A2BP_VMKA Inquiries in Intercultural Communication A

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Ailsa Marion Randall, M.A. (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Jana Zerzová, M.A., Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lucie Podroužková, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Supplier department: Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Timetable of Seminar Groups
A2BP_VMKA/Kombi01: Fri 17. 9. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, Fri 1. 10. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, Fri 15. 10. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, Fri 5. 11. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, Fri 19. 11. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, Fri 3. 12. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, J. Zerzová
A2BP_VMKA/Kombi02: Fri 24. 9. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, Fri 8. 10. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, Fri 22. 10. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, Fri 12. 11. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, Fri 26. 11. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, Fri 10. 12. 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, J. Zerzová
A2BP_VMKA/Kombi03: Fri 17. 9. 16:00–17:50 učebna 11, Fri 1. 10. 16:00–17:50 učebna 11, Fri 15. 10. 16:00–17:50 učebna 11, Fri 5. 11. 16:00–17:50 učebna 11, Fri 19. 11. 16:00–17:50 učebna 11, Fri 3. 12. 16:00–17:50 učebna 11, J. Zerzová
A2BP_VMKA/Prez01: Thu 23. 9. to Thu 16. 12. Thu 18:00–19:50 učebna 53, A. Randall
A2BP_VMKA/Prez02: Wed 22. 9. to Wed 15. 12. Wed 16:00–17:50 učebna 53, A. Randall
A2BP_VMKA/Prez03: Tue 21. 9. to Tue 14. 12. Tue 16:00–17:50 učebna 78, J. Zerzová
A2BP_VMKA/Prez04: Tue 21. 9. to Tue 14. 12. Tue 18:00–19:50 učebna 78, J. Zerzová
Prerequisites (in Czech)
SOUHLAS
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 (future and current) teachers of English with the awareness of culture and cultural differences necessary for effective language teaching in the 21st century; to support them in designing and developing culturally relevant lesson plans for their own classrooms; and to provide each individual the material, supervision and support to integrate culture into their English 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) demonstrate a cultural perspective that could mitigate the culture shock awaiting those students who will study abroad.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course, the student will: be more aware of the cultural differences between people from different countries and how to react to them be able to analyse the reasons behind failure in communication be ready to face culture shock in another country be able to create a presentation based on culture for students of English
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
1. Attendance and participation in class (15%):
This is a seminar, not the sort of class you can study at home if you miss class. You must be present if you expect to learn anything, and for that reason, it's important that you are here every meeting. You will be allowed only 2 absences each term. Three or more absences will mean loss of this portion of the credit, or in extreme and unavoidable circumstances, additional work. You will be expected to come to the classes having read all the material provided on Moodlinka. This will be checked.
2. Leading a learning centre (45%):
The major credit work will be in the form of a 30-minute presentation on culture in which your classmates will become your students as you demonstrate your ideas on the cross-cultural concepts we will be dealing with this semester. Your activities for your learning centre will be based on the reading for the respective week and no less than 5 other different sources on the topic. Your centre must be interactive - take the form of asking questions and involving your classmates, in short, leading and directing class discussion about your topic. Also, I expect you to be expert enough that you can answer questions on your subject as it relates to other topics throughout the year. You are welcome to use any tools you find suitable for your learning centre (videos, texts, various online tools). If you need the students to go through some materials before your presentation, write into the respective Moodlinka forum, please, one week before your presentation.
This should help you prepare your classmates to come to your class with enough basic knowledge that they can discuss the subject intelligently and profit from your more detailed presentation.
You should provide your classmates with copies of your lesson plan and any texts or material you have used. Also, include a complete list of print and/or electronic sources you used to research and prepare your learning centre. Your lesson plan will be uploaded into our Moodlinka course.
3. Options:
There are 4 options and you should complete two of them to get the credit. They are each worth a maximum of 15 points.
A: Lead one more learning centre during the semester.
B: Interview a foreigner in Brno (or online) on one (or more) of the topics we cover in class, analyze and present the interview in class.
C: Moderate a forum for one week.
D: Write in all of the forums.
You must complete the compulsory parts and 2 options and get at least 70 points overall to pass the course.
Assessment methods
1. Attendance and participation in class (15%)
2. Leading a learning centre (45%)
3. Options: There are 4 options and you should complete two of them to get the credit. They are each worth a maximum of 15 points.
You must complete the compulsory parts and 2 options and get at least 70 points overall to pass the course.
Language of instruction
English
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, autumn 2020.
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