LSMIC: Intercultural Communication

Module code: LSMIC

Module provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Erhan Aslan, email: erhan.aslan@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module explores how people of different discourse systems or nationalities communicate with one another in various face-to-face and digitally mediated contexts. Students will discuss how assumptions and values that have been constructed or adopted within a specific culture group influence the ways in which people successfully communicate with each other as well as experience miscommunication. The module will equip students with a range of theoretical and methodological tools such as discourse and conversation analysis that will enable them to analyse and reflect critically on their own as well as others’ intercultural communication encounters. This highly practical module will prepare students for diverse corporate or academic workplace settings as well as improving their interpersonal communication skills and intercultural communication competence and development. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Describe different theories in intercultural communication and spoken discourse as well as methods used in language analysis such as discourse analysis and conversation analysis; 
2. Analyse authentic texts, conversations and social behaviours in various face-to-face and/or virtual professional contexts using knowledge of relevant theories in intercultural communication; 
3. Discuss the impact of intercultural communication on globalisation, interpersonal relationships in different contexts, ideology and identity construction across communities and social networks; 
4. Differentiate between face-to-face and online communication patterns in intercultural exchanges in both personal and professional encounters. 

Module content

Material covered: sources of miscommunication; technology-mediated communication; face systems; speech acts; conversational styles; discourse systems; power; (in)directness; politeness; appropriateness; theories; discourse analysis; conversation analysis; globalisation; interpersonal relationships; professional communication; identity and ideology. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module consists of interactive lectures and seminar sessions. It will rely heavily on class interaction and the active participation of class members in discussions and activities. Lecture and seminar activities in class will give you several opportunities to understand key concepts in intercultural communication and make links between theory and practical situations. Given the interactive nature of the module format, class participation and regular attendance of all class members are essential to fully benefit from this course. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Students will receive on-going feedback from the instructor and from other students in the form of comments during class and online discussions. There will also be in-class and/or online tasks which will formatively assess learned knowledge and skills. 

Reassessment

Additional costs