SPCH 230 Intercultural Communication
Spring 2008 Course Syllabus
Item 1899 Section B
Meeting Times & Locations: M-F 9:30-10:20 in R211
Instructor:
Course Materials: http://bellevuecollege.edu
(Log into MyBcc)
Required Text: Communication Between Cultures by Larry A. Samovar, Richard
E. Porter, & Edwin R. McDaniel, 6th Edition
Course Goals:
This course
aims to increase student intercultural competence by examining the effects of
culture on both the communication process and individual. Students taking this course will explore: communication and culture, intercultural
messages, the role of context in intercultural communication, how culture
affects one’s identity, how culture influences communication style, language,
and non-verbal communication, and how to improve their own intercultural competence.
The
following learning outcomes will be attained upon completion of this course:
1. explain how environmental
factors affect and make cultures different,
2. explain
how cultural variables influence intercultural competency in an oral
communication context,
3. explain
why appropriateness and effectiveness are critical in constructing oral
intercultural messages,
4. explain
how individualism and collectivism affect the oral communication in an
intercultural communication context,
5. demonstrate
how Hofstede’s Cross-cultural Orientation model affects status oriented and
person oriented oral communication styles,
6. define
prejudice and discrimination. Provide examples to demonstrate your
competence in applying the concepts,
7. apply
the E.T. Hall’s Context of Meaning Model to explain high and low context and
direct and indirect oral communication styles.
Format:
You will be
engaged in activities and discussions designed to aid your understanding of the
concepts explored in this class. This
course also includes a group project.
Lectures by the instructor will be kept to a minimum. Given this format, students need to commit to
being active participants in this class.
In addition, this area of study contains complex theories and difficult
social science jargon. I will do my best
to assist you, but a college reading level and college writing level in English
is needed to succeed in this course.
Required Assignments:
Class
Participation 200 Points
Attendance 100 Points
Group
Project - Presentation & Individual
Performance 200 Points
Group
Project Outline & Bibliography 100
Points
Cultural
Identity Analysis Paper (6 – 10 pages) 100 Points
Exams (3) 300
Points
Tracking
My Grade…
|
ASSIGNMENT |
MY GRADE
ON THIS ASSIGNMENT |
|
Group
Project Outline & Bibliography |
|
|
Group
Project (presentation portion |
|
|
Cultural
Identity Analysis Paper |
|
|
Exam 1 |
|
|
Exam 2 |
|
|
Exam 3 |
|
|
Absences
(List the dates of all absences.) |
|
Directions: Add all assignment scores. This is the total number of points achieved
in the class out of 600. Note…Class participation, attendance,
and individual performance in the group project (i.e. the remaining 400 points)
will be evaluated by the instructor and added in to the final grade
calculation.
Please note: Specific guidelines and details
regarding all assignments will
be available on MyBCC.
Assignment Descriptions (Condensed):
Class
Participation (200 Points): Students will be evaluated on
the quality and substance of their contributions to class discussions. Students are expected to come to class
prepared, having read all required reading assignments for that meeting;
bringing to each class meeting the course textbook; ready to share relevant and
constructive information with the class.
With regard to their overall course grade, students will be evaluated on
their constructive, meaningful and substantive participation in class
discussions of course material. Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, blackberries
(and the like), ipods (and the like) etc. before class begins.
Attendance
(100 Points): This
course utilizes the Arts and Humanities policy on attendance. Students are required to attend all
class meetings. More than three unexcused absences will
result in a reduction in points for class attendance. Students who miss 10 or more classes will
fail the course. See
http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/Artshum/policy/html for more information. Students are expected to come to class on
time. Arriving late to class or
leaving early is disruptive and inconsiderate to those who are on time. Chronic tardiness will result in a reduction
in points for class participation.
If a
student misses a class he/she is responsible for any material covered in
class during his/her absence.
Exams (3
@ 100 points each): There will be a total of three exams worth
100 Points each. Each exam will consist
of multiple choice and true and false questions. AScantron form, available at the campus
bookstore, is required for each exam.
Prior to each exam, an exam review will be posted on MyBCC.
Cultural
Identity Paper (100 Points): Students will write a Cultural Identity paper exploring their cultural
identities and practices. The paper must
be typed, double-spaced in size 12 Times New Roman font (or similar) with 1”
(one inch) margins. Detailed
instructions for the paper will be made available on MyBCC.
Group
Project (200 Points): Students will be assigned to a small
group. Each group will choose a culture
to explore from a list provided by the instructor. The goal of this assignment is for each group
to enlighten the class regarding their chosen culture’s: worldview, cultural patterns, values
and practices in a presentation before the class. Students will be given adequate time to meet
in class or online in order to complete this project. The entire project grade consists of three
parts: group performance and
effectiveness on the presentation (100 pts.), student attendance at group
meetings and the student’s contribution to his/her group (100 pts.). Presentations will be begin the 9th
week of the quarter. More details
regarding this assignment will be posted on MyBCC
on a later date.
Note: Students who contribute little or
inadequately to their group project (or group meetings) can be voted out of
their group at any time during the quarter.
If a student is voted out of his/her group, he/she will research and
write a 15 page research paper on an Intercultural Communication topic of the
instructor’s choice. The research paper
will have a minimum of 15 cited journal sources and a comprehensive
bibliography. The student will present
his/her paper and findings to the class in a 30 to 45 minute presentation.
Group
Project Outline & Bibliography (100 Points): Each
group will hand in a formal, typed outline of their group project with an
attached Bibliography containing credible sources.
Grading Scale:
A = 940 – 1000 A - =
900 - 939
B+ = 860 – 899 B =
830 – 859 B
- = 800 – 829
C+ = 760 – 799 C =
730 – 759 C
- = 700 – 729
D+ = 660 – 699 D =
600 – 659
F = 0 – 599
Expectations and Policies:
This course combines
classroom and online learning. Computer
use is required.
How to succeed in this class…
Success in this class is
dependent on:
1. your motivation and desire to explore and learn,
2. keeping up with the assigned readings by the due
dates,
3. your ability to read and write in English at the
college level,
4. the ability to learn from written materials,
5. meeting the attendance policy and contributing in a
relevant and constructive manner to class discussions,
6. self-discipline to focus, set goals, and complete
assignments on time.
Student Conduct…
The division policy on
classroom conduct applies to this course.
Plagiarism
and cheating are serious offenses. The
division’s policies on plagiarism and cheating are clear. Students caught plagiarizing papers or
projects or cheating on exams will receive an “F” (0 points) for the assignment
and will be reported to the Dean of Student Programs and Services. See
http://www.bcc.ctc.edu/Artshum/policy/html for more information.
Assignments
are due on the designated due dates by the end of the class meeting time. Late
work will not be accepted by the instructor unless prior arrangements have been made (that is, before the due
date).
In order to receive credit
for this course, students must complete all the assignments and examinations as
well as meet the attendance requirement.
Essential
to a liberal arts education is an open-minded tolerance for ideas and modes of
expression which might conflict with one’s personal values. By being exposed to such ideas or
expressions, students are not expected to endorse or adopt them but rather to
understand that they are part of the free flow of information upon which higher
education depends.
To this
end, you may find that class requirements may include engaging certain
materials, such as books, films, and art work, which may, in whole or in part,
offend you. These materials are
equivalent to required texts and are essential to the course content. If you decline to engage the required
material by not reading, viewing, or performing material you consider
offensive, you will still be required to meet class requirements in order to
earn credit for this class. This may
require responding to the content of the material, and you may not be able to
fully participate in required class discussions, exams, or assignments.
The
college's "Affirmation of Inclusion” is posted in each classroom and sets
forth the expectation that we will all treat one another with respect and
dignity regardless of whether or not we agree philosophically.
This expectation is in line with the principle of free speech in a free
society: we have the right to express unpopular ideas as long as we don't
show disrespect for reasonable people who might believe otherwise. In this
course, you will be expressing ideas in the classroom. As such, these
expectations also refer to the courtesy with which you communicate with one
another.
Part of this respect involves professional behavior toward
the instructor, colleagues, and the class itself. Disruptive behavior is
disrespectful behavior. The Arts and Humanities Division honors the right
of its faculty to define "disruptive behavior," which often involves
such things as arriving late, leaving early, leaving class and then returning,
talking while others are trying to hear the instructor or their group members,
doing other homework in class, wearing earphones in class, bringing activated
beepers, alarm watches, or cellular phones into class, inappropriate comments
or gestures, etc. ‘Flaming’ anyone in the class is also considered
disruptive behavior. Such behavior interrupts the educational
process. When you are in doubt about any behavior, consult your instructor
during office hours as the judgment of the instructor is the final authority in
these matters.
Some Suggestions for Expressing
Yourself Respectfully:
One way to express a disagreement tactfully is to couch your comment as a
question: "Do you think we should
consider...?" Another way is to use tentative language: "But I wonder if we couldn't look at
it from another angle..." These kinds of comments invite others to
join the discussion and give their ideas. Remember—our purpose is to generate
ideas, not to win verbal battles.
Furthermore, it is not appropriate to be disrespectful in anyway. Part of your success in this class is from
your developed skill of dealing with people who are different than you. The difference may be in worldview, beliefs,
and values. We will respect one another
in all of these ways.
Students with disability and/or Special Needs:
If you
require accommodation based on a documented disability, have emergency medical
information to share, or need special arrangements in case of emergency
evacuation, please see me as soon as possible.
Students with disabilities who have accommodation needs are required to
meet with the Director of Disability Resource Services (B132) to establish
their eligibility for accommodation.
Disability Resource Services is in B132, and can be reached by phone at
425.564.2498 or TTY 425.564.4110.
Students are encouraged to review their accommodation needs with each
instructor during the first week of the quarter.
If you have
any mobility issues, please come talk to me.
Students
who need extra help in college writing should go to the BCC Writing Lab located
in D204 for assistance.
Students
who need access to a computer can utilize computers in the BCC Computer Lab
located in the N building.
Communication is key!
Please come talk to me if you have any concerns or issues.
The following quotes illustrate my teaching philosophy:
If I am walking with two other men,
each of them will serve as my teacher. I
will pick out the good points of the one and imitate them, and the bad points
of the other and correct them in myself. - Confucius
What we have to learn to do, we
learn by doing. – Aristotle
The wise teacher does not bid you
enter the house of wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own
mind. – Kahlil Gibran