COMM 173F: Intercultural Comm. & Global Understanding / Prof. F. Varona

MID-TERM STUDY GUIDE

Chapter 1: Introduction to Intercultural Competence
I. Imperatives for Intercultural Competence: a) The Demographic, b) The Technological, c) The Economic, d) The Peace Imperative, e) The Interpersonal.
II. Communication: a) Definition, b) Characteristics, c) Interpersonal Communication
III. The Challenge of Communicating in an Intercultural World.

Chapter 2: Culture and Intercultural Communication
I. Culture: a) Defining Culture for the Study of Communication: Characteristics…, b) Culture and Related Terms (Nation, Race, Ethnicity, Subculture and Co-culture.
II. Why Cultures differ: a) Forces that Maintain Cultural Differences: History, Ecology, Technology, Biology, -Institutional Networks, and Interpersonal Communication Patterns. b) The Interrelatedness of Cultural Forces.
III. Intercultural Communication:  a) Examples and definition, b) Intercultural Communication and Related Terms: Intracultural, Interethnic and Interracial, Cross-Cultural, and International.

Chapter 3: Intercultural Communication Competence
I. The United States as an Intercultural Community: a) Metaphors of U.S. Cultural Diversity:     Melting Pot, Tributaries, Tapestry, and Garden Salad. b) Cultural Groups in the United States.
II. Competence and Intercultural Communication: a) Definition, b) Components, c) Appropriateness and Effectiveness, d) Knowledge, Motivation, and Actions.
III. Basic Tools for Improving Intercultural Competence.

Chapter 4: Cultural Patterns and Communication: Foundations
I. Definition of Cultural Patterns.
II. Components of Cultural Patterns: a) Beliefs, b) Values, c) Norms, c) Social Practices.
III. Characteristics of Cultural Patterns: 1) The Functions of Cultural Patterns: Kluckhohn and Strodtbeck’s and 2) Overview of Cultural Patterns:  a) Activity Orientation, b) Social Relations Orientation, c) Self-Orientation, d) World Orientation , and d) Time Orientation.
IV. Cultural Patterns and Intercultural Competence

Chapter 5: Cultural Patterns and Communication: Taxonomies
I. Hall's High-and Low-Context Taxonomy: a) Use of Covert and Overt Messages, b) Importance of Ingroups and Outgroups, c) Orientation to Time.
II.  Hofstede's Cultural Taxonomy: a) Individualism-Collectivism , b) Uncertainty Avoidance , c) Power Distance, d) Masculinity-Femininity, e) Long-Term versus Short-Term Time Orientation. (Predictors and Consequences), f) Indulgence versus Restraint, g)Monumentalism versus Self-Effacement
III. Cultural Taxonomies and Intercultural Competence.

Chapter 6: Cultural Identity and Cultural Biases
I.  Cultural Identity: a) Nature of Identity, b) The Formation of Cultural Identity, c) Characteristics of Cultural Identity.
II. Cultural Biases: a) Social Categorization, b) Ethnocentrism, c) Stereotyping, d) Prejudice,  e) Discrimination, f) Racism.
III. Identiy, Biases, and Intercultural Competence