2018/19 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ODFL1100 An Introduction to Thinking Interculturally

10 creditsClass Size: 120

Module manager: Dr. Haynes Collins
Email: h.collins@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

Pre-requisite qualifications

English language reading, listening, and writing skills

This module is mutually exclusive with

MODL1161	An Introduction to Thinking Interculturally
MODL3150	Intercultural Communication and Global Citizenship: A Critic

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

In a world which is rife with conflict, intercultural understanding offers potential for developing greater social justice and cooperation between diverse groups of people. However, the concept of interculturality is also problematic and can be used in ways which have the potential to cause harm. This program will promote a reflective and critical approach to interculturality by considering it with respect to current issues and events. Given that the notion of interculturality is very broad, this program is organised around five key themes that will include case studies and engagement with everyday life events spanning from personal examples of miscommunication and potential conflict to larger discourses that we face. If you are interested in developing a global perspective and an inquisitive and critical mindset, then this program can help you achieve those objectives.

Objectives

This FutureLearn program provides students with an introduction to five key areas: exploring the notion of culture and interculturality; intercultural contact; language and culture; borders and mobilities; digital interculturality and multimodality. This program will take a critical, historical and interdisciplinary approach to intercultural studies and intercultural communication to develop students’ knowledge of these fields, communicative skills, open attitudes and greater awareness of global complexity. The program will introduce key theories which underpin intercultural studies and intercultural communication in areas such as international business, politics, language and translation, and popular and media discourse. Students will be encouraged to apply a range theories to analyse case studies and incidents in daily life.
Some key questions addressed include:
Course 1: To what extent are culture and the intercultural problematic concepts? How has the field of intercultural communication developed historically? To what extent can the notion of interculturality be a positive force for social justice?
Course 2: How is the notion of intercultural contact best understood? What is the relationship between nationality and culture? What is a small culture?
Course 3: Are language and culture synonymous? How is the notion of culture relevant to language and translation? How and why are languages disappearing?
Course 4: What challenges do sojourners and migrants face as they move across national borders? Are these equal for all? What challenges do international students face studying abroad?
Course 5: How does the notion of culture influence marketing and advertising? What is the role of localisation in international business?

Learning outcomes
On completion of this program, students will develop:
• the necessary knowledge, skills, attitude and awareness to be able to operate more effectively and critically in a complex world.
• the ability to critically engage with the concept of interculturality and culture and how these concepts are used discursively in various representations including border studies, language, international business and political discourse;
• the ability to identify dimensions of culture and demonstrate an understanding of their own orientation towards each of these dimensions;
• an awareness of the need for a critical approach to making predictive outcomes based on cultural orientation;
• the ability to analyse incidents of possible intercultural conflict, to reflect critically on their specific causes and to suggest solutions to conflict;

Syllabus

The program consists of online (web based) material: written and filmed case studies, audio clips and internet tools.
Syllabus: The program will be made up of five areas with an accompanying introduction/conclusion:
a) Introduction: covers the scope of the module and offers a brief summary and overview.
b) Exploring the notion of culture and interculturality: An overview
c) Intercultural contact: rich points, critical incidents and ‘the grammar of culture’
d) Language & culture: politeness theory, identity and linguistic diversity
e) Borders and mobilities: immigrants, refugees and sojourners
f) Digital interculturality: advertising & marketing and localisation.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
On-line Learning	5	1.00	5.00
Independent Learning	40	1.00	40.00
Class tests, exams and assessment	5	1.00	5.00
Private study hours			50.00
Total Contact hours			50.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Independent Online Learning:
The program has a series of high quality digital assets presented as courses on the FutureLearn platform. Each course runs for 2 weeks and has a synchronous question and answer session and in class test (listed in table above). Engagement with the digital assets; videos, podcasts and activities will take 4 hours a week.
Private study:
Additional resources are allocated to the 5 topics/courses. Students will be expected to research the topics and prepare for the assessments. A total of 50 hours has been allocated to student engagement with these resources and preparation for the 4 pieces of coursework; two formative and two summative.
Online tests will be used as assessment for learning throughout the program.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- MCQs at the end of each topic will be used to monitor student progress and understanding. Five hours has been allocated to this activity.
- Student progress will also be monitored in the online learning formal classes and through contribution to discussion boards.
- Self assessment, against a model answer, and peer assessment will provide formative feedback before the final assessment is submitted.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1500 word essay	85.00
Essay	Self-assessed assignment	0.00
Essay	Peer-assessed assignment	0.00
In-course MCQ	MCQ at the end of each topic	0.00
Reflective log	Reflection on formative assessment process (300 words)	15.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Students will have two opportunities to practice report writing through formative self- and peer-assessed written assignments. The reflective log will be based on their experience of the self and peer assessment processes.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 29/09/2017

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