Cross-Cultural Studies

Objectives

This course interrelates cross-cultural communication, language and management skills.

It consists of talks by lecturers from the University of Vic about business culture and by intercultural trainers, consultants and visiting lecturers from foreign universities about the business culture of a specific country.

Learning outcomes

Under review. Pending publication

Content

1. Concepts of culture throughout history
2. Culture, cross-culture and models of analysis
   • From observation through interpretation
   • Ethnocentrism, multiculturalism and interculturalism
   • Culture shock
   • Barriers for cross-cultural communication
   • Models of analysis
3. Acculturation and assimilation
4. Intercultural examples

Evaluation

Course assessment is based on the sum of all the assessed activities done during the course. The percentages of the assessed activities are the following:

• 10%: Class attendance
• 15%: Reflection on your own cultural identity and peer review
• 30%: Forum contribution (E-Portfolio)
• 20%: Final project
• 25%: Final test

To pass the course students must achieve 50% of the total average.

All the activities that have not been done or submitted on the due date cannot be repeated and count as 0 points.

Resit 

In the event that a student fails the course, he/she can repeat the final test and resubmit the final project.

In case of any health emergency involving lockdown the activities and the assessment percentages will not be changed. In case they cannot be done face-to-face they will be done online.

Methodology

There is time for discussion, co-operative learning tasks and teamwork on the topics covered during the presentations.

In case of any medical emergency involving lockdown, face-to-face teaching will be changed totally to online format and the methodology will be adapted to the new context. As soon as the health authorities give permission, we will reestablish face-to-face teaching in line with the instructions of the Faculty.

Bibliography

Bibliography

• Hall, E.T (1959). The silent language: Vol. 3. Doubleday.
• Lewis, R.D. (2005). When cultures collide: Leading across cultures (3 ed.). Nicholas Brealey.
• Meyer, Erin (2014). The Culture Map: Breaking Through The Invisible Boundaries of Global Business. Public Affairs.
• Trompenaars,F., Hampden-Turner, Ch. (1997). Riding the waves of culture: Understanding cultural diversity in business (2 ed.). Nicholas Brealey.

Reading

Teachers will provide complementary bibliography and compulsory reading throughout the course via the Virtual Campus.