A2BK_VMKA Inquiries in Intercultural Communication A

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2011
Extent and Intensity
0/0/24. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Michael George, M.A. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Irena Přibylová, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Timetable of Seminar Groups
A2BK_VMKA/OS01: Fri 23. 9. 15:10–16:40 učebna 59, Fri 7. 10. 15:10–16:40 učebna 59, Fri 4. 11. 15:10–16:40 učebna 59, Fri 18. 11. 15:10–16:40 učebna 59, Fri 2. 12. 15:10–16:40 učebna 59, Fri 16. 12. 15:10–16:40 učebna 59, M. George
A2BK_VMKA/01: each odd Monday 17:05–18:45 učebna 6, M. George
Prerequisites (in Czech)
A2BP_SOZK Complex Exam || A2BK_SOZK Complex Exam
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This is not a class in American or British studies, but rather a course in cultural fluency with the emphasis on the difference in social and cultural patterns between the Czech Republic and English speaking lands. American And British History are prerequisites, and the course must be followed by the continuing second half in the summer semester in which students will research, organize and present a class of their own on some aspect of inter-cultural differences. In the winter semester, classes will meet for two hours every week and will be organized as traditional seminars in which students are assigned texts on a given subject and come to class prepared to discuss it in open conversation around the seminar table.
The aim of the class is to: 1) provide teachers of English with the cultural background necessary for language teaching; 2) give students the opportunity to speak in group situations and provide each individual the material, supervision and support to lead an hour's interactive class presentation; and 3) provide a cultural perspective that could mitigate the culture shock awaiting those students who will study abroad.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction and organization
  • 2. Migration, integration and the changing world
  • 3. Culture shock and expectations
  • 4. What's normal? - for example Czechs and Americans
  • 5. Culture, values and language
  • 6. Cross cultural dialogs
  • 7. High/low context cultures
  • 8. Symbol, gesture and body language
  • 9. Cultural fluency
  • 10. Culture in language teaching
  • 11. Methodology for presentations
  • 12. Conclusion and evaluation
Literature
  • PETERSON, Brooks. cultural Intelligence. Intercultural Press, 2004. info
  • SHULMAN, Myra. Cultures in Contrast. University of Michigan Press, 1998. info
  • NOLLEN, Tim. Culture Shock. London: Kuperard, 1997. ISBN 1-85733-190-7. info
  • MACIONIS, John and Nijole BENOKRAITIS. Seeing Ourselves. Prentice Hall, 1995. info
Teaching methods
Classes are organized as traditional "round table" discussion seminars in which students are assigned texts on a given subject, asked to find an example of such cultural behavior in "real life", and come to class prepared to discuss it in open conversation around the seminar table.
Assessment methods
class preparation, attendance - 85% and full participation in disucssion; research for presentation to be given in the following semester.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 24 hodin.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, autumn 2020, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2011, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/autumn2011/A2BK_VMKA