Intercultural Communication: Dynamics of cultural identities in global interaction

Explore how to improve your communication with people from other cultures

As relationships, education, and business become ever-more global, the awareness and practice of intercultural communication have become vital skill sets.

If you are interacting with students from overseas, studying abroad, traveling, working in a multinational office, or simply eager to know ways of improving your communication skills, then seeking to understand how to overcome cultural differences is crucial.

On this course you’ll learn how to become aware your own and others’ cultural identities, cultural assumptions we each carry, the nuances of cross-cultural interaction, and their potential for (mis)understanding and growth. You’ll learn different communication styles, how values can change from country to country, and how you can more readily assess and adapt to diverse contexts.

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This course is designed for anyone who wants to improve their confidence and sensitivity during intercultural interactions.

It will be particularly beneficial to those currently working with international students or clients, or those planning to travel.

• Comprehending intercultural communication
• What is this course about?
• What is intercultural communication?
• Why is understanding intercultural communication important?
• Contextualizing cultural identities
• Clarifying who I am
• Understanding who “you” are
• Perceiving how identities affect intercultural interaction
• Responding to each other’s “own cultural” stories
• Comparing cultural communication styles
• Observing different communication styles
• Noticing space and time variations
• Listening mindfully and observing sensitively
• Clarifying and contrasting values
• What are cultural values?
• How are values framed and compared?
• How do value differences influence communication?
• Cultivating intercultural adaptation
• Issues in crossing cultures
• Understanding culture shock dynamics
• Developing through adaptation processes
• Moving from adaptation to competence