Table of Contents

Theme 1: Building a Foundation - culture, cultural values, and communication

Modules 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

  • Module 1: An Introduction to Culture
    • 1-1 What is Culture?
    • 1-2 The Iceberg Model of Culture
    • 1-3 Exploring Personal, Cultural, and Universal Dimensions
    • 1-4 The Multicultural Self
  • Module 2: Expanding our Understanding of Culture
    • 2-1 Cultural Conditioning
    • 2-2 Culture’s Changing, Dynamic, and Complex Nature
    • 2-3 Context is Everything
    • 2-4 Power
  • Module 3: Cultural Value Orientations – Researchers and Models
    • 3-1 What are Cultural Value Orientations?
    • 3-2 Kluckhohn-Strodtbeck
    • 3-3 Geert Hofstede
    • 3-4 Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner
  • Module 4: Integrating Cultural Value Orientations Research – The Four Views
    • 4-1 View of Self
    • 4-2 View of Power
    • 4-3 View of Obligations
    • 4-4 View of Time
  • Module 5: Communication
    • 5-1 The Uniqueness of Communication
    • 5-2 Language and Culture
    • 5-3 Nonverbal Forms of Communication
    • 5-4 Cultural Value Orientations - Communication

Theme 2: Building Intercultural Competence

Modules 6 & 7

  • Module 6: Barriers to Intercultural Competence
    • 6-1 Stereotypes and Generalizations
    • 6-2 Evaluation
    • 6-3 Assumption of Similarity
    • 6-4 Language Differences and Nonverbal Misunderstandings
    • 6-5 Stress
  • Module 7: Adjustment and Development
    • 7-1 Culture Shock
    • 7-2 A Model for Further Understanding and Development
    • 7-3 The DIVE Model
    • 7-4 Supplement: The Four Levels of Cultural Competence

Theme 3: Building Intercultural Skills in Organizational Settings

Modules 8, 9, 10

  • Module 8: Intercultural Skills in Organizations (I)
    • 8-1 Written Communication
    • 8-2 Verbal Communication: Presenting Information
  • Module 9: Intercultural Skills in Organizations (II)
    • 9-1 Verbal Communication: Workplace Interactions
      • 9-1a Giving and Asking for Opinions
      • 9-1b Agreeing and Disagreeing
      • 9-1c Providing and Receiving Feedback
      • 9-1d Verbal Communication: Negotiating
  • Module 10: Intercultural Leadership and Management in Organizations
    • 10-1 Self-leadership: Developing an Intercultural Mindset
    • 10-2 Leadership Styles
    • 10-3 Supplement: Global Management Styles
      • 10-3a Management Styles – Africa
      • 10-3b Management Styles – Asia
      • 10-3c Management Styles – Europe
      • 10-3d Management Styles – Middle East
      • 10-3e Management Styles – North and South America

Approach to this Course

Within each module of this introductory course, it is important to become aware of fundamental ideas presented, then build and check knowledge by defining and framing concepts. Following this, skills can be developed by reflecting on how to engage with the intercultural communication process within work, study, and social contexts.

To complement awareness, knowledge, and skill building, this course weaves in metaphors, stories, and numerous examples to help ‘visualize’ contexts and concepts. Examples have been collected from a diverse group of individuals with international work, study, volunteer, and travel experiences.

You will have opportunities throughout the course to self-assess and reflect on your own development, comment on examples, provide your own, and apply some of the concepts to personal situations. As a result, you will take a more experiential approach to learning and work, and build a deeper awareness of the worldviews you hold and how those parallel, and differ from others’.

Making a Case for Intercultural Communication

What is Intercultural Communication?

Simply put, intercultural communication is the joining of culture and communication, expressed through the interactions between people of different cultural backgrounds.

It isn’t that simple though, as this basic definition neglects the styles, approaches, positioning, and perceptions (i.e., the uniqueness) of the people involved, as well as the situational factors in which interactions occur.

Why is it important?

Studying intercultural communication theory, exploring the models in this course, and applying them in daily interactions, will result in the development of intercultural competence. This can be defined as “the ability to function effectively across cultures, to think and act appropriately, and to communicate and work with people from different cultural backgrounds – at home or abroad.” (Adapted from Leung, K., Ang, S., and Tan, M.L. (2014), 'Intercultural Competence', Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behaviour, 1:4889-519).

Go to the link to explore other definitions:

10 Definitions of Intercultural Competence

In practical terms, this will allow you to:

  • build skills to interpret information within interpersonal, community, organizational, and regional settings.
  • develop presentation, meeting, and negotiation skills that take into consideration the differing styles and approaches of audience members.
  • be more deliberate when positioning yourself within diverse global contexts.
  • adapt to diversity in local/domestic settings.
  • develop creative solutions to non-linear problems.
  • engage more fully with technologies that focus on global communication.
  • handle conflict more effectively within heterogeneous settings.
  • become more self-aware as a globally focused leader.
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