Overall objectives:

1 - The course, specifically designed for the students taking the CCO degree, aims to support the development of students? communicative skills and intercultural competence necessary to effectively operate in a globalized professional arena. On successful completion of the course the students will be able to:
1.1 - Demonstrate specialist knowledge (at an introductory level) of relevant aspects of intercultural and interactional pragmatics;
1.2 - Interact confidently, sensitively and effectively with a variety of audiences in a globalized professional arena;
1.3 - Become reflective learners, capable of monitoring and managing progress in their own intercultural journey, both personal and professional.

Syllabus:

1 - 1) Introduction to Intercultural Communication
2 - 2) Communication, culture, society ? theoretical considerations and practical applications
3 - 3) Cultural universals: focus on Hofstede?s cultural dimensions
4 - 4) Cultural universals: focus on Hall?s dichotomies (high context/low context cultures; monochronic/polychronic cultures)
5 - 5) Cultural universals: focus on Brown & Levinson?s Politeness theory; politeness strategies
6 - 6) Cultural universals: focus on Searl?s Speech Act theory
7 - 7) Non-verbal communication across cultures
8 - 8) Intercultural communication in a globalised professional arena
9 - 9) Negotiation and presentation skills for global professionals; intercultural training
10 - 10) Professional communication: key skills & competences
11 - 11) New trends in intercultural communication: the ?success? approach
12 - 12) Globalisation & multiculturalism
13 - 14) Topic(s) chosen by students

Literature/Sources:

A. Holliday, J. Kullman, M. Hyde (2010) , 2010 , Intercultural communication: an advanced resource book for students. , London: Routledge
I. Kecskes , 2014 , Intercultural pragmatics , Oxford: OUP
H. Kotthoff, H. Spencer-Oatey (eds.) , 2007 , Handbook of intercultural communication. , Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter
H. Spencer-Oatey (ed.) , 2008 , Culturally speaking: culture, communication and politeness theory. , London: Continuum.
A. Wierzbicka , 2006 , English: meaning and culture. , Oxford: OUP
A. Wierzbicka , 2010 , Experience, evidence and sense: the hidden cultural legacy of English. , Oxford: OUP
Holliday, Adrian, John Kullman and Martin Hyde , 2010 , Intercultural communication: an advanced resource book for students , London: Routledge
Spencer-Oatey, Helen (ed.) , 2008 , Culturally speaking: culture, communication and politeness theory , London: Continuum

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
The course is delivered in weekly interactive lectures and student-led seminars. Interactive lectures introduce a new concept/topic and contextualise it within the relevant scholarly terms, using appropriate virtual learning platforms. Student-led seminars provide the students with an arena in which they can become ?creators? of their own knowledge, expand on their understanding of the chosen concept/topic, share it and discuss further with their peers. There are 2 parts to the assessment (type A): 1) Group presentation (groups of 2-3; up to 15 min long), marked individually: the task is to design and present a short intercultural training programme commissioned by an imaginary international corporate client intending to set up their business in Madeira (40%); 2) Reflection: A short report (up to 500 words) reflecting on (i) the learning experience of the course and (ii) (30%) group work experience (preparations for the group presentation) (30%).