Business intercultural communication

Published: Thursday, 06 August 2015 09:41

Business Intercultural Communication is an optional course read at master’s level taught within the course in Linguistics and Intercultural Communication.

The aim of this course is to introduce the fundamental principles and issues of intercultural communication from an interdisciplinary perspective as well as to develop perception and appreciation of different cultural perspectives and values.

Course structure:

The total working intensiveness is 72 academic hours including class work (seminars) - 16 hours, self-instruction work – 56 hours, revision before an exam – (0 hours).  ECTS equals 2. At the end of the course the students are to take a credit course test.

Course description:

The Course helps obtain a broad understanding of  business intercultural communication as a unique area that merges specific knowledge and practical skills, that are highly relevant to the business sphere and help reach a higher level of proficiency in chosen occupation.

When doing this course, the students receive knowledge and skills that will come in handy with text analysis and discourse studies.

While mastering the academic discipline Business Intercultural Communication students get to know the basic notions of ethical and moral standards accepted in a foreign culture, ways of effective intercultural everyday and professional communication.

Students also study and analyze common European framework of reference and learn to use it when creating study programs or study guides.  Besides, the students are taught to describe the way the present day language system is developing which helps them apply the acquired skills to the related spheres in a creative way.

Previous studies required:

To cover this discipline, the students are required to have knowledge and skills, obtained while studying basics of communication, pragmatic linguistics as well as the theory of intercultural communication.

Course outcomes:

On completion of the course the students will be able to

• understand how culture affects communication;
• identify barriers to effective cross cultural communication;
• improve their language speaking skills;
• understand the importance of verbal and non-verbal behaviour when communicating across cultures;
• use their communication skills to engage and interact successfully with representatives of other culture.

Learning methods: IT methods, case studies, cross cultural negotiation and dispute resolution.