People that are sent abroad for international assignments are called expatriates. In her article, Sini Konivuori describes the expatriate assignment cycle. What elements make the adaptation process of an expatriate different from someone who moves abroad to work for an undefined period of time?
Guidelines for writing the assignments
Theme 1: WHAT IS INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION?
1.2 The Interdisciplinary Field of Intercultural Communication
1.3 The Academic Field of Intercultural Communication
1.4 Studying Culture and Communication
1.4.1 Various Definitions of Culture (video)
1.4.2 "Culture" in the Field of Intercultural Communication (pdf links)
Theme 1 Assignments
Theme 2: IDENTITY, STEREOTYPES AND COMMUNICATION
2.1 Identity
2.1.1 Plurality of Identity
2.1.2 Properties of Cultural Identity
2.1.3 Social and Cultural Identities
2.1.4 Language and Culture
2.2 Stereotypes (pdf link)
2.3 Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
2.3.1 Verbal Communication
- Low and high context communication processing
- Communication styles
- Cultural speaking rules
- Politeness
- Perception, interpretation and evaluation
2.3.2 Nonverbal Communication
- Time
- Proxemics, kinesics, and artifacts
Theme 2 Assignments
Theme 3: CULTURAL VALUES AND COMMUNICATION
3.1 Why Studies of Values?
3.2 Cross-cultural Studies
3.2.1 Parsons & Shils + Kluckhohn & Strodtbeck
- Relationship to nature (video)
- Time orientation (video)
- Personal space (video)
- Different patterns of communication (video)
- Attitudes to arguments (video)
3.2.2 Hofstede + Trompenaars + Schwartz
- Individualism and collectivism
- Hierarchy and power distance
3.3 Intercultural Studies
3.4 Cross-cultural or Intercultural Studies?
Theme 3 Assignments
Theme 4: INTERCULTURAL ENCOUNTERS AND ADAPTATION
4.1 Encounters and Emotions (video)
4.2 Culture shock
4.3 Intercultural Adaptation
4.3.1 U-curve
4.3.2 Adaptation Curves and Examples (video)
4.3.3 The Stress-Adaptation-Growth Process
4.4 Expatriate assignment cycle (pdf link)
Theme 4 Assignments
Theme 5: INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE
5.1 What is Intercultural Competence?
5.2 What is an Interculturally Competent Person Like?
5.3 Can Intercultural Competence be Learned? Or Taught? Or Measured?
5.4 Milton Bennett's Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity
5.4.1 Bennett: The Three Principles of Intercultural Sensitivity (video)
5.4.2 Bennett: Introduction to Intercultural Sensitivity (video)
5.4.3 DMIS: Denial (video)
5.4.4 DMIS: Defense (video)
5.4.5 DMIS: Minimization (video)
5.4.6 DMIS: Acceptance, Adaptation and Integration (video)
5.4.7 Bennett: Measurement of Intercultural Sensitivity (video)
5.5 Intercultural competence in mediation (pdf link)
Theme 5 and Final Assignments
REFERENCES
Authors: Prof. Liisa Salo-Lee
Authors: Sini Konivuori
Authors: Irmeli Luoma
Authors: Janne Laukkala
