Intercultural Communication

Full course description

Intercultural communication skills are crucial in today’s every changing world. As we encounter the challenges of globalized business and rapid cross cultural communication in our daily lives, these skills will enable us to maximize exchanges in a global setting and address diversity from an intercultural perspective. In order to ensure personal and professional successes, it is essential that we endeavor to study models in intercultural communication theory. Furthermore, to develop the skills to translate this knowledge into practical application relevant to education, business, training and research will give us the competitive edge in the global marketplace.

The course, ICC2001 Intercultural Communication, provides a fundamental introduction to Intercultural Communication. We will examine the following key concepts: culture, race, gender, ethnicity, stereotypes, values, expectations and assumptions. By focusing on applied outcomes of intercultural communication theory, the course leads students to acquire intercultural competences for their professional and personal life. Students will learn interpretative strategies in intercultural communication concepts that allow them to become culturally intelligent. They will acquire tools that will enable them to avoid attribution errors when communicating across cultures.  Students will participate in interactive exercises to practice their intercultural competences.

A field trip in the local area will also be a part of the course.

General disclaimer: on-campus education and activities, as well as trips and visits related to the course are conditional. E.g. (Dutch) travel advice should be positive regarding the region that will be visited and institutions should be able to accept visitors. In case a proposed activity, trip or visit cannot continue due to circumstances, (online) alternatives may be organized.