CMCL-C 427: Cross-Cultural Communication ( online) Fall 2015 Dr. Natalia Rybas Indiana University East TEXTBOOK:

Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2012). Intercultural communication in contexts (6th ed.). New

York, NY: McGraw‐Hill. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND LEARNING OUTCOMES: In this course, you will heighten you cultural awareness and intercultural communication competence. We will explore the notions of culture, identity, difference, history, and power. Our discussions will focus on the reasons to study intercultural or cross‐‐‐cultural communication, the popular culture representations of intercultural contact, and ways to develop intercultural communication competence. By the end of the course students should be able to: 1. Apply communication theories related to cultural communication in academic, personal, and professional contexts. 2. Identify and explain one’s own worldview and that of others as the views influence and emerge in situations. 3. Plan supportive behavior that recognizes the feelings and experience of other cultural groups. COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Discussions: There will be 3 types of discussions:

Synchronous – discuss suggested prompts with 1 partner via phone or video conference. Submit a report at the end of the week.

Asynchronous text-based – discuss suggested prompts in a group by composing forum posts and responding to the posts of others.

Asynchronous VoiceThread discussions - discuss suggested prompts by composing multimedia statements and responses in VoiceThread. Each discussion activity is 25 pts. (175pts total) Media representation project: Discuss culture represented in popular movies. Specific titles will be suggested. Watch a movie, summarize an episode, and analyze the episode based on the theories and concepts we have studied. Each student in the group will have to work with 1 movie. (60pts) Cultural space project: Examine cultural patterns of communication in a cultural space. Your examination should focus on verbal and nonverbal, relational or other patterns of communication. The project will be based on photoethnography and will result in a 6‐8 minute multimedia presentation and a discussion. (150pts) Quizzes and final exam: The quizzes and exam will include 3 types of questions: true‐false questions with rationale, multiple choice with possible multiple correct responses, and short essay questions. Quizzes are 20 pts, and the exam is 60pts. (160pts total)

Field trip: Visit and tour a place or attend an event that has a cultural significance for the people living in your area of residence (for example, historical or cultural museums or local festivals or celebrations). A reflective report is due at the end of the course. (40pts) TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

Week Topic Texts Assignments due 1 Introduction to the

course and the

Syllabus Asynchronous text‐‐based discussion

2 What is communication and culture? Why study them?

Chapters 1 & 3 Quiz for ch 1 & 3 Sign up for cultural representation project Propose a field trip

3 Asynchronous VoiceThread discussion Propose a cultural space to study

4 How can we study intercultural communication?

Chapters 2 & 3 (excerpts), 4 (excerpts)

Quiz for ch 2, 3, & 4

5 Asynchronous VoiceThread discussion

6 Identity Chapter 5 Quiz for Ch 5 7 Synchronous discussion 8 How does culture

emerge in or influence verbal and nonverbal communication?

Chapters 6&7 Cultural Space project: Photoethnography is due Quiz for ch 6&7

9 Asynchronous VoiceThread discussion 10 Media

representation project

Presentations and discussions Cultural space project outlines due

11 How do we practice intercultural communication?

Chapters 8, 10, & 11 (in groups by choice)

Quiz for ch 8, 10, & 11

12 Synchronous discussion

13 Cultural space project

Presentations and discussions

14 When is intercultural communication effective?

Chapter 12 Field Trip report is due Asynchronous VoiceThread discussion

15 Final Exam due