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 - Introduction to Intercultural Communication
2 - Communication, culture, society - theoretical considerations and practical applications
3 - Cultural universals: focus on Hofstede's cultural dimensions
4 - Cultural universals: focus on Hall's dichotomies (high context/low context cultures; monochronic/polychronic cultures)
5 - Cultural universals: focus on Brown & Levinson's Politeness theory; politeness strategies
6 - Cultural universals: focus on Searl's Speech Act theory
7 - Non-verbal communication across cultures
8 - Intercultural communication in a globalised professional arena
9 - Negotiation and presentation skills for global professionals; intercultural training
10 - Professional communication: key skills & competences
11 - New trends in intercultural communication: the "success" approach
12 - Globalisation & multiculturalism
13 - 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
A. Wierzbicka , 2006 , English: meaning and culture. , Oxford: OUP
A. Wierzbicka , 2010 , Experience, evidence and sense: the hidden cultural legacy of English. , 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.
Holliday, Adrian, John Kullman and Martin Hyde , 2010 , Intercultural communication: an advanced resource book for students , London: Routledge
I. Kecskes , 2014 , Intercultural pragmatics , Oxford: OUP
Spencer-Oatey, Helen (ed.) , 2008 , Culturally speaking: culture, communication and politeness theory , London: Continuum
R. Steers, L. Nardon and C. J. Sanchez-Runde , 2018 , Management across cultures: developing global competences , Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
A. Molinsky , 2013 , Global dexterity: how to adapt your behavior across cultures without losing yourself in the process , Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard Business Review Press
H. Spencer-Oatey, P. Franklin and D. Lazidou , 2022 , Global fitness for global people: how to manage and leverage cultural diversity at work , London: Casteldown

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%).