose of Course showclose
Course Information showclose
Course Designer: David E. Williams
Primary Resources: This course is composed of a range of different free, online materials. While there are several different readings throughout the course, extensive use is also made of YouTube and other online media, which offer insights from experts regarding specific content. Online sources are also used to allow those involved in various intercultural relationships to share their insights and experiences with you. The course makes primary use of the following materials:
- Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World (Comprehensive Edition)
- Principles of Social Psychology
- Leading with Cultural Intelligence
- Lee Hopkins’ Better Communication Results Articles
Requirements for Completion:In order to complete this course, you will need to work through each unit and all of its assigned materials. You will also need to complete:
- Subunit 1.4 Activity
- Subunit 2.5 Activity
- Subunit 3.4 Activity
- Subunit 4.3 Activity
- Subunit 5.5 Activity
- The Final Exam
In order to “pass” this course, you will need to earn a 70% or higher on the Final Exam. Your score on the exam will be tabulated as soon as you complete it. If you do not pass the exam, you may take it again.
Time Commitment: This course should take you a total of 135.75 hours to complete. Each unit includes a “time advisory” that lists the amount of time you are expected to spend on each subunit. These should help you plan your time accordingly. It may be useful to take a look at these time advisories, determine how much time you have over the next few weeks to complete each unit, and then set goals for yourself. Many of the videos and readings will ask you to apply the material in various manners to your own thinking. This time is accounted for in the time advisories. For example, Unit 1 should take you 29 hours. Perhaps you can sit down with your calendar and decide to complete sub-subunits 1.1.1 and 1.1.2 (a total of 2.25 hours) on Monday night; sub-subunit 1.1.3 (a total of 2.75 hours) on Tuesday night; sub-subunits 1.1.4 and 1.1.5 (a total of 4.25 hours) on Wednesday night; etc.
Tips/Suggestions: To study the readings thoroughly, we recommend that you review the readings at least twice and view the videos at least twice, or three times for those videos less than 7 minutes, in order to capture the entirety of what is being presented. This will help you absorb the material better and will also assist in your note-taking efforts. As you work through each resource, take comprehensive notes. These notes will serve as a useful review as you study for the Final Exam.
Learning Outcomes showclose
- Compare and contrast communication styles between cultures such as African American, Latino, Indian, Middle Eastern, Native American, and Asian.
- Explain how cultural differences affect business and the workplace.
- Identify and explain the five dimensions of intercultural communication.
- Identify primary differences in communication practices of different cultures.
- Identify the benefits and challenges of intercultural relationships.
- Analyze the constraints on communication and relationships among people of different cultures.
- Articulate a set of strategies for the development of intercultural communication competence.
Course Requirements showclose
√ Have access to a computer.
√ Have continuous broadband Internet access.
√ Have the ability/permission to install plug-ins or software (e.g., Adobe Reader or Flash).
√ Have the ability to download and save files and documents to a computer.
√ Have the ability to open Microsoft files and documents (.doc, .ppt, .xls, etc.).
√ Be competent in the English language.
√ Have read the Saylor Student Handbook.
Unit Outline show close
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Unit 1: Communication among Cultures
As you have surely experienced many times, communication between members of the same culture can be challenging and can often be hampered by misunderstanding, confusion, and a lack of shared meaning. These miscommunications can take place despite the fact that members of the same culture often share beliefs and worldviews. Miscommunication can be prevalent despite the appearance that people are communicating successfully, because they share a language. Communication failure stems from issues of individualism versus collectivism (individual orientation vs. group orientation), masculinity versus femininity, power distance (relationships between those with and without power), uncertainty avoidance (level of comfort with uncertainty), and long-term versus short-term orientation.
Unit 1 Time Advisory show close
When individuals from different cultures engage in communication, the opportunity for miscommunication multiplies. The list of variables that can come into play grows exponentially as the communication situation changes from a shared cultural perspective to two or more cultures represented by the people talking together. For example, if you are in a business meeting with others, including a man from Nigeria, you might notice some communication differences between the man and the others in the meeting. If he is younger or a subordinate to you, he will likely avoid eye contact. While you might consider this a sign of nervousness or deception, he would likely be avoiding eye contact out of respect for you.
Understanding some primary differences in cultural communication practices can serve as a starting point for developing intercultural communication competence by helping you better understand how to communicate among cultures. This unit will explore differences in cultural communication practices.
Unit 1 Learning Outcomes show close
- 1.1 Communication among Cultures
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1.1.1 Individualism versus Collectivism
- Web Media: YouTube: Norfolk State University: William Hart’s “Collectivism/Individualism through Dance”
Link: YouTube: Norfolk State University: William Hart’s “Collectivism/Individualism through Dance” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please watch this video and listen for the distinctions between individualism and collectivism. The perspective of thinking about yourself first versus the group first is a difference among some cultures.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on thewebpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Norfolk State University: William Hart’s “Collectivism/Individualism through Dance”
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1.1.2 Masculinity versus Femininity
- Reading: Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World (Comprehensive Edition): “Chapter 11: Gender and Gender Inequality”
Link: Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World (Comprehensive Edition): “Chapter 11: Gender and Gender Inequality” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read Chapter 11 about the differences in perception and behavior by and for men and women. Please note the details in the distinctions between masculinity and femininity. Masculine traits and feminine traits are interpreted differently by different cultures.
Reading this chapter should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: The text was adapted by The Saylor Foundation under a CreativeCommons-Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License without attribution as requested by the work's original creator or licensee.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Sociology: Understanding and Changing the Social World (Comprehensive Edition): “Chapter 11: Gender and Gender Inequality”
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1.1.3 Power Distance
- Web Media: YouTube: Sunsilvercat’s “Low and High Context Cultures”
Link: YouTube: Sunsilvercat’s “Low and High Context Cultures” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this video. Note that the video highlights the pioneering work of Edward T. Hall. Dr. Hall and others explain that cultures differ in how much they factor in their surroundings when they communicate. High context cultures will have high regard for speaking in a way to preserve, foster, and recognize relationships. Low context cultures will give more weight to individual concerns and logical outcomes.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “High Context Culture”
Link: Wikipedia’s “High Context Culture” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the Wikipedia entry on high context culture.
Reading this entry should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization: Peter Cardon and Ephraim Okoro’s “A Meta-Analysis of the Cultural Propositions about Conflict Management Styles in Face-Negotiation Theory”
Link: Rhetoric, Professional Communication, and Globalization: Peter Cardon and Ephraim Okoro’s “A Meta-Analysis of the Cultural Propositions about Conflict Management Styles in Face-Negotiation Theory” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the article by Peter Cardon from the University of South Carolina and Ephraim Okoro from Howard University. This reading deals with power distance and is an intensive research article.
Studying this reading this entry should take approximately 2 hours to complete.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Sunsilvercat’s “Low and High Context Cultures”
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1.1.4 Uncertainty Avoidance
- Reading: Wikibooks’ Communication Theory: Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese’s “Uncertainty Reduction”
Link: Wikibooks’ Communication Theory: Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese’s “Uncertainty Reduction” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article about uncertainty reduction. This article provides a brief synopsis of Berger and Calabrese’s founding work on uncertainty and uncertainty reduction. Uncertainty reduction (also known as uncertainty avoidance) deals with efforts people typically employ to increase their level of knowledge and understanding of a situation. These efforts are undertaken, because uncertainty (not knowing) is typically uncomfortable and stressful.
Reading this article should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Europe’s Journal of Psychology: Jennifer L. Matic’s "The Degree of Uncertainty Avoidance Present in Croatian and American Undergraduate Students: A Comparative Analysis”
Link: Europe’s Journal of Psychology: Jennifer L. Matic’s "The Degree of Uncertainty Avoidance Present in Croatian and American Undergraduate Students: A Comparative Analysis” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this research article by Jennifer L. Matic, instructor at the American College of Management and Technology in Croatia. This article presents findings on uncertainty avoidance in Croatian and American undergraduate students.
Reading this article should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikibooks’ Communication Theory: Charles Berger and Richard Calabrese’s “Uncertainty Reduction”
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1.1.5 Long-Term versus Short-Term Orientation
- Web Media: YouTube: David Solomon’s “Cross Cultural Communication on the Culture of Time”
Link: YouTube: David Solomon’s “Cross Cultural Communication on the Culture of Time” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please watch this video featuring David Solomon, director of the consulting organization Cross Cultural Communication. He explains how time is viewed and valued differently by members of different cultures. As you watch the video, consider how you perceive time and how you would react in situations where others perceive time differently.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: David Solomon’s “Cross Cultural Communication on the Culture of Time”
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1.2 Verbal and Nonverbal Communication among Cultures
- Reading: Plos One: Shui’ er Han, Janani Sundararajan, Daniel Liu Bowling, Jessica Lake, and Dale Purves’ “Co-Variation of Tonality in the Music and Speech of Different Cultures”
Link: Plos One: Shui’ er Han, Janani Sundararajan, Daniel Liu Bowling, Jessica Lake, and Dale Purves’ “Co-Variation of Tonality in the Music and Speech of Different Cultures” (HTML or PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the above link and read the entire article, which deals with differences in vocal tone according to culture. You may access a PDF of this article by clicking on the “PDF” link after “Download” on the webpage linked above.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: The article is published with a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License by Plos One, a peer reviewed, open-access journal.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Delta: Zoltán Kövecses’ “Metaphor, Language, and Culture”
Link: Delta: Zoltán Kövecses’ “Metaphor, Language, and Culture” (HTML or PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the article by Professor Kövecses of Eotuos Lorand University in Budapest, Hungary. This article discusses the relationship between culture and language, including the use of metaphor in different cultures as a means to make meaning of the world.
Reading this article should take about 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Lecture: YouTube: Berlitz Cultural Consulting: Marco Chan’s “Communicating Effectively across Cultures”
Link: YouTube: Berlitz Cultural Consulting: Marco Chan’s “Communicating Effectively across Cultures” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this webinar, produced by the Berlitz Cultural Consulting Firm. This webinar provides an excellent overview of verbal and nonverbal considerations in intercultural communication. The intent of this webinar is to facilitate efficient communication among different cultures in the workplace or in business interactions. However, the material is easily applied to a wide range of contexts and serves as an excellent primer on adapting ones’ communication with people outside of ones’ own cultural worldview.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Artichoke Press: Judy H. Wright’s “Nonverbal Communication – Body Language”
Link: YouTube: Artichoke Press: Judy H. Wright’s “Nonverbal Communication – Body Language” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this video. In this video, Judy H. Wright – life educator, coach, and founder of Artichoke Press – explains basic considerations in the role of culture in nonverbal communication.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 15 minutes.
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- Reading: Lee Hopkins’ Better Communication Results: “Nonverbal Communication – an Overview”, “Nonverbal Communication and Space”, and “Nonverbal Communication – Touch”
Link: Lee Hopkins’ Better Communication Results: “Nonverbal Communication – an Overview” (HTML), “Nonverbal Communication and Space” (HTML), and “Nonverbal Communication – Touch” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the links above and read these articles. These articles explore some of the basic principles and considerations of nonverbal communication between people of the same and different cultures.
Reading these articles should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use on the webpage displayed above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Lee Hopkins’ Better Communication Results: Neil Payne’s “Cross-Cultural Solutions for International Business”
Link: Lee Hopkins’ Better Communication Results: Neil Payne’s “Cross-Cultural Solutions for International Business” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read the article for an overview of cross-cultural solutions for the global business world.
Reading this article should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Lee Hopkins’ Better Communication Results: Gwen Stewart’s “Listening Skills”
Link: Lee Hopkins’ Better Communication Results: Gwen Stewart’s “Listening Skills” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article for an overview of a very important nonverbal communication skill: listening.
Reading this article should take approximately 15 minutes.
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- Reading: Plos One: Caroline Blais, Rachael E. Jack, Christoph Scheepers, Daniel Fiset, and Roberto Caldara’s “Culture Shapes How We Look at Faces”
Link: Plos One: Caroline Blais, Rachael E. Jack, Christoph Scheepers, Daniel Fiset, and Roberto Caldara’s “Culture Shapes How We Look at Faces” (HTML or PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article, which addresses how our cultural background will have an effect on how we interpret facial displays. You may access the PDF of this article by clicking on the “PDF” link after “Download” on the webpage linked above.
Reading this article should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: The article is published with a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License by Plos One, a peer reviewed, open-access journal.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Steven R. Van Hook's “Transcultural Marcom”
Link: YouTube: Steven R. Van Hook's “Transcultural Marcom” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this video on international communication tactics in marketing, using themes and images that transcend cultural differences.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Plos One: Shui’ er Han, Janani Sundararajan, Daniel Liu Bowling, Jessica Lake, and Dale Purves’ “Co-Variation of Tonality in the Music and Speech of Different Cultures”
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1.3 Stereotyping and Bias
- Reading: Principles of Social Psychology: “Chapter 12: Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination”
Link: Principles of Social Psychology: “Chapter 12: Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read Chapter 12, which identifies the prevalence and dangers of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination in communication.
Reading this chapter should take approximately 3 hours.
Terms of Use: The text was adapted by The Saylor Foundation under a CreativeCommons-Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License without attribution as requested by the work's original creator or licensee.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Plos One: Sophie Lebrecht, Lara J. Pierce, Michael J. Tarr, and James W. Tanaka’s “Perceptual Other-Race Training Reduces Implicit Racial Bias”
Link: Plos One: Sophie Lebrecht, Lara J. Pierce, Michael J. Tarr, and James W. Tanaka’s “Perceptual Other-Race Training Reduces Implicit Racial Bias” (HTML or PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read the entire article, which explains how training in racial facial recognition can help reduce racial bias. You may access the PDF of this article by clicking on the “PDF” link after “Download” on the webpage linked above.
Reading this article should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: The article is published with a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License by Plos One, a peer reviewed, open-access journal.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Kansas: The Community Toolbox: Chris Hampton and Kien Lee’s “Strategies for Reducing Racial Prejudice and Racism”
Link: University of Kansas: The Community Toolbox: Chris Hampton and Kien Lee’s “Strategies for Reducing Racial Prejudice and Racism” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read the article to learn about racism, prejudice, and how to reduce the prevalence of both.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
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- Reading: Principles of Social Psychology: “Chapter 12: Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination”
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1.4 Unit 1 Discussion
- Activity: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
Link: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
Instructions: After reviewing the unit materials, please post and respond to the following topics on the course discussion board. Feel free to start your own related posts and respond to other students’ posts.
1. Think of any extended interaction you might have had with someone or a group of people from a different national and cultural background. What did you notice as some of the most pronounced differences between your culture and theirs?
2. Beyond some of the cultural classifications discussed in this unit, what others can you think of to add?
3. What topics of common ground might you focus on for effective communications in a multi-cultural setting? What topics might best be avoided?
You should dedicate approximately 5 hours to posting and responding on the discussion board.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Activity: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
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Unit 2: Adapting to Culture
Communication between members of two cultures frequently requires more than a single interaction. Business partnerships, social relationships, and organizational affiliations can require a prolonged exposure to other cultures. In these cases, those who interact with other cultures must move beyond understanding the basics of intercultural communication differences and come to understand how perceptions and culture-oriented behavior differences complicate the ability to communicate.
Unit 2 Time Advisory show close
This unit will help you understand how the perception-making process is challenged when cultural differences exist. The unit also will introduce the concept of culture shock and how it must be managed so that one can communicate with competence in another culture.
Unit 2 Learning Outcomes show close
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2.1 Adapting to Culture
- Lecture: YouTube: University of California, Davis Mind Institute: Dr. Eun Mi Cho and Dr. Hendry Ton’s “Lost in Translation: Cross Cultural Communication Strategies”
Link: YouTube: University of California, Davis Mind Institute: Dr. Eun Mi Cho and Dr. Hendry Ton’s “Lost in Translation: Cross Cultural Communication Strategies” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this lecture, which, though it was was directed toward those in the medical profession, offers fundamental insights that will be useful in this course. The video references the groundbreaking work of Dr. Hall and Dr. Tannen in intercultural communication. Pay particular attention to the 9- and 37- minute marks for key insights on fundamental patterns of cultural differences and intercultural communication patterns.
Watching this lecture and pausing to take notes should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: BioMed Central: Shapiro, Lie, Gutierrez, and Zhuang’s “That Never Would Occur to Me: A Qualitative Study of Medical Students’ Views of a Cultural Competence Curriculum”
Link: BioMed Central: Shapiro, Lie, Gutierrez, and Zhuang’s “That Never Would Occur to Me: A Qualitative Study of Medical Students’ Views of a Cultural Competence Curriculum” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and select the “PDF” link under “Full Text” to download the article. Read the article, which identifies what can happen with the implementation of a training program for intercultural communication and awareness. The article discusses the successes and limitations of such a program in a medical setting.
Reading this article should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Lecture: YouTube: University of California, Davis Mind Institute: Dr. Eun Mi Cho and Dr. Hendry Ton’s “Lost in Translation: Cross Cultural Communication Strategies”
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2.2 Role of Culture in Intercultural Communication
- Reading: Leading with Cultural Intelligence: “Chapter 2: Understanding Culture”
Link: Leading with Cultural Intelligence: “Chapter 2: Understanding Culture” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read chapter 2 in its entirety, which provides training to a wide range of organizations in the area of leadership development. This organization was founded to provide consulting and training services in areas of intercultural communication and leadership.
Reading this chapter should take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: The text was adapted by The Saylor Foundation under a CreativeCommons-Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License without attribution as requested by the work's original creator or licensee.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikibooks: Laura K. Hahn, Lance Lippert, and Scott T. Paynton’s Survey of Communication Study: “Chapter 12: Intercultural Communication”
Link: Wikibooks: Laura K. Hahn, Lance Lippert, and Scott T. Paynton’s Survey of Communication Study: “Chapter 12: Intercultural Communication” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read chapter 12 for a thorough introduction to the basic considerations in understanding the role of culture in our personal relationships. Before understanding how one operates within his or her own culture, and how that culture interacts with our culture, one must understand how culture works in his or her own worldview. As you read through this chapter, please try to continually reflect on your own beliefs, experiences, and interactions with others.
Reading this chapter should take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Europe’s Journal of Psychology: Simonas Audickas, Charles Davis, and Magda Szczepenska’s “Effects of Group Cultural Differences on Task Performance and Socialization Behaviors”
Link: Europe’s Journal of Psychology: Simonas Audickas, Charles Davis, and Magda Szczepenska’s “Effects of Group Cultural Differences on Task Performance and Socialization Behaviors” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article. This study harkens back to Hofstede’s theory of cultural dimensions, particularly looking at how individualism/collectivism and homogeneity/heterogeneity affect group dynamics in completing a task.
Reading this article should take approximately 3 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Leading with Cultural Intelligence: “Chapter 2: Understanding Culture”
- 2.3 Culture Shock
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2.3.1 Culture Shock Defined
- Lecture: YouTube: Norfolk State University: William Hart’s “Culture Shock”
Link: YouTube: Norfolk State University: William Hart’s “Culture Shock” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this lecture from Professor William Hart’s intercultural communication course. The video features information and interviews about culture shock.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Lecture: YouTube: Norfolk State University: William Hart’s “Culture Shock”
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2.3.2 Symptoms and Stages
- Reading: Bukisa: “Culture Shock and Its Stages”
Link: Bukisa: “Culture Shock and Its Stages” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this brief article, which offers a clear, concise definition and description of culture shock. Be sure to focus on the stages of the process.
Reading this article should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: New Jersey Institute of Technology Graduate Student Association: “Adapting to the Culture: Culture Shock”
Link: New Jersey Institute of Technology Graduate Student Association: “Adapting to the Culture: Culture Shock” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article, which goes a bit further in describing culture shock and is interesting from the point of view of those traveling to the United States. If you were born in the United States, try to read this article from the perspective of an international visitor.
Reading this article should take approximately 3 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: California State University, East Bay: Stephen H. Miller and Nada El-Aidi’s “Culture Shock: Causes and Symptoms”
Link: California State University, East Bay: Stephen H. Miller and Nada El-Aidi’s “Culture Shock: Causes and Symptoms” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select “Download This PDF File”, and download and read this article. In it, faculty members from California State University address the issue of culture shock. They do an excellent job of explaining the concept, laying the foundation for their study, and then explaining the results. Following the results, ask yourself if you think their findings are valid.
Reading this article should take approximately 4 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Bukisa: “Culture Shock and Its Stages”
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2.4 Unit 2 Discussion
- Activity: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
Link: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
Instructions: After reviewing the unit materials, please post and respond to the following topics on the course discussion board. Feel free to start your own related posts and respond to other students’ posts.
1. What is the closest experience you have had that could be considered culture shock? Describe the circumstances and what expectations you had to adjust or what steps you took for acculturation.
2. Describe a travel experience where you had difficulty in understanding a different culture. If you have not had such a travel experience, consider a place that you wish to travel to and write about what difficulties you may have in communicating with this different culture.
3. What is your assessment of Stephen H. Miller and Nada El-Aidi’s “Culture Shock: Causes and Symptoms?” Did the authors make clear their perception of acculturation? Explain how the authors did so or what they could have added to make this idea clearer.
You should dedicate approximately 5 hours to posting and responding on the discussion board.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Activity: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
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Unit 3: Intercultural Relationships
Technology and mobility are responsible for increased interactions among people from all parts of the world, allowing for the development of relationships in amazing and varied ways. It is true that two individuals who share values and cultural characteristics may be more inclined to develop a relationship with one another than, say, two individuals who hail from two very distinct cultures with two very distinct belief sets. However, the number of relationships among members of different cultures (be it business or interpersonal) continues to rise, because it has become easier to access and communicate with others around the world due to advances in technology. The interrelatedness of the twenty-first century also brings members of different cultures together in the same space in a manner that has not been seen before. Therefore, the development and maintenance of relationships among members of different cultures are possibly more important and more prevalent than at any other time in our history.
Unit 3 Time Advisory show close
This unit will address some of the considerations that come into play in the development of intercultural relationships.
Unit 3 Learning Outcomes show close
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3.1 Intercultural Relationships
- Reading: University of Kansas: The Community Toolbox: Marya Axner’s “Building Relationships with People from Different Cultures”
Link: University of Kansas: The Community Toolbox: Marya Axner’s “Building Relationships with People from Different Cultures” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article about intercultural relationships.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: The Open University: María Fernández-Toro’s “The Language of Sharing” (HTML and Flash)
Link: The Open University: María Fernández-Toro’s “The Language of Sharing” (HTML and Flash)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, read the introductory text, and watch the accompanying six videos. These videos provide excellent examples of Dr. Fernández-Toro’s guidance on establishing and maintaining intercultural relationships.
Reading the introductory text and watching these videos should take approximately 20 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Universidad Nacional de Colombia: Costalas Georgia’s “Intercultural Communication between Colombian and American Teachers in Columbian Institutions”
Link: Universidad Nacional de Colombia: Costalas Georgia’s “Intercultural Communication between Colombian and American Teachers in Columbian Institutions” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article by Georgia Costalas, Associate Director of Global Education at Wilkes University. To access the text, click on the “PDF” link after “Full Text” to download the article. This article presents findings about cultural miscommunications in observing English-speaking and Columbian teachers in Columbian school systems.
Reading this article should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Open Psychology Journal: Camilla Pagani’s “Violence in Cross-Cultural Relations as the Outcome of Specific Cognitive and Emotional Processes” (PDF)
Link: The Open Psychology Journal: Camilla Pagani’s “Violence in Cross-Cultural Relations as the Outcome of Specific Cognitive and Emotional Processes” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, then select “Download PDF” for the article titled “Violence in Cross-Cultural Relations as the Outcome of Specific Cognitive and Emotional Processes,” and read the entire article. This research article explores violence, including psychological violence, in cross-cultural relations as well as addresses some suggestions on how to prevent this violence.
Studying this reading should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: This article is published in the Open Psychology Journal with a Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution-Non-Commercial License. It is attributed to the Open Psychology Journal and Camilla Pagani.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Kansas: The Community Toolbox: Marya Axner’s “Building Relationships with People from Different Cultures”
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3.2 Intercultural Friendships
- Reading: Antonio A. Casilli’s BodySpaceSociety: “Friendship Changes, but ‘Friending’ Stays the Same across Cultures” and Cultural Science: Hui-Jung Chang’s “Social Networking Friendships: A Cross-Cultural of Network Structure between MySpace and Wretch”
Link: Antonio A. Casilli’s BodySpaceSociety: “Friendship Changes, but ‘Friending’ Stays the Same across Cultures” (HTML) and Cultural Science: Hui-Jung Chang’s “Social Networking Friendships: A Cross-Cultural of Network Structure between MySpace and Wretch” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the first link and read the blog entry. Then, click on the second link and select the “PDF” link to download the report. Read the entire report, which discusses the findings on the topic of developing friendships among people with different cultural backgrounds. How do the results from these two social networking sites compare to your experiences with similar sites?
Reading these articles should take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Marmara University, Istanbul: Fahri Yetim’s “Cultural Aspects of Group Support Systems”
Link: Marmara University, Istanbul: Fahri Yetim’s “Cultural Aspects of Group Support Systems” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article by Fahri Yetim of Marmara University in Istanbul. The article deals with the influence of different cultures on decision-making within groups of people.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Antonio A. Casilli’s BodySpaceSociety: “Friendship Changes, but ‘Friending’ Stays the Same across Cultures” and Cultural Science: Hui-Jung Chang’s “Social Networking Friendships: A Cross-Cultural of Network Structure between MySpace and Wretch”
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3.3 Intercultural Dating/Marriages
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Interracial Marriage”
Link: Wikipedia’s “Interracial Marriage” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this Wikipedia article for an overview on interracial marriage.
Reading this article should take approximately 3 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: University of Missouri – Kansas City Counseling Center and Department of Communication Studies: “UMKC Students in Intercultural Relationships”
Link: YouTube: University of Missouri – Kansas City Counseling Center and Department of Communication Studies: “UMKC Students in Intercultural Relationships” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this video, which features dating couples who were interviewed about their intercultural relationships, how those relationships began, and what the couples have learned about the challenges or differences in intercultural relationships.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Pasifika Broadcasting’s “The Good and Bad of Cross Cultural Marriages: Part 1” and “Part 2”
Link: YouTube: Pasifika Broadcasting’s “The Good and Bad of Cross Cultural Marriages: Part 1” (YouTube) and “Part 2” (YouTube)
Instructions: The two videos are an interview of a married couple dealing with an intercultural marriage. Try to use what you have learned in previous units to understand where the man and woman in this interview are coming from culturally. Do you agree or disagree with the insights being provided? Do you think your family and/or friends would agree with what is being said in this interview?
Watching these videos, pausing to take notes, and answering the questions above should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Voxxi: “Interracial Marriage in US Hits New High”
Link: Voxxi: “Interracial Marriage in US Hits New High” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article about the prevalence of interracial marriages in the United States. If you are not from the United States, think about the representation of interracial marriages in your own culture. You may find it interesting to do some research to find out the percentage of interracial marriages within your own culture.
Reading this article should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Interracial Marriage”
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3.4 Unit 3 Discussion
- Activity: The Saylor Foundation's “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
Link: The Saylor Foundation's “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
Instructions: After reviewing the unit materials, please post and respond to the following topics on the course discussion board. Feel free to start your own related posts and respond to other students’ posts.
1. Describe an intercultural friendship that you have observed. If you have not directly observed an intercultural friendship in person, use an example that you have seen on TV, in a movie, in a play, or in a book you have read. What did you notice as the challenges and benefits of this intercultural friendship?
2. Describe an intercultural marriage that you have observed. Again, if you have not directly observed an intercultural marriage in person, refer to an intercultural marriage from a TV show, movie, play, or book. What did you notice as the challenges and benefits of this intercultural marriage?
3. What did you think of the insights offered by the UMKC students from the lecture in subunit 3.3?
You should dedicate approximately 5 hours to posting and responding on the discussion board.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Activity: The Saylor Foundation's “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
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Unit 4: Insights into Cultural Communication Practices
Thus far, this course has addressed intercultural communication differences from a broad perspective. This unit will look at individual cultures and the communication behaviors that operate within those particular populations. Recognition of these cultural practices can facilitate competent communication on a professional, social, or casual level. This particular unit focuses mostly on a U.S. worldview, addressing cultures found in the United States. It is important to remember that members of other cultures have to adapt to living in the United States, which can be a challenging adjustment. Likewise the United States has a melting pot of cultures, and an Americans may have to adapt to ethnicities and cultures that differ from their own. As you work through this unit, consider how you might adapt to American culture or how as an American that you might adapt to a culture within the United States that differs from your own.
Unit 4 Time Advisory show close
Unit 4 Learning Outcomes show close
- 4.1 Insights into Cultural Communication Practices
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4.1.1 African American
- Reading: edit30: “Oratory – The Obama Style”Link: edit30: “Oratory – The Obama Style” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article, which articulates the oratorical style of U.S. President Barack Obama. The article was written for business communicators.
Write down a few paragraphs to the following prompt:
Compare what is written with what you have heard of the president. Do you agree with the writer’s commentary, or would you describe the president’s oratorical style differently?
Reading this article and completing the writing activity should take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Virginia Tech Digital Library and Archives: The Journal of Technology Studies: Al Bellamy and M.C. Greenfield’s “Examining African American and Caucasian Interaction Patterns within Computer-Mediated Communication Environments”
Link: Virginia Tech Digital Library and Archives: The Journal of Technology Studies: Al Bellamy and M.C. Greenfield’s “Examining African American and Caucasian Interaction Patterns within Computer-Mediated Communication Environments” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article by Dr. Al Bellamy and Dr. M.C. Greenfield from Eastern Michigan University. This article explores the differences in communication and interaction between different ethnicities, particularly African Americans and Caucasians, in chat rooms online.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: edit30: “Oratory – The Obama Style”
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4.1.2 Latino
- Reading: The Hispanic Culture: Sarah Vick and Cydney King’s “Hispanic Culture”
Link: The Hispanic Culture: Sarah Vick and Cydney King’s “Hispanic Culture” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this webpage for some basic information about Hispanic culture, including a section on communication behavior.
Reading this webpage should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Hispanic Culture: Sarah Vick and Cydney King’s “Hispanic Culture”
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4.1.3 Asian/Pacific Islander
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Pacific Islands”
Link: Wikipedia’s “Pacific Islands” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link and read this article about the Pacific Islands. Please feel free to click on any embedded links of interest to learn more about specific areas.
Reading this article should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Plos One: Sook-Lei Liew, Yina Ma, Shihuna Han, and Lisa Aziz-Zadeh’s “Who's Afraid of the Boss: Cultural Differences in Social Hierarchies Modulate Self-Face Recognition in Chinese and Americans”
Link: Plos One: Sook-Lei Liew, Yina Ma, Shihuna Han, and Lisa Aziz-Zadeh’s “Who's Afraid of the Boss: Cultural Differences in Social Hierarchies Modulate Self-Face Recognition in Chinese and Americans” (HTML or PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article, which discusses the differences between American and Chinese views of power and hierarchy. To download the PDF version of the article, click on the “PDF” link after “Download.”
Reading this article should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: The article is published with a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License by Plos One, a peer reviewed, open-access journal.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Younis A. Hamza Al-Hirz’s “Cross Cultural Greetings: Bahrain”
Link: YouTube: Younis A. Hamza Al-Hirz’s “Cross Cultural Greetings: Bahrain” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this brief video, which offers specific verbal and nonverbal insight into phatic or basic communication practices in Middle Eastern culture. Try to identify similarities and differences in what is suggested here and how you communicate in your own culture.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Plos One: Xiaoqin Mai, Yue Ge, Lin Tao, Honghong Tang, Chao Liu, and Yue-Jia Luo’s “Eyes Are Windows to the Chinese Soul: Evidence from the Detection of Real and Fake Smiles”
Link: Plos One: Xiaoqin Mai, Yue Ge, Lin Tao, Honghong Tang, Chao Liu, and Yue-Jia Luo’s “Eyes Are Windows to the Chinese Soul: Evidence from the Detection of Real and Fake Smiles” (HTML or PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this article. To download the PDF version of the article, click on the “PDF” link after “Download.” This research article explores how the eyes are an indicator of emotions for Chinese culture, whereas a smile or other facial expressions may be more indicative of emotion in other cultures.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: The article is published with a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License by Plos One, a peer reviewed, open-access journal.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Pacific Islands”
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4.1.4 Native American
- Lecture: YouTube: Indiana University of Pennsylvania: Dr. Richard Lamberski’s “‘We Have Survived’: A Native American Perspective in the 21st Century”
Link: YouTube: Indiana University of Pennsylvania: Dr. Richard Lamberski’s “‘We Have Survived’: A Native American Perspective in the 21st Century” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this lecture about Native American culture. This lecture is longer than the others in this course as it addresses the much broader topic of culture with insights into how communication is shaped by Native American cultural beliefs and values. Communication is addressed in terms of language and dance as well as the wide range of variables specific to Native American culture.
Watching this lecture and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Native Americans in the United States”
Link: Wikipedia’s “Native Americans in the United States” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article, which details the history of Native American people in the United States.
Reading this article should take approximately 3 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Lecture: Vimeo: The Gilder Lehrman Institute: Daniel Wildcat’s “Nature, Culture, and Native Americans”
Link: Vimeo: The Gilder Lehrman Institute: Daniel Wildcat’s “Nature, Culture, and Native Americans” (MP4)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this presentation by Daniel Wildcat, director of the American Indian Studies Program at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas. He addresses Native American culture and stereotypes.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Lecture: YouTube: Indiana University of Pennsylvania: Dr. Richard Lamberski’s “‘We Have Survived’: A Native American Perspective in the 21st Century”
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4.2 Cultures Adapting to the United States
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Immigration to the United States”
Link: Wikipedia’s “Immigration to the United States” (HTML)
Instruction: Please click on the link above and read this article, which details the complexities of immigration to the United States.
Reading this article should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Latina Communicator: Silvina Jover-Cirillo’s “A Southern Latina” and “The Power of Words”
Link: Latina Communicator: Silvina Jover-Cirillo’s “A Southern Latina” (HTML) and “The Power of Words” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the links above and read these blog posts by Silvina Jover-Cirillo, who writes about her adjustment as a Latino to living in America.
Reading these blog posts should take about 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Americana: Éva Eszter Szabó’s “The Clash of American Civilizations”
Link: Americana: Éva Eszter Szabó’s “The Clash of American Civilizations” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article by Éva Eszter Szabó, Assistant Professor at Eotvos Lorand University. This article explores the effects of Latino immigration in the United States.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Connexions: OpenStax College: “Pop Culture, Subculture, and Cultural Change”
Link: Connexions: OpenStax College: “Pop Culture, Subculture, and Cultural Change” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article, which addresses the challenges of learning both American culture and subculture. Challenge yourself with the brief quiz after the reading.
Reading this article and completing the assessment should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Integrative Communication Theory”
Link: Wikipedia’s “Integrative Communication Theory” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article on integrative communication theory, which addresses how others learn in a new culture.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Americana: Zoltán Kövesces’ “Studying American Culture through Its Metaphors”
Link: Americana: Zoltán Kövesces’ “Studying American Culture through Its Metaphors” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article. Professor Kövecses helps shed some light on the difficulties of adjusting to American culture by studying the culture through the use of metaphor.
Reading this article should take approximately 3 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Immigration to the United States”
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4.3 Unit 4 Discussion
- Activity: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
Link: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
Instructions: After reviewing the unit materials, please post and respond to the following topics on the course discussion board. Feel free to start your own related posts and respond to other students’ posts.
1. What did you learn about Native American culture that you did not know before this class? How is this culture similar or different from your own?
2. Which of these cultures would be the easiest for you to communicate with (aside from a culture which may be your own culture)? Why?
3. Which of these cultures would be the most challenging for you to communicate with? Why?
You should dedicate approximately 5 hours to posting and responding on the discussion board.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Activity: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
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Unit 5: Intercultural Communication Competence in the Workplace
Innovation has always played an important role in business. In today’s cultural climate, new ideas are springing from many different areas of the world, and it is becoming increasingly important that we are able to communicate with those who provide insights from a different cultural perspective. This unit looks specifically at the importance of intercultural communication competence in the workplace and how it functions in leadership, diversity, and inclusion. The unit also will address the critical element of leadership differences according to cultural norms.
Unit 5 Time Advisory show close
Unit 5 Learning Outcomes show close
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5.1 Intercultural Communication Competence in the Workplace
- Reading: Business Communication for Success: “Chapter 18: Intercultural and International Business Communication”
Link: Business Communication for Success: “Chapter 18: Intercultural and International Business Communication” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read chapter 18. In this chapter, the author discusses the basic concepts in intercultural communication and then moves on to business considerations. Some of the initial material will be a review. As you move through the chapter, work to apply what you know to the business principles that are addressed in the second half of the chapter.
Reading this chapter should take approximately 4 hours.
Terms of Use: The text was adapted by The Saylor Foundation under a CreativeCommons-Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License without attribution as requested by the work's original creator or licensee.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Brazilian Administration Review: Dr. Maria Tereza Leme Fleury’s “Organizational Culture and the Renewal of Competencies”
Link: Brazilian Administration Review: Dr. Maria Tereza Leme Fleury’s “Organizational Culture and the Renewal of Competencies” (HTML or PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article. This article addresses studies in Brazil which tackle the concept of organizational culture and intercultural beliefs. You may also download the PDF version by selecting “PDF in English” on the webpage.
Reading this article should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Kansas: The Community Toolbox: Tim Brownlee and Kien Lee’s “Building Culturally Competent Organizations”
Link: University of Kansas: The Community Toolbox: Tim Brownlee and Kien Lee’s “Building Culturally Competent Organizations” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article for an overview of what makes an organization “culturally competent” and how this may be achieved.
Reading this article should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Business Communication for Success: “Chapter 18: Intercultural and International Business Communication”
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5.2 Importance of Intercultural Communication in Business
- Reading: Community of Knowledge: Ines Kaps’ “Barriers in Intercultural Knowledge Sharing”
Link: Community of Knowledge: Ines Kaps’ “Barriers in Intercultural Knowledge Sharing” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article, which provides explanations and examples of how the concepts of intercultural communication competence play out in the business setting.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Berlitz Cultural Consulting: Matthew Hill’s “Cross Cultural Interactions – New Europe”
Link: YouTube: Berlitz Cultural Consulting: Matthew Hill’s “Cross Cultural Interactions – New Europe” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this entire webinar, featuring Matthew Hill of the cultural consulting group Berlitz. Matthew Hill takes a very unique and current look at intercultural communication as he addresses the “new” cultural practices and norms in Europe. This webinar will bring you up-to-date on how to communicate in Europe. Try to answer the questions posed by Hill in the webinar as these questions will help you assess your current level of understanding on European culture.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Community of Knowledge: Ines Kaps’ “Barriers in Intercultural Knowledge Sharing”
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5.3 Leadership Differences According to Culture
- Reading: Leading with Cultural Intelligence: “Chapter 1: Culturally Intelligent Leadership Matters”
Link: Leading with Cultural Intelligence: “Chapter 1: Culturally Intelligent Leadership Matters” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read chapter 1. The author is the founder and president of Leadership Paradigms, Inc., which was founded to provide consulting and training services in areas of intercultural communication and leadership. This chapter offers a very comprehensive insight into how culture interacts with leadership. This reading addresses culture in terms of values, beliefs, institutions, nationalities, and so forth. In the latter stages of the chapter, the author provides practical and useful comparisons between regions and their behavioral/leadership style differences.
Reading this chapter should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: The text was adapted by The Saylor Foundation under a CreativeCommons-Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License without attribution as requested by the work's original creator or licensee.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Leading with Cultural Intelligence: “Chapter 7: Cultural Intelligence in Action”
Link: Leading with Cultural Intelligence: “Chapter 7: Cultural Intelligence in Action” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read chapter 7. This chapter has several case studies of cultural intelligence that will require extra thought and attention.
Reading this chapter and reflecting on the case studies will take approximately 7 hours.
Terms of Use: The text was adapted by The Saylor Foundation under a CreativeCommons-Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License without attribution as requested by the work's original creator or licensee.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Kansas: The Community Toolbox: Kien Lee’s “Understanding Culture, Social Organization, and Leadership to Enhance Engagement”
Link: University of Kansas: The Community Toolbox: Kien Lee’s “Understanding Culture, Social Organization, and Leadership to Enhance Engagement” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article about understanding culture, social organization, and leadership in order to improve on communication.
Reading this article should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Leading with Cultural Intelligence: “Chapter 1: Culturally Intelligent Leadership Matters”
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5.4 Inclusion versus Diversity
- Lecture: Vimeo: StrategyDriven: Karen Juliano’s “What Is Diversity and Inclusion?”
Link: Vimeo: StrategyDriven: Karen Juliano’s “What Is Diversity and Inclusion?” (MP4)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this video, which explains the differences between diversity and inclusion and how they function in the organization and workplace.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Virginia Tech Digital Library and Archives: The Journal of Technology Studies: Dr. Robin Williams’ “Some Essentials of Diversity in the Workplace”
Link: Virginia Tech Digital Library and Archives: The Journal of Technology Studies: Dr. Robin Williams’ “Some Essentials of Diversity in the Workplace” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read this article to learn about the benefits of diversity in the workplace.
Reading this article should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Business Ethics Workshop: “Chapter 10: The Tense Office: Discrimination, Victimization, and Affirmative Action”
Link: The Business Ethics Workshop: “Chapter 10: The Tense Office: Discrimination, Victimization, and Affirmative Action” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read chapter 10 to learn about issues of discrimination in the workplace. Try to attempt the questions in each section of the chapter.
Reading this chapter and answering the questions should take approximately 3 hours.
Terms of Use: The text was adapted by The Saylor Foundation under a CreativeCommons-Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License without attribution as requested by the work's original creator or licensee.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Lecture: Vimeo: StrategyDriven: Karen Juliano’s “What Is Diversity and Inclusion?”
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5.5 Unit 5 Discussion
- Activity: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
Link: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
Instructions: After reviewing the unit materials, please post and respond to the following topics on the course discussion board. Feel free to start your own related posts and respond to other students’ posts.
1. What would be your greatest challenge in accepting a job in another culture?
2. Would you be interested in accepting a job in another culture? Why, or why not?
3. What are your thoughts on the ideas/opinions expressed in subunit 5.4, regarding diversity and inclusion?
4. Which case study in the Cultural Intelligence in Action reading was the most difficult to address? What made it so challenging?
You should dedicate approximately 5 hours to posting and responding on the discussion board.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Activity: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Course Discussion Board”
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Final Exam
- Final Exam: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Final Exam”
Link: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Final Exam”
Instructions: You must be logged into your Saylor Foundation School account in order to access this exam. If you do not yet have an account, you will be able to create one, free of charge, after clicking the link.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Final Exam: The Saylor Foundation’s “COMM311 Final Exam”
