Sylabus
1. Introduction Developing communicative competences - what does it mean - what is it about? - Awareness of cultural differences - The concept of "Culture as mental programming" (G. Hofstede)
2. “Cultural Values Map of Europe” - Video Presentation of one´s own country and culture
3. National cultural values in comparison Video presentations
4. Developing cultural and communicative sensitivity: The concept of "Cultural Standards" (A. Thomas)
5. Culturally determined behavior in different situations: Alexander Thomas´ “Cultural Standards” Hofstede´s Five Basic Problems of Society
6. Hofstede´s cultural dimensions: I Presentations in plenary
7. Hofstede´s cultural dimensions: II Presentations in plenary
8. Midterm test Awareness exercises I Case studies: Analysis and Discussion
9. Developing communicative competences Role-Playing
10. Developing communicative competences Awareness exercises II Case studies: Analysis and Discussion
11. Developing communicative competences Discussions in multi-national teams
12. Debriefing Repetition
Anotace
The seminar takes place online via google meet. If the pandemic situation permits, the last two or three sessions take place in person.
The seminar focuses on acquiring and developing intercultural communication competences. By improving our cultural sensitivity we will develop an attitude that sees diversity as an opportunity rather than a danger. We try to analyze and understand our cultural and communicative specific behavior, search for and explain cultural differences.
In the second part students get acquainted with Geert Hofstede´s concept of "Cultural dimensions". Students present central aspects of this concept in form of group-presentations (powerpoint). The presentations serve as a basis for further discussion in class.
In the third part we develop a more conscious communicative behavior by means of discussing "case studies", teamwork and role-playings. It will be asked, what we should change in our "normal" communicative behavior in order to succeed in intercultural communication situations.