Intercultural Communication: Dimensions of Culture (6 cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

Upon successful completion of the course participants will be prepared for tasks in a multicultural environment. They will have an understanding of the complex and pervasive nature of culture; and of cultural differences as described in the Cultural Dimensions models of Geert Hofstede and Fons Trompenaars. They should also understand the challenges which refugees, immigrants and their host societies face in adapting to each other.

Methods of completion

Lectures 30 h, multicultural team work and written assignment.

Methods of completion

Active participation in lectures and lecture journal, completion of team work assignment with partners of a different cultural background.

Content

The course is helpful for anyone aiming at working in a multicultural environment (for example, but not exclusively, social sciences, education and political sciences). It includes: approaches to intercultural communication; definitions of culture; culture acquisition as socialization; culture as a set of responses to environmental factors; the workings of human perception; the culture dimensions models of Geert Hofstede and Fons Trompenaars; the limits of culture learning as an approach of intercultural communication.

Teaching methods

Teaching profile: F2F