Hauptseminar The ABC's of Cultural Understanding and Communication

The ABC’s of Cultural Understanding and Communication (Schmidt & Finkbeiner, 2006) is an intercultural model that includes (a) autobiography, (b) biography, (c) cross-cultural analysis and (d) cultural self-analysis of differences (Finkbeiner, 2006). It aims at exploring cultural and intercultural similarities and differences in the life stories of individuals from different cultural backgrounds trough an intercultural exchange. Core of the class will be creative activities on intercultural communication competence. Therefore, all participants will be expected to join the activities and to write an autobiography, a biography and to participate in the cross-cultural analysis. Furthermore, participants will develop five culturally responsive ideas. An overall aim will be to benefit from cultural comparisons for communication strategies with members of other cultures. On the basis of this experience, we want to develop our own concepts and strategies of multicultural education as an important part of the school curriculum. Students in industry and commerce will become sensitive with respect to cultural differences and conflicts when negotiating and communicating with business partners. Since this seminar and the research is highly creative, all participants will be expected to join the literacy activities. You can be sure, however, that all your writings will be coded so that the author or interviewee remains anonymous. This class will be most closely connected to the 10th International Conference of the Association for Language Awareness which will be held on our university campus from July 25th till 28th 2010. You will have the unique and most rewarding one and only chance of a lifetime to actively participate and get to know world famous scholars in our own playground. You will learn more about this in class. Conference website: http://www.uni-kassel.de/go/ala2010 You will need this course textbook: Schmidt & Finkbeiner. (2006). The ABC's of Cultural Understanding and Communication. IAP Publishing. Bemerkung Classes will start April 20th 2010 This is a blended learning class with online units and face to face units and conference participation as a final grand highlight Voraussetzungen Participation requirements: active participation, regular attendance, short oral presentation Schein requirements: in addition to participation requirements, willingness to write an autobiography, biography, and comparison. Leistungsnachweis - Active and regular participation - Steps A, B, C1, C2, C3 - Active participation as volunteers in the 10th International Conference of the Association for Language Awareness (Schlüsselqualifikationscredits) - Paper based on the 10th International Conference of the Association for Language Awareness and/or on the ABC's FB 02 Institut für Anglistik / Amerikanistik Participation requirements: active participation, regular attendance, short oral presentation Schein requirements: in addition to participation requirements, willingness to write an autobiography, biography, and comparison. - Active and regular participation - Steps A, B, C1, C2, C3 - Active participation as volunteers in the 10th International Conference of the Association for Language Awareness (Schlüsselqualifikationscredits) - Paper based on the 10th International Conference of the Association for Language Awareness and/or on the ABC's Uni Kassel SoSe 2010 Anglistik/Englisch Anglistik/Englisch Zweitfach Prof. Dr. Finkbeiner Claudia